And you thought that the ANT EATER was the first aerodynamic truck on the road. Not in Canada.  J.B. BAILLARGEON EXPRESS in MONTREAL was. (I think)

Don't forget, as a commercial chauffer, and representing your company, you were expected to be in working uniform while on the road. Things do not seem to be as formal today.

CHAMPLAIN SEPT-ILES (2 separate companies in the beginning) In the earlier days, 1950's and 1960's, Sept-Iles  ran between Montreal, and Sept-Iles, Quebec,(7 Islands) on the North shore of the St. Lawrence River. The old road was a real challenge at times, and was not for the faint of heart. The road had almost straight up and down hills, with  right angle turns at the bottom. You don't see that kind of grades today, except on mountain logging roads. Later on Champlain & Sept Iles, amalgamated.

The most popular tractor on that run, at that time, was the Autocar. The, (what I called) old cast iron single axel Autocar. With no scales to worry about, it was heavy framed, and the 220 Cummins engine, opened up for all it could get. In the daylight, the long trail of black smoke coming out the stack, told the cars to move over. At night, the flames belching out of the stack, let you know that they were on the move, and taking over control on the narrow winding road. I believe that they were the first, that I know of in Eastern Canada, to incorporate a MOOSE bumper, on the front of the tractor. The winter conditions on that run, could really be treacherous. The high crowned narrow road left no room for error. Many a driver, never made it home in one piece, if at all. There were grades of 14%, passing through small towns on the main street. Another at around 19%, down through a gorge to the river, making an almost right angle turn at the waters edge. Some drivers today shudder at the Rocky Mountain grades on easy going turnpikes. These hills (Mountains) in Eastern Canada were nothing to sneer at. In the case of the gorge hill, they eventually bored a tunnel through the mountain to ease the grade.

This view, shows the tunnel entrance in 1986. About where this photo was grabbed, on the right, is where the old road dropped off. When it snowed along the St Lawrence River, it really snowed. No road clearing was available after dark. If you attempted to go on, you were on your own. You have to understand also, that engine brakes, and retarders, were not around in the 1950's and early 60's. It was up to the driver to control his decent by using his brakes and gears, even dragging his feet when all else failed, trying not to lose it.

As time moves on, nothing stands still. The trucking companies come and go. In this instance, --- There were 3 companies that went belly up.

DUMONT EXPRESS LTEE.  --- Their main route --- MONTREAL, to QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC.

CENTRAL TRUCK LINES LTD. --- Their main route --- MONTREAL, to NORTH BAY, ONTARIO.

BOYD'S EXPRESS LINES LTD. --- Their main route --- MONTREAL, SHERBROOKE, and,

                                                                      LACHUTE, QUEBEC.

The bank took the 3 bankrupt companies over, and put them all into one called DCB, (Derived from the first letter of each of the companies names) built them a brand new Montreal terminal and hired a consulting firm to get the outfit in to a situation where they could be sold, and sold they were, to Brazeau transport in  1976.... which became Cabano, and which in turn, became
Transforce 

OTHER HAPPENINGS IN THE TRANSPORT INDUSTRY, --- (Trucking is always on the move, one way or the other.) 

Champlain ran Montreal Three Rivers and Quebec City. Champlain, who bought Sept Isle Express, and finally got taken up by TNT, and became TNT Quebec, then TNT Overland and finally TST Overland, which is now Transforce.

Just like Speedway, Bellechasse and Rimouski, they were once all individual outfits, then grouped together by Bussieres, who sold them to CNR  (CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILROAD) who bundled them into Route Canada, then Bussieres bought them back
and  held them a few years before he sold them again, this time to Cabano,  and thusly --- Transforce.............

Like I mentioned before, nothing stands still in trucking.

IMPERIAL ROADWAYS Ran between Montreal, Quebec, and Toronto, Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and points west. In the 1960's and earlier, they had the old bubble nose cab over GMC's. Also known as the "Cannonball" model, from the 1950's Canadian TV series involving truckers saving the day. Later on they were real heavy into Kenworth tractors, pulling "A" trains.

Earlier type equipment running the North Shore, (St Laurence River), Province of Quebec.

Left, Canadian built Sicard, Centre, "B" Model Mack, and Right, Canadian White, Western Star.

1979 TWIN 45s EN ROUTE TO MONTREAL. Conservation of fuel, and the fear of running out, was the reason for the Government of Quebec to grant Bellechase Transport, a special permit to haul twin 45 foot trailers, on designated routes.

Many other photos and descriptions will be added at a later date.

             ------------ William (Diesel Gypsy) Weatherstone.                RETURN TO HOME PAGE

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