HELLO MARSTON,
CN TURBO TRAIN 1967-1982 OR ABOUT
THIS SPACE AGE PASSENGER TRAIN WAS TROUBLE PLAGUED FOR THE
FIRST HALF OF ITS LIFE SPAN UNTIL MOST OF THE BUGS WERE ELIMINATED
THERE WAS A BOTTOMLESS PIT TO FIX EVERYTHING, YOUR TAXES PAID THE SHOT.
SOMEBODY OVERLOOKED COUPLERS THAT DIDN'T MATCH TO LET REGULAR DIESELS DRAG
THE JUNK HOME FOR REPAIRS, THE DOORS WOULD NOT OPEN IN THE TERMINAL
STATIONS AS THEY WERE TOO LOW FOR THE PLATFORM. THE TRAIN DIDN'T LIKE TO RUN IN
THE SNOW, IMAGINE THAT.
WHEN EVERYTHING FINALLY CAME TOGETHER THE PASSENGER SERVICE BETWEEN
MONTREAL AND TORONTO, TOOK ABOUT 4 HOURS. TURBO DURING SPEED TESTS EASILY DID
140 MPH, BUT THE TORONTO- MONTREAL CORRIDOR IS 95 MPH MAXIMUM ON ACCOUNT
OF ALL THE LEVEL CROSSINGS AND NOT ENOUGH WARNING TIME. NEED SOME OF THOSE
PREVILLE UNDERPASSES.
FOR ABOUT 4 OR 5 YEARS I WORKED AROUND MONTREAL TERMINAL AND CENTRAL STATION,
FOR THE SIGNAL DEPT.,HAVING FREE REIN ALL THROUGH THE BOWELS & INNARDS OF THE STATION
THE TURBO TRAIN HAD 2 TRACKS SET ASIDE SOLELY FOR THEM, CALLED TURBO BAY,
FOR SERVICE AND REPAIRS,THE TRAIN HAD SEWAGE HOLDING TANKS AFTER EVERY RUN TO DRAIN.
NO MORE FLYING BROWN TROUT ON THE TRACKS AS REGULAR PASSENGER CARS DID.
POWER WAS SUPPLIED BY PRATT & WHITNEY, ALL THE REST WAS HANDLED BY CNR.
NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE PASSING THROUGH THE TURBO SERVICE AREA I SAW PARKERS WITH THEIR
HEADS BUTTED TOGETHER PROBLEM AND DILEMMA SOLVING, SMOKE RISING, AS THEY STUDIED MAPS
ALONG WITH PRINTS. COULD THAT HAVE BEEN CHARLIE MENARY, OR DOUG FRY?
WOULD THE TURBO BE RELEASED FOR A RUN OR NOT AFTER THEY GOT THROUGH
SIFTING & SCRUTINIZING.
ALSO SEEN WANDERING THE DUNGEONS, I CAME ACROSS DOUG CHARLES, HE WAS A CN COP
-LAST TIME I HEARD HE WAS WORKING IN TORONTO.
I HAVE 2 SQUARE BLACK LEATHER CUSHIONS AS A SOUVENIR FROM THE COACHES, BACK THEN
THEY WERE KEPT FOR EMERGENCY EAR POUNDING, AND POWER NAPS.
RICHARD..............
Thanks Mr Hemingway
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