There was a record number of positive responses—numbering in excess of 130 personal emails—after I mentioned the subject of Montreal in a recent blog post.

Continuing along that theme, I put a video together that documents for you the historic Canadian Railroad Historical Association (CRHA) steam excursion on the CPR from Montreal to Sutton and return. The power for this trip was G2 Pacific 2580 and D4 Ten Wheeler 489.

The production features the photography of the late L. M. (“Jim”) Guerin. I’d also like to acknowledge the assistance of friends Jim Brown and Bob Sandusky for helping me with the forensic reconstruction of the September 30, 1956 excursion. And also my son Duncan Wilson for providing the musical accompaniment (If They Asked Me) I Could Write a Book on piano.

You can see this first video (of a pair that I entitled “A Tale of Two Excursions”) at this link:

http://ianwilsonauthor.com/canadianbranchline/steam-encounters-at-montreal

P.S. In the video a couple of times, I refer to CPR G2 Pacific 2580 as a “Consolidation Type”. That’s what happens when a CNR author applies his craft to the rival railway! Will correct the sound soon, but I wanted to get this out to you right away.