As we get closer to our final event, our Fall Rail Days, 5 members spent Saturday moving some of our un-restored maintenance equipment and cleaning the shop. 4 pieces were moved, including our 2 ex-TH&B motorcars, into our other building, and are tucked away, stored with 4 of our 5 ex-CN Fairmont A4d gangcars.

The cars were purchased in a group a few years ago by one of our members. There were parts and motors included, but the cars are not currently in the plans for restoration at this time. One car originally had the Fairmont 2 cylinder opposed piston engine. Sadly, that was no longer with the car.

Both cars tucked inside the other building.

After moving the cars, other equipment in the shop was repositioned and cleaned for display.? The floors needed sweeping, and the equipment will be cleaned off during the week.

Landscaping is a never ending job at the Museum, and with the big tractor down, everything is being done with the weedeater, push mower and riding mower.? The site is looking fairly decent, but we’re glad the season is winding down.? Milton and Clayton from Attar Metals came over on Friday and moved some old pvc pipes that have been sitting between the old roundhouse and turntable. This will allow us to cut more of the grass down and improve the look of the site. Some work will be done with the foundation of the old roundhouse in the off season, mostly just clearing some of the dirt, brush and grass so we can better interpret the history of the site.

By the end of our work session today, we actually had a partial store set up in the boxcar.? We installed lights in the other end of the new display car in order to work out how the new store set up was going to work.? We don’t have a whole lot of stock, but we’re working on that. So while we weren’t expecting to have the store actually set up in the boxcar before opening weekend, it looks like it will in fact be ready to go!!

Just a few items that will be for sale on opening weekend.

New cover panels on the side and door have been installed and will be painted before opening weekend.

Wayne M continued painting and working on patching the holes in the brick near the entrance. He also installed the cover panels inside the cab of the CN F7.

NYC, TH&B and Wabash make up the first cabinet.

CN, CP, GO and other local railways are represented in the second cabinet.

Ken and Aaron were working on the display and store car.? Some of our HO model railway collection is now on display for the first time. We have a very extensive HO scale model railway collection and we are just not able to display even a fraction of it. The majority of the collection is related to the Niagara Region and features a lot of New York Central equipment, including steam and diesel locomotives, and freight and passenger cars that would have run on the NYC across Southern Ontario.? Other equipment is from CN, Wabash, and Lehigh Valley, with freight cars also seen in the Region. We look forward to eventually having a proper layout of the area to be able to run these items on.

Wayne started repainting some of the yellow safety lines on the floor of the shop.

Our Canadian Flag is flying back in its proper place for the season.

Everything is starting to come together for opening weekend. Our members have been very busy over the last few months making sure everything is looking great.? The new lighting in the office area is a vast improvement over the previous lighting, and all the new paint has really dressed everything up. Artifact displays will be finalized next week, and will include some all new displays from some local railroad families.? The display upgrades are ongoing and we will be changing some things throughout the year to rotate items from the collection through for viewing. Thanks to our members, Jim, Wayne M,?Ken, Ken, and Aaron,?who showed up Friday and Saturday to keep the progress going.

A big thanks also goes to Mark Wikobrado from Cogeco Niagara for paying the NRM a visit and shooting this short clip for The Source. Really pleased with the outcome, and Cogeco has always been a big help for promoting our event.

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.

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

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.

Aaron installing the glass shelves.

The cabinets hung and ready for trains.

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.

It was almost an 8hr day out at the shop today, as 6 members spent the time switching equipment around, getting it in place for the coming season, and to get some work done as well.? The movements started just after 10am and wrapped up around 3pm, but by the end of the day, everything was repositioned where it needed to be. At the end of 2015 we were able to move equipment between 2 of the 3 shop tracks. It was functional, but does need some work. This was an even bigger test of the track as the electric weighs in at about 50tons, and there were multiple back and forth movements involved.

First move, shove the boxcar to the end of the tail track.

Jim, Wayne, Garry and Aaron remove the bars to switch the track.

The number 8?turnout is a bit odd in construction. In order to get done what needed to be done, it was constructed with 100lb rail and?interlaced 8ft ties. There are no points, as it’s a different form of a stub switch.? The tail track is barred/bolted to the route to be used. When the other track is needed, the bars?are removed, the track moved over and the?bars reapplied.? Yes, it is a very time consuming job, but it is functional.? In 2016 it will?have 16’6″ points added to?make things easier.

CN working the main line.

CN 2246 a 2006 built GE, passes our 1948 GE.

It was a pretty busy day for train traffic as well.? First up was a CN which came into Fort Erie, set out in the yard, then took it’s 3 6axle units and 6 boxcars of shingles over to the lumber transload off Gilmore Rd. It was an interesting comparison of a modern, 2006 built GE, with our 1948 built GE. After that came a CP heading to the US with another GE, followed by a westbound CP ethanol train lead by yet another GE. Final train was the NS transfer.

Westbound CP with 2002 built GE 9717.

Westbound CP with CP 2001 built GE 8605 and CEFX 2004 built GE 1055.

The NS transfer lead by GM 3311 (with a CP GE in the consist).

It was neat to see all the trains that went through this day had GE power in the consist. This was also the first time that Hydro Electric Power Commission E-7 (Ex-Inco 102) was outside since it was moved into the shop some 5yrs ago. E-7 posed for some pics with the GE and Plymouth.

HEPC E-7 in the sun.

The GE, Electric and Plymouth outside together for the first time.

The train before shoving back into the shop.

The weather was fantastic for doing all this work, and it sets us up right where we need to be for this display season. The GE performed very well and handled the job with ease.? There is still some minor work to do on the GE, and that will continue over the summer.

This week we also received a few more items from Fred Mills, the donor of the live steam Pacific. We were able to get copies of a few of his personal pictures, such as the Niagara Falls Car Department from 1942 to 1986 (when Fred retired), along with the picture of the retirees in 1986.? Fred also very generously donated a clock he received when he retired.? We look forward to having all these items on display at the shop this year. Fred is a 3rd generation railroader,? his Grandfather Frederick Mills?worked on the GTR as a Baggageman in Niagara?Falls, his father, Wilfred Mills worked for the New York Central as a Yard Clerk, and?Fred himself spent 40yrs with the CN as a Carman at Niagara Falls.

Niagara Falls CN Car Department group shot from 1942 to 1986.

The early retirees in 1986. Fred is 3rd from the right.

One of Fred’s retirement gifts.

Fred with CN 6060 at Niagara Falls.

A big thanks to our members who came out to help get this very important work done, Jim, Wayne G., Garry, Aaron, Ken and Ken. The Museum is a very complex plan, and every bit of help we are able to get is of great benefit to us.? We are always looking for new members who want to get involved with the many projects we have on the go. And remember, the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. is a Charitable Organization registered with the Canada Revenue Agency.? We are able to offer Charitable tax receipts for donations received. Come out and see us in 2016, lots going on and lots more to come.