Cape Breton's Magazine

of divers, they turned the engine over in the river and built a temporary railroad underneath. Locomotive No. 62 was hauled ashore and onto the main line. It was removed to Glace Bay, rebuilt, and returned to the S&L; Line for another 25 years service. Surviving crew members of that ill-fated train went on to other things. Conductor Charles J. MacDonald eventu? ally became Secretary of La? bour for Nova Scotia. George Wadden was promoted to become S&L; conductor at Sydney. Har? ry Cann, who survived the Mi? ra wreck, was later killed in a railroad accident at Morien Junction. Charles Dick? son, the fireman who jumped to safety sec? onds before the crash, was interviewed by the Sydney Post Record and noted that to his knowledge, the draw bridge had not been opened for years before that fateful afternoon in April 1903. Our thanks to Penny Marshall, Director, UCCB Press, for per? mission to offer a portion from Tracks Across the Landscape. Thanks as well to Brenda Barry, Goose Lane Editions, for her help with text and photographs. All photos property of the S & L Railroad Historical Society. Tracks Across the Landscape, a commemorative history of the S&L; Railroad, is available wherever books are sold, or directly from UCCB Press, P. O. Box 5300, Sydney, Nova Scotia BI P 6L2 • a $19.95 paperback. VOLUME ONE BOOKSTORE Bag No. 200 Port Hawkesbury Centre Port Hawkesbury, N. S. BOE 2V0 Phone (902) 625-1514 Phoebe Timmons Res.: 863-1825 Wilson Timmons Res.: 345-2387 133 Church St. Antigonish Shopping Centre Antigonish, N. S. B2G 2E3 Phone (902) 863-4112 VOLUME TWO BOOKSTORE ' ''m' RENTALS 'y SALES...RENTALS...SERVICE CONTRACTORS • THOMAS LOADERS • PRESSURE WASHERS • WELDERS • AIR COMPACTION EQUIPMENT • CONCRETE EQUIPMENT • FLOOD LIGHTS • GENERATORS • SCAFFOLDING • WATER PUMPS • CONSTRUCTION HEATERS HOMEOWNERS • PRESSURE WASHERS • CHAIN SAWS • ELECTRIC TOOLS • LADDERS • UWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT • PLUMBING EQUIPMENT • VACUUM EQUIPMENT • WOOD SPLITTERS 539-4909 OR 562-1185 ' 1 AFTER HOURS/EMERGENCY FAX: 562-6985 1 Ken Miller 562-4063 • Fred Keough 562-5911 * ' 795 GRAND LAKE RD., SYDNEY At Clark's Siding, heading to Louisbourg Farewell My last run for DEVCO I remember quite well, Joe R he was driving and going like hell. We had 202 the pretty and Red Van And Alex-Nick was the con-duc-tor man. I felt a bit blue but didn't let on We had Charlie Dickson, and we had Donald John, When we started our work out, 'twas snowing quite hard. "The shop first," said Angle, "and then the Coal Yard. "When you finish the Coal Yard, there's no time for soup: O'Neil's has no empties, get a train off the loop." Wherever I wander, and wherever I go, I will always remember the High and the Low. I gave up my turn and I'm done using sand, I'm heading for Louisbourg, the best in the land. I'm going on pension and happy for that And I'm asking you Gillis, LOOK Ai=TER THAT CAT. Now time is a-passing, I must end this rhyme; The day's work is over, we're in just on time. I gave my lunch can to Kenny, for myself kept the quart, God bless you all and the DONALD REPORT. ARCHIE MACVICAR, November 29, 1968 Response No more stories, no more lies For all that's left of us poor working guys. We're going to miss you and miss you a lot We'll see at Christmas and I hope have a shot. THE S&L; BOYS. November 30, 1968 The poems above were composed by Archie MacVi- car and Joe R. MacDonald on the occasion of Mr. MacVicar's retirement from a lifetime around the tracks, first with the S & L and then with the DEVCO Railway. The "Donald Report" that is referred to is the report of a Royal Commission that recommended nationalizing the Cape Breton coal mines and the transfer of the S & L Railway to DEVCO. CAPE CARE SERVICES Quality Personal Care LTD. Serving All A Cape Bretony ~ AT HOME OR IN HOSPITAL ~ • RN's • RN Supervised • CNA's • Screened • Bonded • Insured • Home Care Workers • Reasonable Rates FREE IN-HOME ASSESSMENT 282 GEORGE STREET • SYDNEY • 562-2444