Car# 395 all lit up.

Saturday December 12th, 7 members worked all day in fantastic weather to get more projects cleaned up for winter. The main task for the day was moving some equipment around the shop for winter work. Inside however, work continued on the former Niagara Central Hobbies donation.? Garry and Ken worked on rewiring the trolley coffee bar, and by the end of the day had the interior ceiling lights rewired, reinstalled, and lit up again. A little more work is required to finish the job, as the wiring was the original from 1974, and cracked when flexed. This is one more project that is near completion, and allows us to move onto other things.

Gary and Ken working on the Coffee Bar from Niagara Central Hobbies.

The other members spent the day clearing track 2, installing joint bars on 3 more joints and making sure everything was ready for the big move.? December 12th was another historic day for the NRM. This marked the first time we have been able to switch equipment between 2 tracks with a locomotive.? It?s also the first time a locomotive has operated in the shop since closing in the late 1980?s. And finally, ALL of our equipment (except for the 30? gauge ingot car) is inside. However, before all the big switching was done, our new GE 25tonner, Plymouth MDT40t and ALCo 0-4-0 steam engine posed for their first picture together.

The 3 locomotives pose together for the first time.

Red, Yellow and… Black

While the locomotives sat outside together, Aaron, Wayne M, Wayne G, John and Ken worked on the track and other items to prepare for the move. The Trackmobile was moved from track 2 to in front of the boxcars on track, still over the pit for repairs.

3 locomotives outside, taken from the sand tower platform

The GE under the track 2 sand tower.

Because we have never actually had anything heavy over the majority of our track, we felt it would be best to move as few pieces at a time as possible. The CP boxcar was moved first to the end of the track. HEPC 46 was moved back inside on track 1 but left it a bit closer to the door for better viewing. The Plymouth was pulled down past the turnout to switch everything onto track 2.

Aaron and John remove the bars to switch from track 1 to track 2.

The final move, the GE is ready to move the boxcar inside.

Our turnout is a little different, but functional. It was built specifically to get this job done and will have proper switch points installed in 2016. It?s essentially a stub switch. in order to change it between tracks, the joint bars are removed and the panel is slid over to the other track, and joint bars reinstalled.? It worked quite well. Once the track was shifted, the Plymouth was moved back into the shop, and electric E7 was moved down to the end of the track.? The Plymouth was left 10ft out from E7 over the pit. The boxcar was moved in next, and was left over the drop table to allow us to move around. The car can be moved forward towards the door with the tractor for cleaning and rebuilding.? The GE was also left over the pit on track 2 as it and the Plymouth will be undergoing some mechanical work over the winter.

We have made a video of some of the switching that was performed on December 12th. It can be found here: https://youtu.be/xgtB57nc8bA

The GE is in its new home for the winter

The new equipment line up on track 2.

This was a weekend of so many firsts for the Museum and everything went exactly as planned. Our equipment is inside, our newest addition, the GE 25tonner is a great addition, and will be very helpful around the shop. There is still much work to do throughout the off season. But we are making great progress at the Museum, and there is much to look forward to in 2016.? A big thanks to our dedicated volunteers who have worked so hard to make everything happen. The Museum?s wish list will be coming soon.? Check back often to see all the work happening over the next few months. We are always looking for new members, no experience necessary.

Over 2 weekends, museum members helped move some rather large items from the now closed Niagara Central Hobbies in St. Catharines, ON. Owners?Mark & Cheryl Lounsbury donated an ex-CNR baggage cart, the store’s HO layout and scaled down trolley replica coffee bar.

On November 14th, we were able to?move the HO layout and baggage cart to the museum. Manouvering the layout out the back doors, up the stairs and into the trailer was a tricky job. Many of the buildings and some scenic items had to be removed, but they have since been replaced on the layout for pictures. The layout is?temporarily sitting on tables, but will be put back together with?the end cabinets and?will take up residence in the office.? The baggage cart was moved in 5 pieces, and has also been reassembled at the shop.

November 21st was moving day part 2, when we moved the large trolley.? The trolley was built in 1974, on site, and has never been outside.? It was not meant to move, and it was certainly never meant to go through the front doors.? Mark was able to carefully remove the roof and our crew disconnected the electrical. Using heavy duty rollers, we were able to roll the body to the front door, only to find out, it would need to have a bit more removed.? The counter was taken off for the width, and we were able to sneak it out the front door and into the daylight for the first time ever. It took 9 of us to get the trolley out of the store and into the trailer. Needless to say there were a lot of people slowing down to see the car outside, and even those walking down the sidewalk stopped to take a look (of course they didn’t have much choice, we had the sidewalk blocked!).

