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CNR 6218 and crew last run 7-4-71 small.jpg [ 53.91 KiB | Viewed 6435 times ]
CNR 6218 finished her service for the railroad with a series of trips out of Belleville, Ont. during July 3 and 4, 1971-- full day of 6 trips on Saturday and a half day on Sunday, followed by a rearrangement of the train and a servicing of the engine. After the formal retirement ceremony in front of the Belleville station, 6218 backed east out of sight, came screaming west through the station and crowd on the platform, and vanished west into the late afternoon sun.
While the engine was being serviced, three fans from NY-NJ had seen the train orders giving Extra 6218 West rights to Trenton, Ont. Not bothering with the speeches and station crowds, they headed west and were rewarded with the vision of 6218 and train coming to a stop on a high fill in late afternoon light. No other photographers or onlookers were around.
A couple of crewmen were on the ground, checking bearings after the fast sprint from Belleville. They and the others in the cab were quickly persuaded to pose with 6218 by the photographers. In a few short minutes, 6218 was gone, backing 10 miles to Belleville to have her fire dumped for the last time. We never did get their names; the tall guy in the shop coat appeared two years later when CNR 6060 made her first run. He must have been some sort of Master Mechanic, Steam.
40 years--- seems like last week to me.
HP