The Canadian Railroad Historical Society has launched the book, St. Lambert: A Train of Thought, by Lorne Perry.
The book helps readers relive the glory days of steam railroading in St. Lambert, a south shore suburb of Montreal, through the Depression, and to the end of steam in 1959.
The 123-page hard-cover book contains text and hundreds of photos and illustrations.
The following description is from a promotional flyer about the book.
The story starts with an historical overview, the age of steam and trolley, and ends with a look at the changes over the last 50+ years.
In the 1950s St. Lambert was a beehive of CNR rail activity. Some 80 to 100 passenger and freight trains, light engines and transfers a day polished the rails; CNR steam and early diesel trains were augmented with Central Vermont steam and oil electrics and Rutland Railroad passenger trains.
As if that wasn’t enough, the Montreal & Southern Counties electric interurban railroad had its main office and carbarn in St. Lambert. The M&SC offered frequent service to Montreal and to towns to the east, such as Marieville and Granby.
The local scene around St. Lambert had many similarities to dozens of important railway locations acros Canada, but also featured its own special characteristics and events. The role of the railways in this suburb of Montreal is well described in order to situate their position in the social fabric of the community. Times have changed over the years but the trains still rumble through.
The book costs about $55 and is also available in French, Saint-Lambert : Train de vie. Inside each book is a 50-minute DVD that contains four narrated short 16mm films.
Copies of the book are available from the Canadian Railroad Historical Society by sending a cheque or credit card information to: CRHA, 110 Saint-Pierre Street, Saint-Constant, Quebec J5A 1G7. Contact the society for exact price and shipping at info@exporail.org. Or you may order by phone at 450-638-1522 ext 244. Copies are also available to purchase in person at the Exporail, the Canadian Railway Museum’s gift shop.
