CNR 6167

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     The train arrived at Stratford at about 1 p.m., where it was turned on the wye, then the locomotive took on coal by means of steam crane CN 50017 which was equipped with a clamshell bucket, and took on water from a nearby standpipe. Then the locomotive was positioned outside of the Big Shop, where 6069, 5700, 6200 and 6400 were also on display. There was a photo run on the return to Sarnia at Lucan Crossing.

     The program included here mentions the usage of Dome Cars on chartered fall foliage tours of the eastern U.S. and Canada by Random Tours of California. It just so happened that in September 1964, one of these Dome Cars happened to be available the weekend of 6167 made her final trips double-heading with 6218 and was included in the consist at the last minute.

     Thanks to Don McQueen for providing me with a program of the trip, Jim Parker for his photographs, and Ed Johnson for his photographs and his account of the trip.

     WELCOME ABOARD OUR GTW-CN SPECIAL TRAIN! We hope you'll have an enjoyable time today. To help you we've prepared a map of our route so you'll know your whereabouts at all times. Other rail lines crossing and connecting with our route are identified by key numbers- they're explained just below the map.

GUIDE TO CONNECTING LINES
1 NYC from Detroit	10 CN to Palmerston and Owen Sound
2 GTW to Durand, Chicago and Muskegon	11 CN to Kitchener, Guelph and Toronto
3 NYC to Bay City and Mackinaw City	12 CN to Paris, Brantford and Fort Erie
4 GTW to Pontiac and Jackson	13 CP to Toronto
5 GTW to Chicago	14 CN to Toronto
6 C&O to Saginaw	15 L&PS to St. Thomas and Port Stanley
7 PH&D to Marine City	16 CN to Glencoe and Windsor
8 CN to Goderich	17 CP to Windsor
9 CN to Goderich	18 CN to Petrolia

     After joining the GTW-CN Chicago-Toronto main line at Tappan, and before we reach Tunnel Station at Port Huron, you'll see on the right side of our train the interchange with the Port Huron & Detroit Railway, a 19.1-mile-long common carrier connecting Port Huron with Marysville, St. Clair, Belle River and Marine City, Michigan. Seen throughout the continent are this little road's new bright blue box cars stenciled "PHD, The St. Clair Blue Water Route."

     Between Port Huron and Sarnia we'll pass through the St. Clair Tunnel, built by the Grand Trunk Railway and opened to traffic in 1891. The first international submarine railway tunnel in the world, it's underwater length is 2,290 feet, and total length 11,725 feet. It was electrified in 1908 and operations were completely dieselized in 1958. During World War I there was a plot to blow up the tunnel but fortunately this was thwarted. The tracks were lowered in 1949 to accommodate larger freight cars. The Port-Huron-Sarnia portion of our route is technically referred to as the St. Clair Tunnel Subdivision. An unusual speed restriction is shown in operating time tables, prohibiting speeds of more than 5 miles per hour through the tunnel for trains handling dome cars. It's unusual in view of the fact that CN and GTW don't own any dome cars -- but dome cars of other railroads are operated through the tunnel when Random Tours of California runs its chartered fall foliage tours of the eastern U.S. and Canada over the GTW and CN.

      One mile east of Sarnia we'll be at Sarnia Junction, where we branch off onto the Forest Subdivision of the CN. A 35-mile-an-hour speed limit is imposed over this freight only line's 70.6-mile distance from Sarnia Junction to St. Mary's Junction so there won't be any breathtaking speeds attained here. There will, however, be two photo run-pasts and they're scheduled as follows (time permitting):

(1) EAST OF THEDFORD (Milepost 37.8): Train will pull completely past the overpass so passengers can get off on the right (engineer's) side only for photos. Those desiring to do so can walk back up the easy embankment onto the bridge. After unloading passengers the train will back up, then come forward with an appropriate mixture of steam, smoke arid whistling. After running completely past the trackside photographers the train will stop, back up so we can get on again and continue on our journey.

(2) LUCAN CROSSING (Milepost 17.4 between Ailsa Craig and Lucan): Train will stop just east of highway grade crossing so photographers can get off on the right (engineer's) side only. An excellent vantage point can be obtained by walking back to the highway and forming a "firing line" on it's west shoulder -- but don't go beyond this lineup. After unloading passengers the train will again back up and perform as outlined in runpast (1) above.

AT STRATFORD get off the train on the left (fireman's) side. Buses will be waiting for those desiring to tour the Festival Theatre. Others can spend their time as they see fit, either wandering into town for dinner or watching railroad operations at the depot. STRATFORD IS ON DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME -- It's one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time observed in Michigan and on which our entire schedule is shown. BE SURE YOU DON'T MISS THE TRAIN!

If we can get away from Stratford on time chances are that there'll be enough light for one more photo run-past at:

(3) ST. MARY'S (Thorndale Subdivision Milepost 11.1: Here the train will stop at the station so photographers can get off on the right (engineer's) side and get up on the overhead street crossing just below the depot. We urge all to keep off the station platform in front of this overhead crossing so they'll keep clear of the photographers above.

     From London to Sarnia we will be traveling over CN's Strathroy Subdivision, part of the highspeed Toronto-to-Chicago main line. It's here that 6167 should give us the most thrilling speed run of the day, proving that it wasn't lack of speed that "bumped" her out of regular service.

  October 7: Steam Power will be used between Sarnia and Stratford, Ont., on excursion originating at Detroit via Grand Trunk Western and Canadian National Railways under sponsorship of Michigan Railroad Club. Trip will operate in one direction via Mt. Clemens, Mich., and Forest, Ont., and in opposite direction via London, Ont., and Mt. Clemens. for full information, send self-addressed, stamped envelope to Michigan Railroad Club, P.O. Box 2271, Dearborn, Mich.

Trains Magazine September 1962, Pg 58
Trains Magazine October 1962, Pg 55
© 2011, TRAINS Magazine, Kalmbach Publishing Co., reprinted with permission.