CARM-TC - Talks

"Using the CRHA T&Y Archives to Research the Prototype"
Gordon Billinghurst, CRHA T&Y Archives Curator

CARM-TC Canadian Association of Railway Modellers - Toronto Chapter
2004/06/21 Organizational Meeting
at CRHA T&Y Archives Room, 527b Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto

Notes taken by Ian McIntosh, CARM-TC Secretary

• The Canadian Railroad Historical Association Toronto & York Division Archives are at 527b Mount Pleasant Road, Toronto.
• A 24 hour answering machine is at 416-536-2894.
• An example where information they have could help is modelling the CP yards downtown.
• Archives assets that may help include:
  • Track plans and maps for various locations. The ones shown were about 1.5 x 4 to 6 feet.
    Others can buy CPR track plans via their web site maps section. There is a shipping charge and a charge per map.
  • Car registries, to get proper car numbers.
  • Railway clearances.
  • Engineering plans such as stations, bridges, cattle crossings.
  • Albums of 8x10 photos and plans, eg:
    • The old Weston Road bridge removed in 1981.
    • The Bathurst Street yard.
    • Track maps.
  • A fairly extensive slide collection:
    • Many stations.
    • Freight, maintenance of way and passenger cars.
    • Scenes such as the Don station, the John Street roundhouse (which Gord is modelling in O scale), other areas around the city, Orangeville.
    • CP ships and planes.
  • Some CPR freight car plans showing details and lettering.
  • Track diagrams, such as Canada Southern line from Fort Erie to Windsor.
  • CN car control books showing trackage, eg Windsor, Oshawa and BC.
  • Bound "Canadian Rail" (the CRHA national magazine).
  • "The Turnout" (the CRHA T&Y newsletter).
  • "Canadian Station News" newsletter.
  • "Model Railroader".
  • "Railroad Model Craftsman".
  • About half the issues of "CN SIG" magazine.
  • Employee timetables, some from 1920s.
  • Railway magazines.
  • Information on extinct railways.
  • Binders of rolling stock rosters.
  • Books.
  Examples of most of these were shown.
• Sometimes a garage sale is held to reduce excess assets. The next is July 24th, from 10 to 3, the same day as George's Trains' summer barbeque.
• Visitors are welcome at the T&Y work sessions Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 (except the first Tuesday of each month which is a board meeting).
• Visits at other times can be made by appointment.
• A photocopier is available but nothing may be borrowed.
• CARM-TC members are invited to the monthly meetings (second Thursdays), with book authors, railway people or other speakers.
  • September 9 John Hinbest will show "A Day at Mimico East" filmed one day at that location.
  • In June Richard McQuade presented his book "From Wood to Steel".
  • In May David Brownlow showed a CPR Dental Cars book.
    (Some special cars like school cars, church cars and hospital cars were discussed.)
• The T&Y Division was started in November 1962 with 16 members. It had some rolling stock until 1987 when Harbourfront pushed them out. The rolling stock was mostly sold. Some went to Smiths Falls, some to individuals. An Alco switcher was scrapped because its trucks were in bad shape.
• Until 1984 the archives were kept in a TH&B work car. In 1984 they were moved in one van. Three years ago moving here took 2 24' trailerfulls.

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