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November 17, 2014

Niagara Railway Museum hits a Milestone

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CN 9173 being loaded at Attar Metals

Posts have been a bit slow lately, but with good reason.? It?s been extremely busy around the Museum with the Niagara Model Railway Show at it?s new home in St. Catharines, to the final piece of equipment being moved into the shop.

November 15th was a milestone day for the Museum.? It was this day that the final Museum owned piece of equipment was moved onto the site. The cab of CN F7A #9173, which was donated to the Museum from the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa in the summer finally made it home.

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Leaving Attar Metals for the 1/2 mile trip to the diesel shop.

The cab was unloaded by our neighbours, Attar Metals, at the former CN Car shops at the other end of the yard.? This move has been in the planning stages for a while now, and despite some tense moments during the loading, everything went according to plan. The Museum extends its thanks to Milton Braun and Attar Metals Fort Erie.? Without his incredible support and assistance, many of the great things that happened this year would not have been possible. In addition to moving the cab, they also moved the Atlas Steel Porter Fireless to the shop, along with the wheel sets from our boxcars.

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Where her sisters once sat, out side by the sand towers.

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Moving into the shop through the heavy bay door.

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In her final position, CN 9173 is home.

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The crew that made this happen (l-r) Wayne, Ken, Wayne, Rick, Milton (Operations Manager at Attar Metals) Ken and Garry. Missing is Lynn, the driver from Attar Metals.

On Sunday October 27th the Annual Fall Niagara Model Railway Show was held in its new location at the Merritton Community Centre in Merritton. We have a few improvements to make for the March show but overall it was a a decent turnout. Our next show will be March 1st, 2015.? The show flyer and vendor forms are available at www.nfrm.ca/nfmrs.php

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Jim Cherry is working on the track on the small G scale layout.

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Model Railway Imports at the show.

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Views from the show floor.

October 12, 2014

Thanksgiving weekend track work and Model Railway Show

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The display and storage cars are inside the shop, awaiting work on the doors and interiors.

October 11th was the annual Thanksgiving track work weekend at the shop.? The goal was to continue working through the turnout to connect the south and middle track. Ken, John, Wayne G and Aaron managed to get half of the turnout laid out and partially spiked.? One more full day and the turnout should be usable. Half of the middle track has also been gauged, as has the straight side of the turnout. Elsewhere Ken and Wayne M were cleaning up some brush? previously cut down.

As a reminder, the Annual Niagara Model Railway Show will be held at its new location on October 26th, from 10am to 3:30pm at the Merriton Community Centre, 7 Park St. in St. Catharines.? Information on the show including the show flyer and vendor form are available on the website at www.nfrm.ca/nfmrs.php

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Work progressed into the #8 turnout, with half of the rail being installed, and ready for spiking.

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CP 57974 sits outside the shop.

 

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October 1, 2014

The Boxcars arrive home

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401639 is the first to be lifted off it?s trucks and loaded for the move.

After almost a year in Stevensville, and even longer in storage in Niagara Falls, the Museums 3 ex-CP Rail boxcars have finally arrived at the shop. The move took place on Monday September 29th and took just over 12hrs to complete.

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401258 is next, with the trucks shown rolled out of the way.

With very good summer weather (which we didn?t get this summer!), Ken, John, Rick and Gary from the Museum met with the mover, Pioneer Heavy Haul,and the cranes from Vic Powell Welding of Dunnville, at the former DMI Industries plant (now owned by Trinity Industries of Texas) in Stevensville, ON.? Ken Sr. and Wayne G were at the shop getting things ready for the arrival on that end. #401639 was the first car loaded, with #401258 second and #57974 last. The load was sitting high on the trailers as the air tanks on the bottom of the cars could not be removed. Blocking was utilized to keep the cars off the trailer deck. The first car took the longest for loading, having to have smaller blocks placed to lower it further to clear the wires. The lifts went well, however movement to the site was slow.

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401639 & 401258 are loaded and ready to head for the shop.

It was a lengthy process getting the cars loaded and tied down. Attar Metals, our fantastic neighbours to the west of our location (Who operate out of the former CN Car shops), brought a flat deck over to move the wheelsets from DMI to the shop.? They also came over to the shop with the loader to pull the Plymouth and steam engine outside as 2 of the boxcars were going inside behind HEPC #46. Once it was all done, they also moved the locomotives back inside the shop.

