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Good Morning Will,
Devon Generous asked me to send you a bit of our story:
We have been working on this project for about 4 years. When we moved here we found a phenomenal community called Ogema, SK. It was their dream, since they rescued an identical railway station and brought it to Ogema, to have a tourist train. Fortunately for both of us eleven years ago a groups of farmers and local residence made the discussion to purchase the 114.5 kilometers of rail line when CP decided to quit servicing it.
With this team of people deciding to work together we are now at the point where we are able to buy our equipment and can see our launch becoming a reality. We are in the process of purchasing a GE 44-tonner from the Conway Scenic Railway in New Hampshire and a 1920's ex-Delaware Lackawanna & Western Railroad coach that is in Gettysburg, PA, currently owned by Gettysburg and Northern Railway.
http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/2010/12/southernprairecherylgenerous.htm
We are in the process of raising money: we have a 200 club. This is where we need 250 people to contribute $200.00 to the locomotive fund. and 150 people to contribute $150.00 to wards a coaches. Our goal is to have 3 coaches. These clubs will pay off the loan for the purchase of both the locomotive and coach.
We are also in the www.refresheverything.ca contest. We are in the $100,000.00 category. This contest runs until the end of December. We are also in the www.joeysonly.ca until the end of the month of November. Our website is www.southernprairierailway.com where we have quick links to both sites. The project that gets the most votes gets the money.
I have attached a picture of the locomotive and station. Please feel free to use them as space will allow.
Sincerely,
Cheryl-Ann Generous CEO Southern Prairie Railway www.southernprairierailway.com
Hi Will,
Effective Monday November 15th, 2010 CP 290/291 have been extended from Bensenville, Il to Sutherland, SK in order for US/North line traffic to bypass the busy yards of Winnipeg and St. Paul. One expected change will be CP 454/455 are now 452/453, and will get a lot more run-through US-based CP units, i.e. SOO, DME, ICE, CITX, US Class Ones repaying HPH, into Saskatoon, SK. Here's photo of a recent CP 291 - a taste of things to come.
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=343024&nseq=0
Note the trailing CITX 3072 in the photo is the one-of-a-kind Alstom demo painted unit. This train is not without precedent. Years ago there was a direct Edmonton - St. Paul train via Saskatoon. As well CP 654 runs on 290s new routing to be handed off to CSX. To date the only outbound unit potash train I've seen that wasn't DPUd - just two GE's up front. Probably a Saskatoon - Chicago grainer as well. This is a welcomed reversal of fortune for the line. A couple years ago there was just one train CP 454/455 with 103/104 taking the mainline through Regina.
CRO Western Coordinator Saskatoon, SK
Hi Will, Enjoyed my first look at your site. And, the feature on the CN GP40-2 Wide Cabs. Twenty of them were acquired here in New England by PanAm Rwys (Guilford Rail) and are in freight service in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and eastern New York. I believe they are pretty much the same configuration as with the CN. I have some photos if you are interested. The units are decorated in three different paint schemes – Guilford gray, PanAm black and blue and Pan Am dark blue. Thanks. Ron Palmquist, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
The Rick Mercer Report in November on CBC, had a super segment on the 125th Anniversary of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the symbolic driving of the last spike in 1885. Some great scenes on Stoney Creek Bridge, and interesting and funny commentary. If you missed it, check it out here. http://www.youtube.com/mercerreport
The Montreal Railway Modellers Association MRMA/AMFM (L'Assocition des Modelistes Ferroviaires de Montreal AMFM “60ieme Anniversaire”) held their 60th Anniversary party on November 21st 2010. We enjoyed a delicious meal and met with several former members who had many stories to share.
I have created a new FACEBOOK page for the Montreal Railway Modeler's Association club. Please join us.
Bonjour à tous!
Notre diner du soixantième anniversaire a été un franc succès. Plus de cinquante personnes ont assisté à l’évènement qui a permis à certains de socialiser, de se retrouver et d’apprécier l’évolution de notre grand réseau. D’autres en ont profité pour rouler leurs trains dans une ambiance agréable.
Une page d’histoire a été tournée aujourd’hui. Nous devons regarder l’avenir de façon positive et manœuvrer pour assurer la pérennité de notre association. Denis Guérin a tracé un portrait historique du passé de l’AMFM qui démontre qu’il est possible de passer à travers bien des épreuves quand les membres sont solidaires.
En après midi, un magnifique cadeau nous a été offert par la famille Desautels, il s’agit d’une photo du pont de Stoney-Creek traitée électroniquement transférée sur toile. L’œuvre sera exposée et mise en valeur dans nos locaux à la mémoire de Guy.
Je tiens à remercier Pierre Legault, Guy Major, William Baird, Denis Guérin et tous les autres membres qui ont collaboré à faire de cette journée un moment inoubliable.
Yves Cloutier Président de l'AMFM (Canada Central)
Let us know how we are doing by dropping us a line.
Sent to William H Baird Editor CRO
Last Word
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As you can appreciate we receive 100's of photos each month so must limit the sizes we receive. Photos should be no larger than 1000 wide and 500K in size. Photos exceeding those limits will be rejected. Look forward to your submissions. CRO Team GOT AN OBSERVATION?New issues of CRO are posted each month on our website. News stories pertaining to Canadian railways, photos, comments, favourite links, and questions are always welcome. Please send us your photos, newsworthy sightings and railway stories and if used, will be placed in the CRO newsletter. Please indicate if you wish your name to be withheld. Please inform us of e-mail address change, or to cancel the announcement mailings. If your own website pertains to Canadian railways, please contact us.We invite you to visit the Canadian Railway Observations website
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