This photo shows diesel locomotives in Port McNicoll to test the trestle. Steam is being replaced by diesel across the CPR, Port will be the last place in Ontario to use regularly assigned steam. Hood unit 4012 is a model FA1 built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1950 and will be retired in 1965, 8598 is a road switcher model RS10 also built by MLW but in 1956 and retired in 1982. The scene is beside the coal trestle & chute in the Port yard. Official were concerned about the weight of the engines affecting the trestle, combined weight was 518,000 pounds.
This photo was taken in the spring of 1956
Caption courtesy of Tom Barber

All comments and questions are welcome.

Tremendous improvement in Port McNicoll streets following the completion of the paving program is evidenced in the pictures above. In the first photo is a section of Fourth Ave. the main business section. From north to south the following businesses and buildings can be seen: The United Church, Zmuach’s Five and Dime, Dack’s Butcher Shop, Homer Beausloeil’s TV Repair, A fruit Market, Herman Sauvé’s Grocery Store and a Drug Store that may or may not have belonged to John and Ann Kent   The last photo shows 7th Ave. looking north toward the public school. Third Street, running east and west, was also been paved.

These photos appeared in the Midland Free Press on October 22nd, 1958.

All comments and corrections are most welcome.

The above photo was published on page 12 the Midland Free Press September 3rd, 1958.
Van Pypen’s Department Store can be seen in the background as 4th Ave is resurfaced.
This is the caption that accompanied the photo:
“It’s quite a mess right now, but Port McNicoll’s Fourth Ave will be a much improved thoroughfare in a few weeks, when badly-needed new paving is installed. Seventh Ave. and Third Street will also be paved
in a program which also includes ditching, curbing and the laying of some sidewalks.”

This photo appeared on the front page the same day – September 3rd, 1958 with the following caption:
“These two men, Kenneth Price, left, and Kelvin Ward, are in charge of the paving program now underway at Port McNicoll. Mr. Price of Toronto is an engineer for 0. A. Meadows and Associates Ltd., while Mr. Ward, from Barrie, is foreman for the Disher-Farrand Co. Portions of three village streets are getting new paved surfaces.”

As always your comments and corrections are appreciated. Please feel free to share your information so we all can learn from them.