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57974 is the last car to be loaded, and was also the last car to be unloaded.

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Milton from Attar Metals unloads the wheelsets while waiting for the first car to arrive.

CP 401258 arrived at the shop around 4pm and was quickly unloaded onto its wheels and moved easily inside the shop.? The Trackmobile was used for this, but it wasn?t really needed, as it rolled so well we actually just pushed it the final 20ft to the stop blocks. The final 2 cars arrived at dusk and were unloaded and placed onto their trucks in the dark. 401639 shares the track behind HEPC #46 with 401258, while 57974 is currently outside awaiting movement into the middle track behind HEPC E-7.

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401258 is being readied to be unloaded.

 

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401258 is the first car to be moved into the shop.

The Niagara Railway Museum extends its thanks to:

– Pioneer Heavy Haul and Vic Powell Welding for the floats and cranes for this move.

– Milton Braun and Attar Metals Fort Erie for their continued support and assistance. So much couldn’t be accomplished without their help.

– Preston Bass and Trinity Industries of Dallas, Texas, owners of the former DMI plant for allowing us to move the cars to their site, and for their patience as we worked through the lengthy process of making this move happen.

– The dedicated members from the Museum who spent the day making this move happen. (John Weylie, Wayne Gibson, Ken F Jones, Karen Jones, Rick Howard, Gary Eller, Ken S Jones)

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HEPC #46 spends some time outside for the first time since she arrived 4yrs ago.

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The Plymouth was also outside, and made it further down the track than ever before in order to allow space for the unloading of the boxcars.

September 4, 2014

Open House and Niagara Model Railway Show

This coming weekend, September 6 & 7 will be the final open house for 2014 at the Museum. Lots to see and do, so come on out and support railway heritage in Niagara.

 

The NRM is also very pleased to report that the October Niagara Model Railway Show is a go.  We have found a new hall, and we are pushing ahead with promotion.  The new hall is the Merritton Community Centre at 7 Park St. in St. Catharines, Ont. The show will be held on Sunday October 26th, 10am ? 3:30pm. The new vendor form and show flyer will be available very soon.  Please bear with us as we make this transition to the new hall.

August 9, 2014

The Porter arrives, again!!

In 1984, Atlas Speciality Steels of Welland, ON donated their Fireless Porter Locomotive and ingot car to the Fort Erie Railroad Museum. They were put on display with CNR #6218. The? tiny locomotive and ingot car were moved to Fort Erie via CN flatcar and unloaded at our shop.? It?s rather fitting that it has come full circle, back to the shop it arrived to town in. These 2 images were provided to us from the FERM, showing the locomotive when it arrived at the shop. She was pretty tough when she arrived. The FERM painting both pieces in a black and white scheme which matched CNR #6218.? The NRM plans to restore both items to their original colours.

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Looking at the front of the Porter, not much changed from this picture other than colour.

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The porter and ingot car (upside down) on the CN flatcar in the heavy repair bay of the shop.

Fast forward to August 9 2014, the 1943 built locomotive arrived at the shop and was placed on its new display track beside the drop table pit.? Milton and Lynn from Attar Metals picked up the bin with the locomotive in the morning and unloaded it it at the shop.? There were a few minor issues along the way, but thankfully the locomotive arrived safe and sound.

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Leaving the Fort Erie Railroad Museum for the final time.

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Backing down the old railway right of way to Central Ave.

The ingot car that has been displayed with the Porter arrived a few weeks ago and was properly placed on its own panel track outside the shop today.? Unfortunately there was not enough room inside the shop to have both pieces of equipment together, so it will stay displayed outside for the foreseeable future.

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Unloaded and on display inside the shop.

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The Ingot car on display outside along the driveway.

The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. is very pleased to be working with the Welland Historical Museum to save and preserve these rare pieces of Niagara industrial heritage. The Porter locomotive is getting a new lease on life, being preserved by 2 groups that will ensure it is around for future generations. A very big thanks to Milton and the crew at Attar Metals for loading and moving the locomotive to the shop. They have done so much for us that we couldn?t have done otherwise, and we are very grateful to have them as neighbours at the other end of the yard.

July 26, 2014

Inside CN 9173 (Part 3) and the Atlas Porter Fireless

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Engineman’s controls, showing throttle, reverser (left side) and brake stand (middle, right).

