Wednesday, November 6, 2013

trains in a flower bed

Every year at the end of October, the greenhouse at Gage Park hosts an impressive themed Mum and Fall Flower Show. This year, the theme was trains. Here are a few trains and signs planted among the displays.



The TH&B (Toronto Hamilton & Buffalo)  locomotive 103 was retired in 1956 but was spared from the scrap yard by an agreement between the railway and the city of Hamilton. It was accepted by the Hamilton Parks Board and moved to the south side of Gage Park where it  became a landmark piece for a generation of people in Hamilton.  Even in retirement the 103 was still used by the TH&B. Their sidings ran along Lawrence Ave., past Gage Park where the locomotive could easily be seen by engineers. Dispatchers used it as a waypoint when shunting cars. "Push 'em back as far as the ol' 103," was common radio chatter.

a previous photo essay can be found here.  but for the immediate future, I'm off to bed with my tea and honey and maybe a wee dram.... will visit everyone later.

some flowery signs for signs, signs

14 comments:

  1. It looks like it was beautiful in there - and fun to see the trains!

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    1. it was beautiful - and ever so lightly scented!

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  2. What a wonderful show to go and see. The trains really do make it special. I would love being there.

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    1. I would have enjoyed seeing a model railway with trains moving around the flowers, but that might have been too much work.

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  3. Looks great - some folk are so creative and inventive! Hope you enjoyed your wee dram! Thanks for visiting my blog.
    Liz

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  4. Lovely show. I love mums. Especially, for some reason, green ones.
    How old is your dram, if I may ask?

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    1. this one was a 15yo Dalwhinnie.
      interesting that you like the green mums.... I've only ever seen them at flower shows.

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  5. Uh oh...do you hqve a cold coming on? 'Tis the season. Love the trains.

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    1. yes I have something nasty (though am feeling better today after a long sleep!)

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  6. Replies
    1. every year has a different theme and also a slightly different colour scheme (or dominant colour)

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  7. What lovely displays! I would have very much enjoyed seeing that.

    Hope you're feeling better very soon. Thanks for visiting and commenting on my signs.

    ~Lindy

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  8. This looks amazing! I love seeing what others can creatively do with flowers.

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