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CP Raitwoy_ Renfrew railway station survives the test of time Being a train operator is the kind at job that sticksclosely to schedule, but it is an agreeable line at work tor two men who work as operators at the UP station in Renfrew. Carl Baker and Blair Latitltow ilk: the consistency at their pin, and they also like being around trains. it they didn't "may said. they “mound the worhdull. Mr Baku aner Laidlowny they are not actually train luau“, but they do have a certain fondness for trains. "There's mimethtng about them." laid Mt Laidlaw, "Thay're in your blood." Hts coworker agreed. "t‘ve jboen across Canada on the “Canadian”. My wile and t havepeuitotticnntcm.lrll ti'it B trip evorybody iituiid like." “When you wt to the mowinan it’s beluttiul." “the two men have been working around train stations tor over 20 years. and most at that time was at the CP station inPembi-oke. Stall cut-harlot there two year: nan in Sept. ms toned thorn in re-locatti to Ruiircw. an the one remaining position in Pembroke was ut aside tor a man who had been there tor over ‘50 years. Despite th: fact they now work in RL‘flh’W.h}“EYEF. Cart Baker and Blair Laniluu have not mowed to town. The) preit'r to commuti- everyday truni Pembroke. although tlitI drive is an added headadie Ln bad weather "The 70 inilesa day round trip is a mental strain." said Ill: Baker. “and the warst time for driving is now" In the foil there's log and in the Winter smw,tiesaid. ‘ “But none at us who have got bumped into tienirvw have moved here." he said. Mr laidluu and Mr Baker started at the chirew station in November 1975 when they were joined by two train dispatchers irom Smith: Falls “use two men were displaced when the dispetcher'l ofiim thorectoud. Now tour operators work three eight hour shitts at the station. manning it 24 hours a day, One man works the "swing" shill. which covers the time betwcen shins. This initially includes an evening iihlit. two midnight shtiLs and two day shifts. Their day-by-diiy workload depends on the number of trains thal go by and this in turn ckpends ‘Jil a nullle of factors. "last night there were four ll'ztlIL‘ doim during the night," Mr Baker and Saturday af- termon. "it Lorie-s you know. "1ch 5 no set pattern it depends on the number oi trams running and the truiiit' " A train tiguniiii : “in. basitally, is to pass aloiii: messages and intrumation to train News. These messages mmc irum dispatchers at stauolis aron Renfrew and are passed on to engineers by way at soiiiaphore system. The position oi ti: two Setllafl'iut't‘ arms indicates whether the train crew has to stop for any messages. said Mr Baker. “it both arms were down the train would have to stop" he said. The system it.ch operates on the sanit- basis as a traiiic light. he said. Three colors inside the anth light up at night. with each meaning something dil- tererit to railway men But you would have to know something about trains to unr derstand the concept contâ€" pletely.ho said. For example, when a train arrives at the Renfrew station it has already received a signal indicating whether there are anymwga‘. it there are, train operator Carl Baker or Blair midlan- attach them to a wooden hoop and take them out to the plat- form Holding the long and oi this lump the) wait for the engine to pull into the station. When it draws alongside they hold it out so the engineer can reach out irom his cat: and remove the mmsagcswith his hand Alter working on the railroad tor a number of years you get to know the train crews. "You get to know everybody by their first name," siitd Mr Baker. since most oi the crew members are tom; term em. ployntsi The Canadian passes through Renfrew twice a day: once on its way west and once out its way east Wainound the train passes tltroush Pembroke, North Bay. Sudhury, White lel' and Kenora. then through the Prairiu and British Columbia. Tickets are no longer sold at the counter in the station. although a metal wicket still decorates the station office. They eon now be bought through a travel agency in Renfrew. througt the station in Ottawa or directy from a conductor on the train. And people do prefer to ride by rail, sai Mr Baker. "There are more people using the train now that there were tit this time last year." he said "there are quite a tow people taking the train." rtnd Ute ldt‘tl to bring skiers into the valley on ski train is alsoa good one."hesoid. "I think it‘s a terrific idea prun'ded they run it when it suits the people." he said. “Any tourist promotion is a good idea." Hts co-worker would also like to see more promotion for trains. "They‘ve git to do something to improve me service and get people backtolt.“hesaid. “l dim't actually use the trains that much." he staid. “l'm an outdoorsmnn.“ One at hisiavoriu: pastimes is snowmobittrug. but snowmobiles can create dele for trains, he said. When it snowmobiler drives on a track he packs down the snow beneath him due to the weight on a track his machine. Then: are electrical con- nections underneath these tracks that could be damaged by packing the snow down too hard. said Mr mom. and a3 train could actually be lined off the [meta by pticked snow. Driving on ii railway trackl can also be ditngerous. he said. "You wouldn't be able to hear the noise of a train behind youi with it helmet on.” he said. ‘ But ll‘tttns tire ioirly versatile. i said Mr Baker. and they can run ’ in most weather conditions. "the only difference the: weather makes on trains is the‘ severe cold," he sold. l Then the number of cars on‘ . the trains has to be reduced.i because not enough air can bel pumped through for the on ll‘ultes. * 1 But trains are still worth looking at. said Mr Baker. in Pembroke people would stop and watch the trelnl to by; as they went grocery shop 1113.: he said. And in Rontrow are; itre always u group of e that watching the Canadian go at the Renfrew Ave cross}; ‘ i “There's just 'obout a trial loseinutlng."suidM And the Canndta "par excenence.“ worker. “it‘s mat with the dome and - “it‘s pot-tat our