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Hi, and welcome to my Home Page, my name is Jim Lalonde. Be sure to click on my Genealogy Page Link as there are lots of old family photos there along with my Family Tree.

I was born in STRATFORD,ONTARIO,CANADA. In 1932. A small town in a farming community of about 18,000 citizens back then.The main industry was the CANADIAN NATIONAL RAILWAYS LARGE REPAIR SHOP. Where I started my 5 year apprenticeship in 1950 and at that time, we had STEAM LOCOMOTIVES only. In my 4th year of my apprenticeship, I had to go to an out of town ROUNDHOUSE for a 1 year period, as part of the program, and in order to get training on LIVE Locomotive running repairs.

I elected to go to LONDON, ONTARIO, and after completion of my 1 year term, was asked to stay on as a machinist. I did stay until 1959 when the DIESEL LOCOMOTIVES came in and replaced all of our STEAM LOCOMOTIVES. This led to my being laid off. I then worked a few odd jobs, from department stores and as a sub-contractor for a plumbing/heating outfit, where I installed hot water heating systems in homes, then on to machine shops and I soon became disallusioned..:-(

WHAT IS A NUTSPLITTER?

LYRICS TO OH CANADA

In 1962 I came down to LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA and started working on all types of Diesel Locomotives,running repairs, with the SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY. I retired in 1997 a combined total of 44 years of Railway experience. I loved my work and it was very good for me.

My wife Mary Ann and I have been happily living together since 29 Feb. 3rd 1978. We did get married, but we use our first date as as the start of our new lives together. We discovered and bought our first webtv unit Feb.14,1998, and have just had a ball, we have met many new friends through newsgroups,and are still meeting new friends every day. In November2002 I bought a computer and still have NOT figured out how to use the darn thing, makes me crazy. We have a happy and loving life and the "Golden Years" ain't too bad.:-)

We belong to a hiking group, and hike the local mountain trails, we only do up to 10 miles, as we are all seniors, and get pooped easily.;-) We now have 8 cats.(We also had 3 dogs) We also take bus rides with a seniors group to Las Vegas, and Laughlin Nevada. I Hope this has not been too boring to you. As the sign says when leaving Kincardine, Ontario,"Will Ye No Come Back Again". Thanks for dropping in.

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