J. Walder/ J. Riddell Collection
The date is August 1,1953 and with its pop valves roaring,
No. 6922 is seen backing off the shop track at Lambton Yard, ready for
a day's work. At the throttle is engineer Bill Walder, watching as his
son, James, preserves on film two C.P.R. veterans. No. 6922 was a V4a
class 0-8-0 type yard engine originally built in April 1907 by the C.P.R.
as No. 1668, a 2-8-0 "Consolidation", later renumbered in
1912 to No. 3468. During 1928 the C.P.R. carried out a rebuilding program,
converting a number of M4 class light 2-8-0's to 0-8-0 yard engines
and No. 6922 was rebuilt from No. 3468 at Angus in July 1928.
This locomotive saw a good deal of service in the Toronto area and was
stationed at John Street along with No. 6931 when I worked there in
the late 1940's and 1950's. Sometime during the mid-1950's No. 6922
was transferred to Montreal Terminals, working there until the summer
of 1957, when it was retired and scrapped at Angus on November 1 of
that year. While stationed at John Street, this engine was involved
in at least one mishap that I know of. About 3:00 p.m. on June 19, 1952,
while switching a cut of cars near Avenue Road overpass on the North
Toronto cut-off, No. 6922 was hit by two locomotives and a van which
were backing east to pick up a London freight. The double locomotives
struck No. 6922's tender and turned it over, which in turn crushed the
left side of the cab. Engineer Grant was able to jump clear but fireman
White was pinned between the cab wall and boiler. A rescue crew worked
for an hour with torches and bars and finally released White who sustained
a broken leg and burns. No. 6922 was soon repaired at West Toronto Shops
and saw five more years of service.
NOTE: The above text was written by Newton Rossiter.
It is quite possible the 6922 was assigned to the North Toronto job
at the time since it is shown here backing off the shop track headed
east. Most Lambton yard engines were headed west.