It was a fairly slow trip to the Museum from St. Catharines, and thankfully the weather held out for the day. Our small Clark forklift came in very handy during the unloading, as we needed to spin the body 180 degrees to go up the ramp and into the front display area. Using the equipment rollers, we were easily able to roll it up the ramp and to the office door, where it just managed to fit through.? The body was moved into position against the wall by the entry door. The roof and counter (both removed to get through the door), have since been put back in place, as has the roof top trolley pole. Like the layout, the trolley will be worked on over the winter, including new electrical, and repairs to some of the minor damage sustained during the move.

Thanks to Mark & Cheryl for passing these items on to the Museum to allow the legacy of Niagara Central Hobbies to live on.? Thanks also to our members who gave their time over the 2 weekends to get everything moved out to the museum.

Come out and see all our new displays in 2016.

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Our new sign at the end of Warren St.

Racor switch stand

Despite a very rainy day, attendance was quite steady until the early afternoon, and was much busier than we had expected. We are always working to improve the guest experience, but adding an unofficial indoor waterpark was not part of that. Anyways, the new displays were a great addition, and by next year there will be even more. We had visitors from across Ontario, as far west as Windsor, and also Toronto, Welland, and Fort Erie.? On Friday our new sign went up at the end of the road, and 2 more switch stands (donated by Ron Pullano) were added for display.

Although the smaller stand will be placed into service once our turnout is complete. With the addition of some new cabinets we are now able to display some of our smaller items like China and freebies that were given away by the railways over the years. We also had a collection of CN Fort Erie Terminal safety award mugs on display. Some work was done as well with Wayne M doing some painting on the west end wall while Wayne G worked on the lawn tractor.

One more day to go, still have Sunday, 10am to 4pm rain or shine.

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Our members were working at the shop over this labour day weekend on many different projects. Saturday saw work outside as our 3 man track crew lined? and prepped the tracks for final spiking.? One more day and the shop will once again have 2 tracks? to move equipment around on.

Before…

… and After

The Museum also acquired the Racor 17B switch stand that was once located at the back door of Niagara Central Hobbies in St. Catharines.? The stand has been given a fresh coat of gloss black, and will retain it?s address on the target as a reminder of the many years of service NCH provided to model railroaders across Ontario.

The NRM also purchased one of the last display cases from the Hobby Shop, and that has been placed in the display car.? The cabinet will hold more of our smaller items, and is already half full. New items include the Fort Erie Terminal Safety Award mugs, some CN china, railway promotional items, and more to come.

CN Fort Erie Terminal Safety Award mugs

CNR railway china

Coasters (used on passenger trains) and promotional items given out by the railways

Figured out a way to display railway pencils too!

CP 401639 has had a base coat applied to the Multimark logo. A proper top coat will be applied at a later date as we are still trying to match the red.

All in all it has been another very progressive weekend. Our final open weekend of 2015 is just a few days away on September 12 & 13, from 10am to 4pm both days, rain or shine. Admission is by cash donation. Come on out and see the work our members have been doing all year.

Just 2 more weeks to our opening weekend at the Museum, and things are going great.? Yet another productive weekend with some major cleaning of the shop going on.? Also, more painting has been done inside HEPC E-7, and the new work area is up and ready for use in the storage car. Most of the grass was cut as well, and the site is starting to look pretty good again.? We picked up our new (old) switch stand, donated by Dave & Suzanne Radley (who also donated a headlight & bell for HEPC 46), and hope to have it painted for the open house. Still lots to do as we move towards opening weekend.

Looking down the tail track. A stop block will be installed here.

May 8th saw our small 4 man track crew work though the 33?c temperatures ?at the shop to spike and gauge the straight side of the turnout.

The turnout is not complete, but is being made operational with what we have. The rail for the tail track past the turnout has also been placed on ties ready for gauging and spiking.

In order to continue with this work, we need to acquire about 40 more 8′ track ties, both to fill in gaps and also to extend the track on the east side of the heavy repair bay (north side of the building) to provide some additional room to maneuver equipment around and give us room to work on our flanger.? We are looking for a hydraulic spiker to use for a day, which would allow us to gauge and spike the diverging track a lot faster/easier than doing it by hand.

