When I first began railroading at Lambton Yard in the '50's I heard frequent
references to the "Diamond" which of course, I knew meant West Toronto Diamond.
Very infrequently I would hear a reference to the "Northern Diamond". At first
I assumed it was north of the (West Toronto) Diamond. I soon found out it was
EAST of the Diamond. (I never wondered why it was called "Northern" instead of
"Eastern"). Once I began to learn about other railways I first thought its
early history was Canadian Northern since I knew of its existance as a
component of the CNR. As I learned more about the history of railways I
discovered it was actually the Northern Railway of Canada which hadn't existed
for a century! Talk about old names lasting a long time. In more recent years,
since the existance of the CROR places were given a name that never had one in
the employee time tables. The Northern Diamond became Davenport Diamond.
Nowadays, like so many other things lost to antiquity I doubt there is anyone
on the railway who knows how the former Northern diamond got its name.
Other old names that still hold on are tracks and industries. In West Toronto
Yard there is a track still known as the water track. It was a lead track that
steam yard locomotives used to get to a water stand every four hours. Nobody
could tell you that now even if there was someone still working at Lambton Yard!
Industries often change ownership yet, crews still refer to the old name. A
good example is the former Alkaril (chemicals) private siding near Cooksville.
It changed to Rhone-Poulenc and is now Rhodia. Yet, it is still called
Al-kah-rill. Old names die hard!
--- In cpsig@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Derek Boles <derekboles@...> wrote:
This wouldn't be the first time that the Northern Railway of Canada
has been confused with the Canadian Northern. Several poorly
researched books on various aspects of Toronto history have done the
same which, of course, perpetuates the error. The NRC was originally
the Ontario, Simcoe & Huron, the first railway to operate out of
Toronto in 1853. In 1858, it was renamed the NRC.
Derek Boles
