Don McQueen's Waterfront Photography

In my continuing quest for photos of Kingston's Hanley Spur, I contacted prolific photographer, data-keeper and author Don McQueen, with good results. Don kindly shared some images taken during various visits to Kingston, where he also studied at Queen's University. On July 3, 1969 CP RS-23 8031 was trolling along the granite-laced waterfront with the Spirit of Sir John A in the background (top photo). Don was at Kingston Junction, where the CN Hanley Spur met the then-Gananoque Subdivision, on October 10, 1959. CN RS-3 3000 was at the junction switch, as an eastbound behind CN Geeps 4494-4308-4322 with a healthy head-end cut of ice reefers hustled by:

Patiently waiting...some harbour buildings are visible at left (above) and the building sign advertised A. MacLean & Son Wholesale Grocers:

 Gaining the mainline, pushing a caboose:

On April 7, 1960 Don caught CN and CP working the waterfront. CN RS-3 3002 passes under the River Street bridge southbound, with a CN boxcar in tow.

Next we photographically find ourselves at the CP North Street roundhouse turntable, beside the Inner Harbour. CPR G5 1227 may have been one of the last steam locomotives in the area, and we are definitely in the dying days of steam - April 7, 1960 - as Don captures 1227 smoking on the turntable. The late Dunc DuFresne documents some of the last steam operations out of Ottawa West terminal, including the 1227 here.

After 1227 left Ottawa for Smiths Falls on the night of January 2 for Smiths Falls, it possibly stuck around there for the rest of the winter and into the spring. The Kingston job had been dieselized since at least mid-1959 using 8400's or 8700's. By October, one of three units 8028, 8029 and 8030 were the regular power. However, on five days in April 1960 the Kingston job was assigned steam: the 1227 April 4th, 5th and 7th and on April 6th the 1226 took a one-day turn. This is recorded in the Tichborne station register which has both Belleville and Kingston sub entries. And this appears to be possible for two reasons. First the turntable was large enough to accommodate them and secondly 1226 was not scrapped until June 1961 and 1227 not until September 1964 according to Omer's book. Notice some Service cars at right, with the retaining wall over near Rideau Street at left:

Here are some side views that Don took on the turntable. The Service boarding car on the next track is occupied:

Definitely at the end of steam - it's doubtful that shop forces would have previously let even a freight engine leave the ready track without a better appearance. But the shiny new diesels were in use! Note the yellow-painted 'Armstrong' turntable timber:

Must've been a late spring. Ice is visible in the harbour:

And in front of City Hall, here's 1227 coupled to some unknown equipment, in front of a portico-less City Hall also on April 7:

...and passing northbound under the River Street bridge. I can almost hear the 'chuff-chuff":

From a family album via Don and Bruce Rescorla, here's a 1910 waterfront view showing grain elevators, vessels and some interesting rolling stock in front of the CP freight shed:

A June 29, 1955 Dave Stevens photo of CPR 437 working hard to haul out new H16-44 8549-8550 past two vintage pickup trucks:

Thanks to Don for his gracious sharing of these photos, each representing an interesting era and engrossing operations!