There has been a great deal of work going on since the last update, and there is so much more to come. In the first part we take a look at the inside of the cab.? For the most part it?s in pretty got condition, needs a good scraping and a repaint, but other than that, not bad.? It is missing some parts, which the Museum will seek to replace as time and funds permit.? Missing are the Barco speedometer, horn handle, and control head for the fuel pump, control stand and lights. The seats are intact and in pretty good condition, as is the rest of the control stand.

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Across the cab on the Conductor’s side complete with emergency brake valve.

The cab is missing 4 cover panels inside, 2 from the lower part of each door, and 2 side panels from beside the Conductor and Engineers seats. There is also one window missing. When the cab gets into the shop it will be braced and levelled and cosmetically restored for visitors to be able to step inside for the train crews view.

 

 

 

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On Sunday July 20th, Museum members along with a crew from Attar Metals started the move of the ex-Atlas Steel 30? gauge Porter fireless locomotive to the NRM shop. It had rained all day on the 19th, but the move went on. With the size of the engine being what it was, Attar brought a small bin to load the engine into for the 1 mile trip across down.? However as well as the move went, it was decided that it was just far too wet and the ground too soft to attempt to get the engine off the grounds.? The bin and locomotive were moved away from the public area and will be moved to the shop when there is a dry spell for the ground to be a bit more solid. The ingot car did however make the journey to the Museum and is now outside waiting for the locomotive to arrive to be moved into the shop.? There is already a panel track built to place the locomotive on when it arrives.? The NRM is very pleased to be able to enter into this great working partnership with the Welland Historical Museum to ensure the continued preservation of the Atlas Porter.

IMG_4688.jpgAt the July open house the Museum?s Whiting 2TMA was operated for the first time on rail. It was the first time that a piece of railroad equipment, in this case the Plymouth MDT40t, was moved by a piece of railroad equipment (the Trackmobile) at the Museum.? It marked a major milestone as the Trackmobile arrived in pieces, unknown if it would even run.? After a year and a half long restoration it is back in operation.

July 10, 2014

Unloading CN F7Au 9173 at Fort Erie (Part 2)

Once the truck was on the road from Ottawa to Fort Erie, it was decided to send him straight to Fort Erie for unloading Tuesday night as the trailer was required for first thing Wednesday morning. It was decent driving as the truck showed up at Attar Metals at 810pm. Milton and Clayton were ready, as were some of the NRM members, to unload the and get the truck on its way.

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The cab arrived in Fort Erie under sunny, but dark, skies.

?The entire lift took only 40 minutes, from the time the truck arrived to the time it pulled out.? It was an excellent lift, and everything went great. The cab is now resting on the ground at Attar, waiting for a bit of work to be done before moving to the shop and being placed inside for display.

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Hooking up the the cranes for the lift.

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Off the deck, and pulling out the trailer.

The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. thanks everyone involved with this move:

  • Bytown Railway Society
  • Canada Science & Technology Museum
  • Becker Brothers Trucking
  • Attar Metals
  • Doug Wilson
  • Gary Murray
  • Jim Cherry
  • The Jones Family
  • Alan Seburn

Part 3 will be the final move to the shop.

July 8, 2014

CN F7Au 9173 cab on its way to Niagara (part 1)

On July 8th, the cab of Canadian National F7Au #9173 was loaded on a trailer for the move to its new home at the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. The cab has been sitting outback of the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa for many years, originally acquired to be converted to a simulator for the Museum.? These plans did not come to fruition, and the Museum planned to scrap the piece. Doug Wilson from Ottawa sent a message to NRM President Ken Jones that the piece may be available and to get in touch with the CSTM to see if it could be saved.? The scrapping was stopped, and the push was on to get the move in place.

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CN 9173 cab behind the Canada Science & Technology Museum in Ottawa.

Everything came together very quickly as the CSTM wanted it gone if it was going to be saved. A crane had to be found for the loading in Ottawa, a truck had to be lined up for the move to Fort Erie, unloading at Fort Erie, and of course, some very quick fundraising had to be done. Regional Crane got the call for the crane, while Becker Brothers Trucking out of Kitchener was lined up for the trucking as they were in Ottawa this week for something else, and it made sense to not come back empty. Attar Metals did the unload at the Fort Erie end.

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Starting the lift of 9173.

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Lowering onto the flatbed.

