Three locomotives and 14 cars

The CPR had wanted to add a second dining car but insisted on keeping the train to 14 cars as it was felt that the three locomotives could not haul another car up the steepest grade on the trip. The extra diner could not be agreed to since the loss of revenue from seat sales would have put the trip in the red.

For full size menu reproduction click here. (168 Kb)

The train departed Toronto Union Station, stopped to entrain more passengers at West Toronto and continued on to Streetsville where the engines took water and the train was registered. There the train left the mainline and proceeded north on the Orangeville Subdivision. An unscheduled stop was made just south of Brampton to shovel cinders out of 136's smokebox. The train continued on to Inglewood where a photo stop and a runpast were made across the CNR diamond. Water was taken at the octagonal wooden water tower there and again 136's front end was cleaned out. The train ran on to Forks of the Credit where another runpast was made over the high trestle.

The hardest part of the trip was getting out of Forks of the Credit as the train was laying on an upgrade and around an S curve. The three locomotives struggled upgrade around sharp curves that made the flanges scream and the rails groan. A stop was made at Cataract to register the train and to take water. The last of the grade was soon behind and the special made its way into Orangeville to be greeted by a brass band civic reception and a crowd of thousands. The station was decked out in Union Jacks, and also the Stars & Stripes, as many of the passengers had journeyed from the United States.

A great crowd greets the arrival of the Special in Orangeville, estimated at 1500 people - more than greeted the returning World War II soldiers after VJ day, according to the Chief of Police. Full size picture click here.

The train was readied for the return trip as everyone observed and photographed the activities. Each engine was watered and coaled (from the coal chutes) and turned on the turntable. The CPR had wanted to run the three engines and the baggage car four miles up the line to Fraxa to turn them on the wye there; however, that would have cost more and would not have allowed the people the chance to watch the engines being turned on the turntable. Hence the decision to stay in Orangeville. During this time, the 136 coupled onto the two wooden coaches and made a mini photo runby for the cameras!

The Special departed Orangeville, headed down the grade and made for Toronto.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge