As the title states, I would like to know if anyone on this board has ridden on any of 6167's excursions during the 1960's. If so I want to hear about it!

As I mentioned a while back, I'm trying to compile a list of 6167's excursions.

There were about 50 excursions during this period, and sp far I've got reliable information on 9, and leads on another 25 or so. All of this information is here:

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/6167/excursions.html. I've recently gotten my hands on the program for the Doubleheader with 6218 on September 26 and 27 1967, and have added it all to my website. Plus several pictures and ticket stubs.

Check Ron Ziel's book's "Twilight of Steam Locomotives" and "Steam in the Sixties" (co-authored with George Foster). Both have extensive photos of 6167 and 6218, sometimes alone, sometimes double-headed.

I'm just surprised that no one here ever rode behind her. I know that the Buffalo and Rochester NRHS chapters sponsored a number of trips behind her in Canada (out of Fort Erie), The Michigan Railroad club too. I've been told that she ran to Chicago, and even into Vermont the odd time.

I do have photos of her in excursion service, but its the personal accounts that I would really like to hear. They really help to bring the engine back to life so to speak.

Hi, Joe:

I'm a product of CN's last full year of regular service steam.

I saw 6167 (and CN's previous fantrippers, for that matter) on numerous trips and ferry runs through Brockville, Ontario, but was too young to be allowed to ride any of these trips.

I was fortunate, at age 12, to be taken by my parents to ride one of 6218's retirement trips out of Belleville in '71.

That was just the beginning of my addiction, as I later rode plenty of trips behind 6060 and many other steamers since, and was lucky to work on a couple too.

It's just an age thing, I was too little and my parents were unwilling when 6167 was running...

:-)

Steve Hunter
Cardinal, Ontario

I vaguely remember seeing her run through London and St. Thomas, Ontario when I was around 5 or 6 years old, but I never rode behind her. However, I have a picture or two of it somewhere.
I did however ride behind 6218 and 6060 in the late 60's and early '70's.

I saw it a number of times as a boy through my hometown of Georgetown Ontario. My father took me on at least two 6167 excursions around 1961-1963 He also took me out to see it any time it was running as well as in later days when it was replaced by the 6218. My Dad was a wonderful man who instilled a lifelong love of trains in me

Do you recall any dates or take any pictures?

When I was 11, I rode behind 6167 on a York Ry. Club trip on a sunny,Saturday, June 24th, 1964. The trip was from Toronto to Niagara Falls with stops at Sunnyside and Hamilton. Water was taken at Hamilton in both directions and at the NF roundhouse.

I'll never forget how impressive 6167 looked coming westbound on the 4 track mainlineas it approached the curve lreading to Sunnyside platform. I spent most of my time in baggage car 9166 listening to the sounds of the engine working. They didn't kid around on these trips, track speed plus, especially if they were running late coming back in to Toronto. Most of these trips out of Toronto were sponsored by the Upper Canada Ry. Society but the York Ry. Club and the Toronto Train Trip Assoc. may have done others.

I also visited Spadina roundhouse several times after 6167 was retired. It was stored beside the then operational, 6218 until donated to Guelph in 1967. Incidentally, there was an appeal in Railroad Magazine from a Mr. Emery around 1965 that was asking the railfan community to raise the $10,000. to retube 6167.

This was my only trip on 6167 as it was retired after the Sept. doubleheaders to Scotia and Paris in Sept. '64 but many 6218 trips were to follow.

Gord McOuat
Master Mechanic
HCRR (10 miles from project 6167)

Gord,

6167 was in Belleville as part of railway week on that date, also June 24th, 1964 was Wednesday.

Did you get any photos, ticket stubs, flyers etc? Also, do you have a copy of that advert you mentioned?

Hi Joe.

The memory ain't what it used to be. The York trip to TO-NF trip was definitely a Sat. in June of '64, the 14th maybe?

Sorry, didn't take pics and the paperwork is long gone.

Regards,
Gord

My Dad took some Super 8 movies of 6167 as well as 6218

The project is coming along well. I now have some shred of info on at least 38 trips, and have received a several photos, ticket stubs and have gotten copies of 6 programs so far, all of which have been added to the site.

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/6167/excursions.html

Joe, have you had any info on a late night trip Toronto- Ottawa, travelling over the Smiths Falls Subdivision late at night, which achieved high speeds to make up time on the straighter sections near Smiths Falls?

The only info I have is anecdotal in nature and while my source identified it as a 6167 trip, I suppose it might have been 6153 or 6218 instead. The date, or even year, is unknown.

Steve Hunter

This one:

http://www.trainweb.org/j.dimech/6167/ex19630900.html#3

So you heard that she passed through Smith Falls? Was this from a resident of Smith Falls?

I found a picture dated Sep 14, 1963 at Pembrooke, and the only reason I can think of her being there is that trip. In the UCRS flyer for the 6167's last trips it makes mention of this trip covering approximately 700 miles, and that it did happen in 1963.

When I first tried to determine the route, my first assumption was that she did take the route through Smith Falls, but for various reasons, I ended up writing down a slighty different route. It sounds like your source might be legit. I will revise the article when I have time.

Interesting, and not lost on some railroaders, was that even during these years of closing steam out, people rallied to the trackside to witness these excursions. Steam power was still an object of intense fascination in the final days. Hello? CNR, are you listening???