Throwback Thursday - Hyde Park Revisited.

Don McQueen made this excellent picture on October 17, 1965.  Presumably he was primarily interested in the CN steam excursion train which was about to head up the Exeter Sub, but it also provides us with a good view of the Hyde Park station site.

By Peter Mumby.

In his post of May 18, 2021 entitled "SWO Railfanning Locations," George made reference to the location formerly known as CN Hyde Park.  Situated at mile post 4.1 of the double tracked Strathroy Subdivision in the west end of London, Ontario, it is easily visible from the Hyde Park Road overpass.  In days gone by this location had an easy road access, but now it is surrounded by a housing development and a short hike is required if you wish to duplicate George's photos.

Hyde Park was established as the junction between the east/west Strathroy Sub and the north/south Exeter Sub.  Southbound trains off the Exeter Sub would swing onto the north track at the junction.  At this point there was a cross-over leading onto the south track, permitting easy access to London Yard.  This was a manually-operated cross-over, and periodically a switch tender was assigned to this spot when one of the main line tracks was out of service or other operational concerns prevailed.  Originally there was a station building opposite the junction, and a short passing siding ran off the south track behind the station.  Today's photo featuring the CNR steam excursion shows the station and how it was situated relative to the early two lane Hyde Park Road overpass.  This mid-1960s view looks to the east.

The other photo, from 1981, looks to the west.  The Exeter Sub swings off to the right.  In the middle left the short passing track can be seen where it rejoins the south main.  The building at the lower left is the switch tender's shack.  It was equipped with a stove for those chilly winter days.  The visible signal would have been operated by the switch tender.  It displays a green signal, so probably no one was on duty at that time ( more regarding this signal below). The January 30 2020 post entitled "Incident at Hyde Park" includes a photo taken from almost the same position if you wish to see how the location appeared in 1995.  By that time the Exeter Sub had been severed and was being operated as a spur only.  Today the junction, passing siding, and cross-over are all gone, meaning that Hyde Park has disappeared from the railway map.  Although trackage for the southern part of the Exeter Sub has all been lifted, the northern part still exists today as part of the Goderich-Exeter Railway.

The green signal Peter is referring to is actually a train order signal. It has been a long time since I used train orders and I was not sure if this signal was to be always lit up. I don't remember seeing a light on there when I passed, but it could have been out of service by then. I should also mention these operators sheds had dual use. Working as a switch tender when CN trains where single tracked this was a location one could be stationed. The following comment are by Gary Pembleton retired operator and dispatcher (GAP)...George Dutka

 

"In this view if Hyde Park was made a temporary train order office by train order then the train order light would be left on even when there was no operator on duty. If a train crew with this train order finds it extinguished as they approach, it would be considered an imperfectly displayed signal and trains would need to stop and be given a clearance to proceed."

In this September 1981 view we get a good look at the station name sign for Hyde Park.  Passenger trains were a good length in that era, and today's train required three units.  Look closely and you will see that the first few cars are of Reading Crusader heritage.  These stainless steel cars had been sold to CNR in 1962. Mark Hinsdale photo, George Dutka collection.