I grew up in Dundas and could watch the trains go by the CN mainline from our kitchen window and out the window of many of our High school classrooms. I got to know the Station master at the Dundas station and spent many evenings up there shooting the $#!*.
In grade 13 winter break, a friend and I read about a narrow gauge steam RR in Cass, West Virginia and we drove down to witness some live steam climaxes, shays and heislers in operation.
My first out of town job was in Hagersville where there was an NYC/TH&B crossing and the whistles would sound at all times of the day.
These days I'm in Port Hope, a town with two viaducts running over the town (CN and CP) and whistles blow constantly day and night. I love it and can't wait for the spring when I can open the windows and hear the trains go by in the night.
It surprises me that there was a movement to stop the trains from using their whistles (I guess diesels really have horns, but everyone calls them whistles) in the town limits. Why would anyone move to Port Hope who doesn't like the sound of trains?
I don't mind being stopped at a RR crossing but I really miss cabooses. The FREDs (Flashing Rear End Devices) just don't give me closure.
Here is a steam engine passing over one of Port Hope's viaducts about a decade ago. This was a big deal and the whole town turned out to watch this glimpse into the world of yesteryear. I took this photo and am glad that it included the clock tower from the PH Town Hall in the bottom right corner.
The B&W photo in the attached thumbnail is a photo from the Port Hope Archives.
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