100 Years of the Grand Trunk in Kingston

Rail enthusiasts gathered in Kingston to mark a significant anniversary for the city. This account appeared in the November, 1956 Upper Canada Railway Society Newsletter. 

THE KINGSTON CENTENARY JOINT CELEBRATION - OCTOBER 27, 1956. 

To mark the centenary of the opening of the Grand Trunk Railway line between Montreal and Toronto, the Canadian Railroad Historical Association and our Society held their first joint excursion on October 27th, the actual centennial date. Toronto enthusiasts proceeded to Kingston on Train 14 powered by Northern 6226. At Belleville two narrow gauge diesels for the Newfoundland lines were seen loaded on flat cars. The Montreal group arrived in Kingston on Train 5, hauled by engine 6214. 

The party proceeded to the LaSalle Hotel for dinner. Mr. Omer Lavallee of the C.R.H.A., in a short speech after the dinner, observed that the visit was significant not only because it commemorated the opening of the Montreal - Toronto rail line but also because the opening of the line marked the beginning of the era in which railways commenced to provide a comprehensive network in Canada rather than serving merely as feeders to navigation lines. Mr. Lavallee also noted that the Kingston locomotive works had produced its first engine, Grand Trunk 88, in October, 1856. 

Accordingly, the group’s visit to the locomotive works after the meal was a chance to see the changes in locomotive production. At the plant the last three of the order of 20 “Trainmaster” (Nos. 8901-8920) for the Canadian Pacific were seen. Other diesel locomotives were seen in various stages of construction. (The recent order of steam locomotives for India had been completed). 

A standard gauge four-wheel diesel with buffers and hook-and-chain couplers for Arabia was on hand modified for use as a shop switcher. This engine was one of an order built by the Canadian Locomotive Company’s subsidiary, Davenport-Besler. The Kingston plant has trackage of metre gauge and 3' 6" as well as standard gauge, to handle export orders. 

Following the tour through the locomotive works, the party proceeded to the Canadian Pacific station to see 4-6-0 engine 437 arrive from Renfrew hauling train 612. After a brief period of sightseeing, then enthusiasts returned to Toronto and Montreal aboard Trains 6 and 15. Kingston station is very busy when the daytime trains between Montreal and Toronto arrive. They are scheduled to arrive within twelve minutes of each other and frequently both are in the station at one time.

An October 27, 1956 Whig clipping describes the anniversary events:

Accounts of the dinner appeared in the Whig on October 29, 1956 (above). A 1903 GTR ad from the Queen's Journal: