Thursday 20 June 2019

Throwback Thursday - Via 651 at Port Hope

Via RDC-1 6111 (built for CN in 1955) is the trailing unit on #651 as its station stop is made at Port Hope, Ontario on August 13, 1987.  Scheduled to depart Kingston at 07:00, the "Ontarian" arrived at Port Hope at 08:36 and would make it to Toronto by 09:55.  We often think of RDCs as being branchline equipment, but Via made good use of them on the Kingston Subdivision all-stops local trains.

Also prominent in the photo is the Port Hope CN/Via station.  Opened by the Grand Trunk Railway on October 27, 1856, this limestone structure is one of the oldest stations still in use in Canada.  It received it designation as a heritage railway station in 1992.

As of January 24, 2012, Toronto/Montreal trains no longer have a station stop at Port Hope.  However, a number of trains between Toronto and Kingston/Ottawa still call at the attractive station.  More comprehensive Via services are available in neighbouring Cobourg.

No comments:

Post a Comment