Inside the shop, Wayne G was painting a primer coat inside the cab of HEPC E-7, as we work toward having that engine open for display. Ken was also working on the new work bench in the storage car.

Always lots going on and ways looking for new members/volunteers to keep this progress going forward.

We have now entered into May, and every weekend brings changes at the site.  The stairs to 9173 have been painted, as has the entire interior of the cab and control stand. CP boxcar 401639 has had some of its lettering repainted in white. CP 401258 had a start on its lettering, but the rust damage is extensive so we will make a stencil off the other side to ensure accuracy.

The progress continues, with Saturday May 9 being a track construction day. We are always looking for help with the many projects at the site.  No experience necessary. And make sure you mark your calendars for the weekend of May 30/31. Thats our opening weekend, and there?ll be lots of new things to see and do, and probably some surprises as well.

The work session held on April 18th was nothing short of incredible as far as projects and members went.  7 members came out for the day and got working on many different things.

The first great surprise of the day was seeing a new set of stairs built to access the cab of CN F7a #9173. Wayne M has been working on the inside of the cab, and had some contractor friends come down during the week to make the access steps. This will allow visitors to get into the cab during any open days to check it out. Wayne spent the day painting primer on the inside of the cab after spending a few days cleaning all the old flaking paint off.  A finish coat of paint will be applied when we can get a proper paint match to CN #13 grey.

Our new ex-CN Baggage cart arrived at the shop as well on Saturday.  A big thanks to Paul Finlayson of Finlayson Tire in Fort Erie for donating this item to the NRM. They had previously used it for a tire display, rolling it in and out of the shop daily.  After a wheel issue, they left it out back for about 2yrs.  We were told of it by Clayton at Attar Metals, and Paul agreed to donate it to us.  Jim is shown unbolting the tire frame from the cart, which took the better part of the day, and the final product, back to its original look.  The cart needs restoration, but is a great item, with local history, having been used at the Ridgeway Station before going to the tire shop.

Wayne Gibson?s wife Susan managed to get the art teacher at St. Catharines Collegiate to donate this 8ft long CN mural created by the art students at the school.  This was immediately  mounted to the wall above the scale beam, and it looks great. After putting it on the wall, Wayne and Peter got to work inside the cab of HEPC E-7, working on cleaning and paint removal in preparation to repaint the cab and open it up for visitors.  Ken and Aaron reinstalled the brake rigging on the 3 boxcars, once again giving them brakes. Ken Sr started sizing up the new workbench inside the storage car.  Because we are a bit cramped for space in the one room, we will create the work car to allow us to have a proper working space.

So much more going on this year at the Museum.  Work sessions are every Saturday at the shop, and various days through the week. Our first open house is May 30/31 from 10am- 4pm both days rain or shine. More information will be released about that event in the coming weeks.

H.E.P.C. #46 before…

… and after

With the winter weather upon us, members started to tuck the equipment away for the winter. Because we have so many open windows at the shop, there is a need to cover the equipment for the winter.

With a decent day weather wise, we managed to cover HEPC 0-4-0St #46, the Ontario Hydro Plymouth diesel, the cab of CN 9173, and for the first time in well over 30yrs, the ex-Atlas Steel Porter Fireless is covered from the elements.

Under cover for the first time in over 30yrs, the Atlas Porter is protected from the elements.

While Ken, Ken and Wayne G worked on covering and winterizing the equipment, Wayne M worked on the roof, sheeting over the open windows of the upper heavy repair bay.? This will help keep water and snow out as we slowly work to make the shop weatherproof.? 2014 has been a very progressive year, but the work isn?t finished yet.? Many projects are still being worked on during the off season to prepare for many new displays in 2015. Work will be done to finish the restoration of the inside of the cab of H.E.P.C. electric E-7, and the cab of CN 9173. The Whiting Trackmobile will receive final repairs and be ready for service in 2015. On the front burner is the repair of the air compressor for the Plymouth diesel so that can be put back in service in 2015 as well.

Major progress has been made, and so much more is coming.? If you?d like to help, please drop us an email or give us a call.? Donations are also always accepted, and the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. is a Charitable organization registered with the CRA. Donations over $25 will receive a charitable tax receipt.

CN 9173 has the side windows covered while we make the necessary repairs.

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