The train 31

work. These men faithfully kept the railway safe for travel with

general maintenance and supervision of the roadbed for a num- ber of miles on either side of the station.

The general make up of the daily train was a contrast in color and design. Next to the engine came an assortment of boxcars, refrigerator cars (reefers) for potatoes, flat, oil and cattle cars. Then came the baggage car which carried the mail and other more important articles of passage. Last of all came the passenger cars, usually two or three, complete with coal stoves, drinking water tanks, lavatories, oil lamps and a walled- off smoking section. Second-class cars were fitted with leatherette seats while first class ones had cloth seats and a somewhat brighter appearance. Apart from the dull grey of the passenger and baggage cars, the rest were generally brownish with frequent inclusion of yellow, red, black, white and other shades as well. Many of the names appearing on the box cars were a lesson in geography and gave the train a national or even international flavor. Some of these names written largely across the side included CN, CP, Quebec Central, Ontario Northland, BC Railway, Sante Fe, Great Northern, New York Central, New Haven and Hartford, and many more.

Until the end of the 1940s it was the majestic steam engine that powered the Murray Harbour trains. This huge and ani- mal-like engine has left unforgettable memories. Its powerful appearance with so many wheels, its puffing sound, heavy coal smoke swelling from its stack and its special horn were only a few of the features that gave it that unique charm. In its time it is doubtful if any other machine attracted such admiration and awe. On calm evenings its smoke could be seen and horn heard for miles around. By 1950 small, insignificant-looking diesel engines replaced these steam wonders and with the latter’s disappearance went as well the train’s very soul.

In Winter time a large snowplow was frequently attached to the front of the engine while hooked to the rear of the train would be a flanger, a box-car sized affair that kept the snow off the tails and trim around the road bed in general. Following a storm It was common to hear through the night a special speeding by, consisting of an engine, snowplow and maybe a flanger and Caboose in order to clear the track for next morning. On those Occasions a whistle was used instead of the usual horn. Even though the household would be awakened by this nocturnal Prowler, it was nevertheless a comforting sound in those wee hours. Although Dad and neighbors did some snow shovelling