So with everything in place, the date was set, and it all started at 8am July 8th.? There was an issue with the loading, but Regional Crane did their best to fix the situation, and after a delay, the truck got underway, highballing for Fort Erie at 1330.

 

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On the deck and secured for the ride to its new home. It looks a lot smaller on the trailer.

The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. would like to thank everyone involved with this move for their cooperation and expertise.

  • Bytown Railway Society ? For their assistance with the move, loading, and overseeing everything on the Ottawa end.
  • Canada Science & Technology Museum ? For allowing the Niagara Railway Museum to acquire this piece of railway equipment.
  • Becker Brothers Trucking ? Provided the trucking and ensured the cab arrived in Fort Erie safely.
  • Regional Crane ? For providing the crane and excellent operator for this lift.
  • Attar Metals ? Our neighbours to the west, Milton Braun and the Fort Erie operation of Attar Metals for unloading and moving the cab to our shop, and for always helping us out when we need it most.
  • Doug Wilson ? Who started the whole ball rolling and helped pave the way for the move to the Niagara Railway Museum (and for all of the above pictures).
  • Our donors ? The Jones Family, Gary Murray, Alan Seburne, Jim Cherry, Doug Wilson

Without the above people and companies this move and acquisition would not have been possible. The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. would especially like to acknowledge the Bytown Railway Society for their part in this acquisition, and for providing members to help with the loading on the Ottawa end. We are very pleased to have been able to work with them and see this piece saved.

As of 9pm July 8th, the cab has been unloaded and is safely on the ground in Fort Erie.

More on this story to follow?

July 3, 2014

Weekend Open House, and new equipment arrivals.

JuCN-9173-Cab.jpgly is going to be one of the busiest months ever for the Museum. July 5th & 6th will see the second open house weekend this year, and in addition to the displays of our steam, diesel and electric locomotives, ex-CN Flanger, track cars, artifacts and model train layouts, this display will also feature periodic demonstrations of our newly restored Whiting 2TMA Trackmobile.

But that?s just the start. In a week the Museum will take delivery of the cab from long scrapped CN F7Au #9173 from Ottawa.? The cab will become a great interpretive display for visitors to the site.

IMG_5891.jpgOn July 19th, if all goes well, the Museum will move the ex-Atlas Steel 30? gauge Porter Fireless, currently at the Fort Erie Railroad Museum to our site for long term display and restoration. The locomotive is now owned by the Welland Historical Museum and the NRM is very pleased to be partnered with the WHM to help preserve the Fireless. The fireless also has an ingot car, which will be staying with the engine.

fireless.jpgMembers have also been very busy with other projects.? Most notable was the restoration to operation of the long out of service Whiting 2TMA Trackmobile? It was a lengthy 1 1/2 year restoration with Rick replacing all of the bearings in the transmission and having to assemble everything to make it work.? Wayne has taken on the project of working on the sand towers and servicing areas outside, and is making great progress.

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The light standard has been repainted silver, and the steps have been renewed with yellow and black.

There are always lots of things happening at the Museum.? The NRM is always looking for members to come out and get involved with the many projects we have. No experience is necessary, but any skills are helpful. Contact us for more information, or join us at one of our open house displays, or call for a private tour of the facility.

June 1, 2014

Another Great Day!!

Sunday June 1st ended up being the perfect end to a great weekend at the Museum. The grass has been cut, and a new video of the now operational Whiting 2TMA Trackmobile was made showing some operation, and movement under it?s own power. The video can be found here:?????? http://youtu.be/nrom7uzkgL0

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The Porter locomotive and ingot car from Atlas Steel in Welland, ON

In other news, the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. is very pleased to partner with the Welland Historical Museum (http://wellandmuseum.ca/) in preserving our area?s railway and industrial heritage.? As of June 1st, the WHM officially took ownership of the ex Atlas Steel 30? gauge Porter Fireless locomotive from the Fort Erie Railroad Museum.? The FERM decided it no longer fit their collection and planned to dispose of it.? Working with the NRM, the Welland Museum was able to secure ownership, and the NRM will move, store, and display the locomotive at our shop in Fort Erie on a temporary loan basis. Along with the locomotive is the only remaining ingot car from the Atlas operation.? The NRM hopes to move the locomotive and ingot car in mid July. We look forward to working with the Welland Museum on this great project.

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