Ken MacDonald was a prolific railway photographer who lived in Fredericton, New Brunswick. He was born in 1928 and died three years ago today, on August 20, 2023 at the age of 95. I only learned of this recently.
I wouldn’t say that I knew Ken well, but we crossed paths several times over the years that I was an active railfan in Fredericton. I believe that he attended the Fredericton model railway meetings, and we were on a couple of railfan excursions together.
The most memorable excursion was the VIA Veteran Train chase, in November 2005. David Morris, Peter Gough, Ken and I chased the super long special west from Brookfield, Nova Scotia to Moncton, New Brunswick. I think Peter was driving. Ken wasn’t super talkative but he was pretty spry for a 77 year old man.
A year later, the same group (minus David) chased the VIA War Brides train east from Miramichi, NB to Oxford Junction, NB.
Here we are in Oxford Junction at the end of the War Bride train chase. Left to right: Peter Gough, Ken, Dara Legere and myself. I must have had my camera on a tripod with a timer.
In May 2006, Ken, David and I chased what was thought to be the last stainless steel “Ocean” from Oxford Junction to Moncton. The Renaissance cars were due to completely replace the Budd cars, but with most 20 years of hindsight, that was by no means the last stainless Ocean.
Ken was a soft spoken but friendly gentleman. He was a barber for many years so he could talk with anyone.
I remember he pulled out a couple of photo albums when I was at his house one time and I marvelled at his photos of Fredericton back when it had trains.
Ken’s photos have appeared in several books, and they are now with the Middleton Railway Museum. I look forward to seeing scans of them in the years to come.
My condolences to his family and friends. Ken’s obituary is here.