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April 23, 2016

Checking some projects off the list

With just 3 weekends left until opening weekend, our members have been busy again this week trying to get things done.? Wednesday 4 members were out working on electrical, installing more fixtures for the new LED floods, and finishing painting walls and railings. The office area is really looking great, very bright with a fresh coat of paint.

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Our 3.5″ gauge live steam pacific poses for a pic on the GHLS track in Hamilton.

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The Trolley is now complete with its new LED headlight.

On Friday, Ken and Ken took the NRM’s live steam pacific up to the Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers track in Hamilton to have the boiler tested. Unfortunately the test couldn’t be performed due to an improper fitting (a new one is being made for the next test). However, we did put the engine on the track and rolled it back and forth a bit to see how it looked, and of course take a few pictures. Looking forward to being able to fire it up (after passing the boiler test) and running it on the GHLS track. Information on their operation can be found at http://www.ghls.ca/ghls-home.

Saturday was?another busy day?with 7 members?(Wayne G, Wayne M, Ken, Ken, Aaron, Jim, Peter)?out working on different projects. The trolley from Niagara Central Hobbies finally got its new headlight, and it looks great.? It started out as a ditch light from an ex-Ontario Northland F unit. It was cleaned and repainted, and has had a frosted lense and low watt LED bulb installed. It’s a nice bright light and now makes the trolley look more complete. The switch stand, which used to sit out at the back stairs with the store address on the target is now up with the rest of the Hobby Shop items.? It’s coming together well, and we hope to have that display completed in time for opening weekend.

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Wayne adding a second coat of primer to the stair railing.

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The railings on the ramp glow with fresh yellow paint.

Wayne M. continued painting the railings, first applying 2 coats of primer, and a top coat of yellow.? Every bit of paint Wayne has done has really improved the look of the shop, and has amounted to hundreds of hours of cleaning the old paint and rough spots off to get a nice smooth finish. All the fresh yellow (and much of the grey & silver) that is seen around the shop has been done by Wayne.

The second display car is coming along very well.? Some major changes were made to the first car as all of the Great Gorge Route items were moved into the new display car to keep everything in one spot. The GGR display will also be expanded a bit with a few more artifacts, pictures, and some history. ?Taking the place of the GGR items in the first display car? will be an expanded Niagara St. Catharines & Toronto electric railway display. This new display will feature more photos of the NS&T from across the system, as well as a few more of our artifacts.

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Jim and Aaron working on a stand for part of the Great Gorge Route display.

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The GGR display at the end of the day. Still some work to do, but really pleased with it right now.

We are always trying to improve our displays for our visitors and we feel what we have planned for 2016 will really show how hard we’ve been working to get things done. Our work days are generally Wednesday and Saturday, and we’re always looking for new members to get involved.

Be sure to stop by the Museum on opening weekend, May 14th & 15th, 10am to 4pm rain or shine.

 

 

April 9, 2016

Another great work day today, with a lot of work getting done.? 5 members were out, continuing the painting in the office area, and working on the new display car.

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Wayne M working on the interior of the new display car.

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New covers made for the drop table.

Wayne M and Ken Sr.?were working on painting in the office area,?as we work to getting it all painted before the May Opening Weekend. Eventually a lot of this will be covered over with insulated walls, but for now, we just want to clean it all up. Wayne G was working on the office door, having had to make some adjustments to the frame. The doors to the shop and storage room have been given a coat of CN blue as well, as that’s what would have been there when the shop was in service. The majority of the painting should be done next weekend if the weather stays fairly decent. More will be done between the open weekends. Once Wayne M was done painting in the office he moved into the display car to do some repair work to the old tongue in groove boards on the walls. One of the steel bottom panels was also broken away from its weld, so he secured that back to the wall.

Thanks to our friends over at Attar Metals for cutting us some covers for the various access points on the Whiting drop table. These holes have been covered by wood recently, and we felt it was time to make some proper panels to make walking on the drop table safe for our members, and in the future, our visitors.

Ken Jr. was working in the new display car, hanging the temporary lighting in the display end (one end will be for displays, the other will be for the Museum store), as the store end won’t be ready before opening day (we don’t think anyways).? Once the lighting was installed, Ken and Aaron worked on getting 2 display cabinets installed.? These are the 2 N scale cabinets that used to be at Niagara Central Hobbies. and will display some of our HO model railway collection.

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Aaron installing the glass shelves.

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The cabinets hung and ready for trains.

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The first artifact displayed in the new car, a sneak peak of what’s to come.

At the end of the day, the first artifact was hung in the new display car.? Last year we were given items from relatives of the Van Alstine brothers, twins who worked for CN out of Niagara Falls. A few years back we were given a picture that was done for William VanAlstine, but I didn’t actually realise it until just this year. The items from the family of Murray and Morley Van Alstine will make up a part of this new display, and will help tell a bit of the story of these 2 brothers.

Still lots going on out at the shop. If you think you’d like to lend a hand, please drop us a line, we’d be happy to hear from you.

 

 

 

April 6, 2016

NRM this week

It’s going to be another busy weekend, with crews out at the shop Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.? We don’t have much time left to get these projects done before opening weekend.? More hands would make things a whole lot easier, but we’re doing our best. We hope to have at least part of the new display car open for viewing (We need the space for a special new display). The pics below are a 2 new lamps to the collection, and one end of the current display car. The lighting is slated for upgrades in the next month or so but may not be done by the time opening weekend rolls around.

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New York Central System lamp.

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Grand Trunk Railway lamp.

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One end of the current display car.

Lots going on out at the shop, and we’re out there every Saturday, and usually Wednesdays as well. Stop by on a Saturday if you’re in the area.