Back in the steam days of the 1950s, the Canadian Pacific needed to assign “push” or “assist” engines on the Galt Subdivision westbound between Toronto and Orr’s Lake (three miles west of Galt)
For a steam railfan in Ontario, there was considerable action over the stretch of mainline between Galt and Orr’s Lake. Here, one could head trackside and watch “doubleheaded” (technically “assisted”) freight trains fighting upgrade. Road engines generally were Mikados assigned to the CPR’s London Division, while assist engines were 2200-series Pacifics from the Lambton roundhouse in Toronto.
In the course of a few hours trackside along the Galt Subdivision near Orr’s Lake, a railfan could see Mikados, Pacifics, Hudsons, D10 Ten Wheelers and first-generation diesels such as MLW (Alco) road switchers, F-units and RDCs.
The tracks are still there on the CPR west of Galt...
... but the rural landscape of the 1950s is gone, largely overwhelmed by property development. Railroading has changed, too—gone …
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