in the l950s i went to canada for steam. lots of real steam and it was closer than then&w. coming back from a trip in Ont. i stayed sun day night in Ottawa to take the cpr high speed train to Montreal.it was 115 miles in 105 mins with 5 stops 7 some slow orders. i talked my way into the cab of the hudson. we left ottawa 20 mins. late due to some bad brakes on one of the cars. we got into dorval 5 mins early. i timed it for over 50 miles at 32 sec. per mile. however the loco pounder so bad i was almost sick and couldn't wait to get off. trip #2 i was riding one of the cnr 4-6-4t out to dorval and back .i rode that one alot. on the way out the fireman lost his balance and throw his shovel into the firebox. NO SPARE shovel. so all 3 of us thru lumps into the box as fast as we could. when we got to dorval the driver said hay kid when we do our flying switch (with people on the train) you run over to the cp station (across the 4 track main) and take the cp station shovel. i made it hopped backon with the cpr agent after me and we got back to turcot ot. iwonder what the agent told his boss when he asked for a new shovel.

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