Canadian Pacific`s Holiday Train 2004 ride.

[interurban]

A ride on the Christmas Train.

It started out, and finished a wet cold windy ice filled day.

But action filled all the same, CP had given passes to their employees for a ride on the 2004 train and I was given the opportunity to ride by Diesel John.
So here are a few pictures of the days event.
The ride was to Alliston where all the familes got a ride back to the T O yards.

John and I stayed on so we could catch the show, then hitch a ride back on a freight train which should have us back in Toronto by 7 30 ish,,, that was the plan.
But train time as I learned on the 7th of December is ,, anytime.
But first a batch of pictures.

Diesel John getting us all comfy

 

[interurban]

After the folks left the train at Spence we pulled out and as we went through the first train crossing out of Spence we were hit buy a new Toyota being taken on a test run by 4 technicians.
I heard the bang but thought nothing of it till I heard "that was a hit".
The radio was blearing "emergency, emergency, emergency," as the train came to a halt.
John had to join the others for the walk back in the driving rain to inspect what happened . Evidently the Toyota had stopped but was rear ended and pushed forward by a van that had hit a patch of ice and had not given himself enough time to stop in this foul weather.
The Toyota lost all the front end, and fortunately it hit the trains fuel tank and bounce off. a few second earlier and it would have been pushed in front of the engine which was travelling about 20ks an hour.
I don`t think they would have walked away from that scenario.
btw, only scratches on the fuel tank.

And that delayed the Christmas train a good 2hours. with further delays to come re freight movement and crew change
We pulled into MacTier about 7pm the folks had been waiting from 345pm, ouch!!!!
But the show went on and the weather held off, guess what as soon as the train left it poured down again.
John and I grabbed a bite to eat after being informed every thing going back to Toronto was backed up 2 or 3 hours.
But after we got back we gladly excepted a ride in a C P cab/Taxi , that got us back by 11.15 that night
And I think John will agree Wednesday came around a tad to quick for our old bones.

And YES I enjoyed every miniute, especially as no one was hurt .
Can I go again John??????? :thumb:

 

[interurban]

Here are the shots after the accident

 

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Say hi to Robert Stagg on the left , Rob is THE man looks after 2816, yes he is a steam mechanical person Rob stays with 2816 but had to help out with the Holiday Train this year,
On the right is Dave Clifford, Dave is the " field Ops" person for the Holiday Train,
Santa sure looks like Dave!!!

 

[interurban]

We are nearly at MacTier
Sorry the shots are a bit fuzzy , I blame the train motion and all the bright lights

 

[interurban]

We arrive at MacTier 3 hours late but we still got a great welcome. :thumb: There is something about a train with bright lights :thumb:
The Cheque was presented to the MacTier food bank $3000.00 from the C P rep. Fantastic!!!!

 

[interurban]

That`s all folks.
Thanks for the ride John
And thanks to a great bunch of C P employees

 

[spitfire]

And thanks to you, Chris, for taking us along!!!! :thumb: :thumb:

Glad no one was hurt - there were scores of accidents that day, as I kept hearing on the radio.

Val

 

[MasonJar]

Nice shots Chris! Looks like a good time was had by all - except maybe the guys in the Toyota...

I saw the train blast by near Oxford Mills on route to Smiths Falls from Montreal. It must have been doing 40 mph or better, although it would have had to slow for the bridge across the Rideau River at Merrickville (only a single track on an otherwise double main). Took less than 20 seconds from the tiome we first saw it to when it had disappeared... You had quite a while longer to enjoy...

Thanks for the pix!

Andrew

 

[fp9er]

Thanks for taking us along on the Christmas Train ride, Chris! This is the first time I've actually "seen" that train since a single photo appeared in our paper a year or so ago. It's a great thing that CP and its employees are doing, running that train...! I really want a souvenir button/pin from the CP Christmas Train--if they make 'em: I'll send a note to Santa....

Thanks again, Chris...!
Paul McD.

 

[Iron Goat]

What a great thing ! Thanks for sharing your photo's...

Bob

 

[Diesel John]

Cpr Store

Thanks for taking us along on the Christmas Train ride, Chris! This is the first time I've actually "seen" that train since a single photo appeared in our paper a year or so ago. It's a great thing that CP and its employees are doing, running that train...! I really want a souvenir button/pin from the CP Christmas Train--if they make 'em: I'll send a note to Santa....

Thanks again, Chris...!
Paul McD.

Fp9er

Try the CPR website at www.cpr.ca Go to General Public then "store" You should be able to order a pin.

John