Well, this autumn wound up being a pretty busy time of the year for me, what with school, and hunting... my girlfriend, my family & friends, and much, much more perpetually keeping me in a busy state - something I'm sure many of you can relate to! During these busy times, the occasional insulator hunt, with the occasional truely unique find, only succeed in making me love the thrill of the relentless hunt for that next great insulator that much more!

I'm not entirely sure of the date, as the day was not terribly well documented photographically, but sometime in October of this past year, 2008, I headed out on a hunt with a friend of mine, to a line that neither of us have succeeded in finding much on over the course of our time spent there. The line is the former Michigan Central, here in S.W. Ontario - to modern day railraod enthusiasts, it is known as the "CN CASO Subdivision". The line was built in the area we were hunting in 1873, so threadless glass is available to be had there, if you are lucky enough. More than that, though, is some of the most unusual early U.S. glass that can be found here, but nowhere else in Ontario. For example, the piece on the right in [id=216243094;this photo] was one that turned up this spring.

On this particular occasion, we met up in what appeared to be a promising location, and began to walk the rail bed. However, things did not quickly begin to look up, as we discovered the area were had decided to hunt in was what appeared to be a former shunting yard of some sort, with a wide swath of gravel on the north side of the railbed, where multiple sidings apparently once resided. We continued to press forth, but located nothing more than 2 or 3 intact shards from a couple Hemingray - 42s, a couple "H-dome" H.G.Co. CD 145s, and some porcelain signals, before turning around to head home. I have come to a point in my hunting, where a fruitless hunt is no longer discouraging, but rather, educational. I filed the apparent uselessness of this particular stretch of line away in the bowels of the tempoal lobe of my brain, and went on with the day - making the best of this opportunity to talk with a good friend.

However, the insulator Gods, as they are so renowned for in this hobby, would have none of that, and decided to gift me something to take home, anyways. As we approached the road, and the location of my parked car, I spotted a pole laying in the ditch in piece - apparently chopped up by a farmer for use as a fence post. A number of Hemingray - 42s and 45s were scattered about, mostly still attached to crossarms. I searched each and every one I could find, but didn't find any without substantial gashes, or with anything special about them. You know how it is - it's always nice to find something to take home, even if just a common piece. So, calling the insulator Gods' bluff, I began climbing back up the rail bed, in order to get to the car, say my goodbyes to my fellow collector, and head home. Lo and behold! There, laying on the railbed in front of me, still attached to a piece of crossarm only long enough to accomodate one pin and pin insulator, was... a Hemingray - 42. Dang! But, upon taking a closer look at the piece, I was amazed to find that it, the lonesome mint condition Hemingray - 42 at this pole site, happened to be the only one of interest! A long carbon swath appeared to be contained within the glass, running from the front left base, right back into the rear skirt, and above the embossing on the front skirt. A neat piece for certain!

So, I said my goodbyes, and headed for home, as planned. This time, however, I had a new piece to add to the collection. And, on a day when it appears adding anything as much is quite improbable, that means quite a lot!