CANADIAN RAILWAY HISTORY
November 2011
Exporail (CRHA)Three pieces of equipment donated to Exporail by the AMT have arrived – Locomotive 1311, generator car 603 and coach 1101 are on site for your viewing. Exporail sincerely thanks the AMT for this generous donation. Michael Berry submitted the following shots taken at the Exporail CRHA museum at St. Constant/Delson, QC on October 1st. Included are the steaming “John Molson”, ex-VIA FP9Au 6309 and the newly acquired ex-AMT/GO coach, AMT GP9u 1311 and ex-VIA SGU placed around the turntable.
The fall colours are fading, the leaves are falling and winter is on its way. In November, Exporail will be operating on a ‘between season’ schedule. In November, Exporail will be open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 AM to 17:00 (5:00 PM). From Everywhere to you at the Hays Station – This new permanent exhibition illustrates the role of rail yards and the management of rail movements. Learn what goes on behind the scenes in railway operation. Railway Witnesses, Memory of a Nation – This new temporary exhibition highlights the important role played by railway companies in Canada’s history for the past 175 years. It is generously illustrated with artefacts from the CRHA Archives. November 5 and 6th All Time Favourites - learn which is the favourite exhibit at Exporail as chosen by the general public? From November 26 to January 6, a Railway Christmas – Enjoy this special season with many special events planned especially for children. Mail your letter to Santa Claus from our restored mail-express car! Drawing for a VIA Rail Canada trip to Vancouver – While at Exporail, buy a ticket at the gift shop, at a cost of $10 each, for a chance to win a first class trip for 2 persons from Montreal to Vancouver, courtesy of VIA Rail Canada; second prize is a package for 2 aboard the Le Massif Charlevoix train; third prize is a dinner train experience on the Orford Express, proceeds go to help support Exporail! Canadian RailThe November - December issue of Canadian Rail will feature an article on CNR X-10-a class Suburban Class tank locomotives. These unique engines hauled CNR Lakeshore commuter trains until the late 1950’s. Canadian Rail is mailed to CRHA members and is available at better hobby shops.
Jean-Paul Viaud shot
the AMT equipment donated to Exporail, now at their new home and
Canadian Pacific 4-4-0 144, decorated for the Christmas season. An historic Dominion Atlantic Railway trestle bridge in Nova Scotia that has spanned the Sissiboo River for nearly 100 years has been dismantled for safety reasons. The three-month dismantling process began on the New Edinburgh side of the Sissiboo River at the end of July 2011 with work on the Weymouth side started in mid-August. Site supervisor Darlo Sellers of R.J. MacIsaac Construction in Antigonish said the trestle is a hazard. “The abutments and pillars are unsafe,” said Sellers. “The wear and tear on these portions of the train trestle is even greater below the water level.”Each support pillar will be blasted so that it falls like a felled tree and the material from the pillar used on a pad in the river to help with removal of debris. The trestle over the Sissiboo River was built in 1914 to replace an earlier wooden trestle that was built when the line from Yarmouth to Digby opened in 1879. Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR) operated the line in the early 1900s until rail service ceased many years later and the tracks were taken up.
These two links contain shots of various stages of the demolition, and historical photos of the bridge including a DAR Budd car: (The Digby County Courier) TRHAThe Toronto Railway Heritage Association's (TRHA) ex-VIA LRC locomotive 6917 is currently stored and being worked on at VIA's Toronto Maintenance Centre in Mimico by TRHA volunteers. Batteries have been installed and the electrical systems have been tested. Work is ongoing and it is hoped that the unit will be started up before the New Year. (with notes from Dan Garcia) In a follow-up to Walter’s TRHA shots last month, Jim Southerland submitted his photos of the CN and CP Roundhouse taken in 1976.
Donated by the Canadian Pacific Railway, CPR Buffet Solarium Parlour Car “River Forth” was transported by truck from Ogden Yard, to Heritage Park in Calgary, AB, in mid-October. Built in 1929 by National Steel Car as CP Buffet Solarium Parlor “RIVER FORTH”, it was one of 15 similar tail end cars built for the “Trans Canada Limited”. In 1944, it became Buffet Compartment Lounge “CAPE KNOX”, and in 1964 became Official Car 21. It was transferred to CP Work Service in 1974 as CP 411752 (Winnipeg Foreman), and when retired has been stored at Ogden Yard for many years. (History and photo by Cor van Steenis). See the Calgary Herald article and video at the following link:
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/Video+Heritage+Park+Addition/5523718/story.html
Three great photos from the collection of Walter Pfefferle to bring back those wonderful memories of the days of steam.
© CRO November 2011 |
