The Museums recently donated live steam Pacific was successfully tested on air today at the shop.? A small air compressor was used to run the engine back and forth for about 5 or so feet.? The engine performed well, and the next step will be to have a more thorough test done by a local live steam group.

New LED lighting.

The LED lighting is much brighter.

Garry E. and Ken continued to work on the electrical upgrades in the display area, and as of today, all but 1 fluorescent fixture has been removed and replaced by very efficient LED flood lights.? The new LED lights draw less than 5 amps for the entire room! The new lights are “daylight” and are much brighter and safer (for the artifacts) than the flourescents. As time goes on, all lighting will be converted to LED, including the display cars.? Eventually, new lights will also be added to the shop area for safety during evening events.

New paint and an office door.

Wayne M scraped and painted the wall just as you enter the display area. The holes in the brick will soon be repaired as well. Wayne G has been installing doors on the storage room, and our small office.

Things are really starting to come together, and we hope to have even more visible changes for our visitors by the time the May open weekend rolls around.

Saturday was a decent day weather wise at the shop, and Ken and Wayne M took advantage of that weather to get caught up on a few more small items. The new lighting in the office display area is

New paperwork on Harbour Draw and the International Bridge.

now about 80% complete, with just a couple more fixtures to be put in place.? The wire has already been run and is ready to go. Wayne M scraped and painted the one wall inside the door that needed to be done, which is?a great improvement as we continue to keep the display area clean and fresh.

The 3.5″ gauge live steam Pacific is now on display in a temporary location inside the office area. Once the equipment is moved around in the shop and put into the proper position, the engine will likely go on display inside the boxcar.

Our new 7/8″ scale live steam Pacific.

A new donation came into the shop on Saturday as well from Pierre D’Entramont, from his father Walter’s collection.? The majority of items have a focus on the International Bridge and Harbour Draw over in Buffalo, as that is where Walter worked. These are all items that are completely new to our collection and include many plans and drawings of the bridge, as well as the bridgetenders operating manual for Harbour Draw. We thank Pierre for passing these documents along to us, they will make some great additions when telling the story of the history of the bridge crossing.

There is still so much happening out at the shop. We’re?planning to get some equipment moved around before the end of the month which will put everything where it needs to be going into our open season. New feature displays are being planned for the new display car including some railway family history from some recent donors, as well as displaying some of our vast HO scale model railway collection, which is primarily centred around the railways that ran in the Niagara Region.

Progress is slowly being made on the new display area lighting. The new LED floods make a world of difference.? They are so much brighter and safer for the artifacts. Just a couple more fixtures to go and it will be finished.? The plan was to be finished by the time the May open house rolled around, and right now we are quite a bit ahead of schedule. Worked on the Hobby Shop layout a bit, mostly just a bit of track cleaning to run a train around.

CP 4-6-2 2468 hauls a short train past the campground.

Work will continue on Saturday, and Wednesday next week.? As a reminder, the Niagara Model Railway Show is now just a week away on Sunday March 6th, 10am to 330pm. The show is held at the Merriton Community Centre at 9 Park St. in St. Catharines.? The flyer is available on our events page.

The Museum is still looking for some items for display. We are lacking a caboose, wood or steel, any road at the moment. Any leads on one that might be available for donation would be very much appreciated. We’re also always looking for building materials (lumber, insulation, etc), and of course tools. Donations are eligible for a charitable tax receipt.

2016 is going to be a great year, so make sure you make time to come out and see what’s new and improved.

January is behind us, February is looking busy.? Garry, Ken, Ken, Wayne M?and Wayne G spent the day working in 2 different places.? Garry continued with the rewiring of the display area as we work to remove all the fluorescent fixtures.? Using the existing conduit and boxes all the existing fluorescents are being replaced with LED floodlights.? They are a better light and safer for our artifacts. Elsewhere, the Kens and Waynes were working in the old CN B&B building, getting it ready for storing many of our unrestored pieces of equipment (mostly the motorcars). 4 of the ex-CN Fairmont A4d gangcars were moved over there today, and will soon be joined by a few other pieces, freeing up some much needed space in the shop.

Getting ready for the gangcars.

The 4 gangcars have been moved into the new building.

The building will also be getting some much needed emergency roof repairs in the coming months in order to stabilize it for the future.? After all the motorcars were moved Wayne M continued working inside the shop stripping down the railing on the ramp, getting it ready for new yellow paint when the weather improves.

9173 through the fisheye lens.

Things are starting to take shape out at the Museum.? The new lighting will greatly improve the display area, and over the summer new LED lighting will also be installed in the display boxcar.? Some friends, Dave & Karyn also stopped by the shop for a visit and took some pics while they were there.? Dave sent this neat shot of CN 9173 taken with the fisheye lens.

