The people of the Hanley Spur

As rail enthusiasts and model railroaders, we fixate on details. Details of motive power, track arrangements, dates and locations, trains and track, bolts and boxcars. But what about the people? Here are some photos of people at locations along the Hanley Spur. Frontenac Floor & Wall Tile jocular staff at their plant opposite the Outer Station (top photo) and a group of businessmen at the Outer Station dated 1932:

Who were these people? What were they doing? And why was the Hanley Spur and the wider rail system important to them. For travel, for jobs, for daily life.

Wartime brought servicemen to Kingston, and many were photographed at the Outer Station. Dated 1945:                                     

In 1948, a group of HMCS Cataraqui tars are at the station parking lot:

 And those crazy Queen's kids definitely post-war!

No frivolity here! Waiting for the train in 1963 (Arlie Robb fonds, Queen's University Archives):

More frivolity, looks like Hallowe'en at the Anglin facilities on the Inner Harbour:

Speaking of the harbour, in 1959 it was chainsaws to free the Wolfe Islander from ice, with coalpiles in the background: 

Folkie music groups even gathered along the Hanley Spur for album photos. In 1970, it was Rideau and River Streets:

Note to self: remember the people that lived around the tracks, ran and rode the trains on the tracks, and even those who sat (!) on the tracks.