Cleaning out the mud rails.

It has been a fairly productive 2 weeks at the shop with help from various people.? Members of the Southern Niagara Model Railroad Club in Thorold came out on Tuesday night and cleared out the mud rails of the siding where our boxcars will likely be stored temporarily when they arrive.? This job alone took them almost 3hrs to clean out 40ft.? One of our new members, William Cormier has been cleaning up around the site, and has cleaned out mud, grass and debris from the concrete fueling pads in preparation for relaying the track

Fueling Pads

There has also been work going on inside the shop, mostly with the removal of windows that were smashed in by the vandals who hit us a month ago.? We do not yet have new glass, but we need to remove the old glass to make is safe for our members and for visitors.? There has also been work done on our newest arrival, HEPC E-7.? Paint is slowly being removed, and the engine cleaned up in preparation for painting, which could happen later this year.

E-7 with newly installed window covers.

The cab of E-7 has also been cleaned out as it was filled with sand and other debris from years of sitting around.? Unfortunately, for some reason, while it sat at NRE in Capreol, the step ladders on the sides were cut off (since last year).? These will be replaced in time.? While E-7 is not in it’s original configuration, it will be repainted to its original HEPC scheme.

In keeping with the mandate of the NRM, part of the process of restoration is to have thesite showing as it originally was.? Part of this interpretation is the uncovering of part of the original turntable pit.? This was done this past weekend, and about 12ft of the top of the pit wall is now visible to visitors to the site.? Part of the turntable pit, along with part of a roundhouse stall, will be uncovered so people can see what was originally on the site.

We also now have an Architect working on the plans for the reconstruction

A portion of the original turntable pit rail

of the office area, which will create the main artifact display room for the NRM.??? Jason Pizzicarola of Jason Pizzicarola Design – Architects Inc. (www.jpdesign.ca)?has offered to assist the NRM with these plans.

I extend my thanks to those who have been working so hard to make the NRM a reality, and we expect great things in the future.? Our next big event will be on September 11/12, 2010, at our second open house of the year.? This open house will be bigger than the one in July, and will feature our 3 locomotives on display, track motorcar rides, model train layouts, railway artifacts, and possibly some other local history displays.? The event runs rain or shine, 9am-4pm both days.? Admission is by donation.