The work is non stop at the Museum. Saturday saw a crew of 3 out working on a few projects.? Ken and Wayne were working in the display area with some of the new lights and waterproofing.? Ken Jr. worked in the GE cab and started cleaning off one of the old locomotive ditch lights. When the trolley was moved from the Hobby Shop, the headlight was not included. We found that a standard ditch light would be a fairly close fit to what was on it. The ditch light had the old paint wire brushed off and a coat of grey primer applied. The temperature was fairly mild in the shop and the primer coat dried quickly, allowing a coat of gloss black to be applied. The light will have an opaque lens installed with a low voltage LED light for power. There will be little power draw and no heat. One more coat of black will be applied before the light is installed on the trolley coffee bar.

The ex-ONR ditch light cleaned up ready for paint.

With the warm temperature inside, the coat of primer dried quickly.

First coat of gloss black applied.

On Saturday night, Ken and Ken were invited to the Toronto Railway Museum volunteer dinner at the John St. Roundhouse in Toronto. An evening of food and fun, with discussions with members of the TRHA, and a chance to see some of the work they are doing there.? Behind the podium stood the cab of?CN F7 #9159. We thank the TRHA for their generous invite, and look forward to working with them in 2016.? On Sunday the NRM had a table at the Woodstock Model Train Show at the Woodstock Fairgrounds.? A very well attended show, and a very good presence for the Museum.

The cab of CN F7 #9159 stands behind the podium.

The Museum display at the Woodstock Train Show.

There is just so much going on every weekend during the winter months. Restoration work continues on equipment at the Museum site, and we will soon be starting to rebuild the 3rd boxcar into the new display/store car.? There are other wheels starting to turn on a number of future expansions, 2016 is just the start of a very exciting time for the Niagara Railway Museum Inc.

Want to know how you can help? Come on out and get involved, no experience necessary, just contact us for more information.

Despite heavy snow south of Sodom Rd, 3 of us managed to make it out to the Museum to get some work done. Wayne M, amazingly enough, continued painting the silver on the building support columns.? Wayne G and Ken Jr. covered some of the equipment now that snow has decided to show up.? A frame was also made around the Hobby shop layout so a tarp could cover it without doing any damage to the scenery.

The Porter Fireless has been tarped for the winter

The Hobby Shop HO layout is covered over to keep the dust off it for when it’s not in operation.

We?ll be working out at the Museum right through the winter. As has been previously mentioned, there is just a ton of work to get done.? Open House dates will be announce shortly, and we will also once again be open every Saturday June to October.? Lots of new things to see and do in 2016, and be sure to scroll down and check out our wish list to see if you can help us out.

Things are starting to change around the shop heading into 2016. Wayne M is continuing his painting, finishing off the black around the roll up doors and some of the silver and grey on the supports. Ken Sr. started running some of the new wiring through the conduit to provide new lighting for 2016. Ken Jr. cleared out the ties and wood that was inside the storage car, with the next step being the removal of the 4 Fairmont A4d gangcars that are inside. Once the cars are out of the boxcar it will be stripped, cleaned and rebuilt for a new display and store car. As always, we’re looking for new volunteers to come out and help with the many projects we have going on.

As 2015 draws to a close, we hope you will consider supporting the Niagara Railway Museum in 2016.? Our wish list is below.

? Caboose ? An integral part of the railway system, and a necessary item for any Museum. Our number one item needed for specific plans in 2016.

? Track materials ? 100lb rail, plates, bars, also regular and turnout ties and 100lb turnout material .

? Cash donations ? operating the Museum requires funding.? Donations can be made through www.canadahelps.org

? Building supplies ? lumber, insulation, screws, etc.

? Local artifacts ? we?re always looking for new artifacts, photographs, etc. for donation and display.

? OLD luggage ? for display on our baggage carts, some old luggage and trunks.

? Other railway equipment ? with the addition of our GE from a local industry, we are hoping to acquire more local equipment (locomotives, railcars)

The GE idles under the exhaust hoods.

We had another progressive day at the Museum, moving stuff around in the display area.? Space is filling up pretty quick and we need to make as much room as we can to accommodate the displays. 4 members spent the day working on different projects.? Wayne M continued painting the beams and supports around the doors.? His painting over the last 2 years has made a significant improvement of the look of our site.?? Ken Sr. and Wayne G worked in the display area cleaning and getting new areas ready for more artifacts.? Ken Jr. worked on the GE, which started after a week of not running, and idled nicely.? A mechanical and electrical inspection was done below the frame, checking out brake rigging, traction motor and brushes.

The trolley is lit up with its interior lights, and we are working on a new headlight for the piece.

By the end of the day, the display area was cleaned and reset, with the recently donated items from Niagara Central Hobbies? taking up a big portion of the space. The switch stand from the back of the hobby shop will also be moved up into this area, making it complete, and a reminder of what was once one of the best known hobby shops in Ontario.

The HO layout, baggage cart, and coffee bar trolley are all together again in the display area.

Apparently it was a tough day for Ken & Wayne.

 

As always, I thank our dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard in 2015 to make it a great year. More to come in 2016, and remember to look at our wish list, please let us know if you can help.