Scotian Railroad Society 1969-12 Maritime Express

Scotian Railroad Society - Maritime Express December 1969

An early issue of the newsletter of the Scotian Railroad Society.
A transcription of the text of the article (not including photo captions) appears below the article illustrations for ease of reading and for search purposes.

Reference Tag

Please use this tag when referring to this article: Scotian Railroad Society, Maritime Express December 1969

Apple Blossom Excursion 1969

Ever since the Scotian Railroad Society was formed Al MacBean had been advocating a trip to the Valley during Apple Blossom Festival time, The clincher was the fact that 1969 was the centennial year of the first component of the Dominion Atlantic Railway. Apple Blossom Excursion 1969 was on! The date chosen was May 31st and the added attraction was the Apple Blossom Parade being held in Wolfville.

It soon became obvious that deadheading costs would make a special train too expensive to consider. All of DAR's passenger equipment was kept in Kentville and would have to be brought to Halifax for our use and returned. The next best arrangement, adding special coaches to the usual Saturday morning and afternoon trains was agreed upon. The coaches were to be left in Wolfville for our use during the 3½-hour stay.

On the appointed day train No. 4 arrived from Kentville not with the usual single RDC put with road engine 8137, two coaches (1334 and 1337), and RDC 9059. This RDC is the only remaining passenger equipment still lettered "Dominion Atlantic". A CN switch crew immediately made up train No. 1 from the equipment which had arrived while the D.A.R. engine was turned. The schedule called for a 20-minute turn-around, but by the time our train was in place time was running short. Regular passengers boarded the RDC whilst excursionists boarded the coaches and busy Society members loaded the canteen stock. The air brakes were then tested, and we were away.

D.A.R. has trackage rights on CN's line from Halifax to Windsor Junction, and so the first 15 miles of our journey covered a route taken by previous excursions. At Windsor Junction train No. 1 switched onto DAR track, paused for orders and was off towards the Valley.

After making the usual passenger stops along the way we arrived in Wolfville. There engine 8139 was waiting to remove the coaches and spot them on a spur near the station. When this was done, 8137 and 9059 continued to Kentville where the diesel was removed. The RDC then proceeded under its own power to Yarmouth. Since our coaches had been left only a block away from the parade route, the canteen was kept open during the stay in Wolfville.

The Apple Blossom Parade consisted of many marching bands and floats all with an apple blossom theme, and it took well over an hour to pass by a given point. After enjoying the parade we had just enough time to make our way back to the station in time for the arrival of train No. 2.

Number 2 had started out from Yarmouth as RDC 9057, At Kentville road engine 8135 was added and control transferred to that unit. On its arrival in Wolfville our two coaches were picked up first, and then the entire train was backed down to the station.

"All aboard!"

The return trip to Halifax was uneventful and we were content to watch the countryside pass by. Back in Halifax the 120 excursionists detrained while Society members unloaded unsold canteen goods and removed equipment. Twenty minutes later the train was on its way back to Kentville as train No. 3.

Looking back, there was something of particular interest to equipment buffs.on this excursion. Of D.A.R.'s total equipment, both RDCs, two of three coaches and three of eight engines were involved in the operation.