Golf Cart vs Locomotive

[Dwight in Toronto]

Shortly after retiring, I needed a little something more, just to help keep busy.  I serendipitously fell into a part-time job repairing/maintaining a fleet of 120 gasoline golf carts at a 36 hole course, just a 20 minute walk from my house.  I show up when I want, I leave when it starts to feel like work, and the pocket change supports my model train hobby.

There is a very busy Canadian National freight mainline that runs right through the middle of the course, with one level crossing so golfers can reach the other side.  Although there are no gates, nor signals, nor any automated warning of any sort, the approach path is more than adequately marked and sight lines are clear and unimpeded for immense distance in both directions.

The course has been in operation for over 50 years, and although there have been a few close calls, the first collision happened yesterday.  The golfer was shaken up but uninjured.  Ambulance took him to a nearby hospital for assessment, where CN police reportedly served him with an $800 fine (locomotive dash-cam shows that he was indisputably negligent). 

I now have only 119 carts to take care of - there’s no fixing this one!

[Lenny53]

CN police reportedly served him with an $800 fine

Plus $104 HS tax

[oakcreekco]

A new meaning for fore.

[Point353]

A new meaning for fore.

And for hazard.

[lock4244]

@Dwight in Toronto

If it wasn't for that Via train there I'd swear this was Remington Parkview along the freight only York Sub... the curve and those hydro pylons are in the right place on the north or the track.

[jagged ben]

....  The golfer was shaken up but uninjured.  ...

No way.

[nkalanaga]

Probably jumped before the cart was hit.  Emotionally shaken, possibly minor injuries from hitting the ground, but missed by the train.

[Dwight in Toronto]

@Dwight in Toronto

If it wasn't for that Via train there I'd swear this was Remington Parkview along the freight only York Sub... the curve and those hydro pylons are in the right place on the north or the track.

@lock4244  - Wow, you are GOOD my friend!   It is indeed Parkview golf course.  And the fact that it was a VIA Rail passenger train that hit the cart made this an even more peculiar and rare event. 

Passenger trains were being re-routed over the weekend because the Lakeshore lines were closed for maintenance.  Good catch, guy!

[lock4244]

@lock4244  - Wow, you are GOOD my friend!   It is indeed Parkview golf course.  And the fact that it was a VIA Rail passenger train that hit the cart made this an even more peculiar and rare event. 

Passenger trains were being re-routed over the weekend because the Lakeshore lines were closed for maintenance.  Good catch, guy!

I lived in Scarborough for four decades before moving to Iowa; the Plughat Rd bridge at Beare was one of my favorite local spots to shoot so I'm pretty familiar with that area. The hydro pylons are the bane of the long fill, ruin the shot imo. The cart driver should probably buy a lottery ticket, the odds of being hit by a passenger train on that stretch of the York are pretty long, lol. I know of people who would in years past sneak onto the green in order to shoot CN, but that was a few decades ago, somewhat grown in now. Closest I ever got to the GC was shooting the Havelock Sub from CN's Ninth Line (guess it's Donald Cousins Pkwy now) bridge.

[Dwight in Toronto]

You certainly know the area well.  You and I have talked about our Scarborough roots before, here on TRW. 

I’ve been meaning to get some pics of trains crossing that high, long bridge that traverses Parkview’s valley course.  I’m most interested in trying to get some winter shots, as soon as possible after heavy snowfalls.  Maybe this coming winter. 

[lock4244]

You certainly know the area well.  You and I have talked about our Scarborough roots before, here on TRW. 

I’ve been meaning to get some pics of trains crossing that high, long bridge that traverses Parkview’s valley course.  I’m most interested in trying to get some winter shots, as soon as possible after heavy snowfalls.  Maybe this coming winter.

A friend used to play that course and photograph trains there before the hydro pylons went in. I'd imagine the trees were a lot shorter back then... early 80's or even late 70's.