Kirkfield Crushed Stone
by
R. L. Kennedy
All photographs by the author, August 1961.
Narrow
gauge engine shoving cars towards incline for unloading.
Kirkfield
Crushed Stone located east of Orillia was the last steam industrial operation
in Ontario. The quarry operation was narrow gauge (3 foot) with two trains in
constant use. Standard gauge trackage was at the crusher and connected with the
CNR Coboconk Subdivision. In 1961 the spare narrow gauge steam locomotive was
long out of service as was the standard gauge saddletanker. It closed at the end
of season in 1961. The Whitcomb 0-4-0 unit went to parent company Dufferin Construction's
Dufferin Street plant in Toronto where one of the narrow gauge steam engines was
displayed for some time on the front lawn of their offices. All of the steam locomotives
were saved, although none have been operated.
4103 Vulcan #4103
Aug. 1930 | 
4104 Vulcan #4104 Aug. 1930 | 
1419 Vulcan #1419 Nov. 1909 | 
no# MLW #54319 8/15 standard gauge |
no# Whitcomb #13041 5/30 standard gauge | 
engine coal and water | 
narrow gauge four wheel dump cars | 
quarry trackage |
loading in quarry | 
link and pin couplers | 
1 man "crew" firing engine | 
leaving the quarry, shoving 10 cars. One of two identical trains in constant use. |
working hard, upgrade | 
shoving towards incline | 
cable hauls car up incline | 
loco crane and crawler |
