Author Archives: nfroese

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About nfroese

Neil Froese is a retired teacher residing in Ontario with his wife, Eileen. Growing up and living in southern Manitoba in the 1950's to the late 1980's, Neil's interest in trains was piqued by the visual and sound drama of early Canadian Pacific steam on cold, crisp winter mornings as the trains would dutifully deliver most anyone and everything to and from the towns and villages in southern Manitoba. The CPR station with its "agent" was the commercial and in many ways, the social hub of prairie towns until 1950's when train passenger service was terminated as more and more persons choose the independence of the automobile and the use of better highway infrastructure. However, a pre- Christmas winter ride on the CPR passenger train with his mother and brothers from Mather to Winkler in the 1950's to spend time with the grandparents was "as good a gift as was needed" as far as Neil was concerned. To a young boy 8 years of age, It was a great, unique experience - always to be remembered!

415 The Napinka Subdivision, Mile 0 to Mile 49

Picture61994/08, CPR/Napinka Sub. Mile 28. The end of the train in Mather. A different car – a 3 bottom Soo Line hopper. (Soo Line is owned by CPR) Note the “end of train device” attached to the end coupler of this car. This device provides a visual warning signal from the rear of the train in daytime and night time. As well, a vital function of this device is to indicate and regulate the brake line pressure by communicating with its’ partner device in the engineer’s cab. Because cabooses have already been taken out of service at this time, the conductor now rides in the engine. Distance verbal communication, instead of being done by telegraph, is now done by train phone and relay towers. (Click on photo for detail)  © Text and Photos exclusive copyright of N. Froese.