NRM Banner

February 4, 2012

A great day of weather at the shop

It's hard to believe that in the start of February, we can be outside, working on track, in nothing more than a sweatshirt!  Neither the ground nor the stone needed to pack under the ties is frozen.  So, with that being said, the NRM's amazing 2 man track gang was hard at work today spiking ties and gauging track.

Roughly named, "building track with the Jones' " since it was Ken Jones Sr. and Ken Jones Jr. doing the work today.  We managed to spike up 16 ties.  This included lifting and tamping the ties, as they were all about 1"-2.5" below the rail, and then putting the track gage on, and spiking the ties.  16 doesn't sound like a whole lot, but with only 2 people, it was a significant amount for us.

We also spiked an additional 4 ties, which were ready for spikes, but for some reason, left out when we were constructing the track before. Despite there only being 2 of us out there today, it was a good day, and we got some much needed work done.  There are still another 12 ties on the other side of the crossing to lift and tamp, which will complete everything from the shop into the curve.  The rest of the curve will be done next, and into where the turnout will eventually end up, providing we can get the necessary switch ties.

January 15, 2012

Winter is here (and it can now go away!!)

Winter finally hit Niagara this weekend, an Fort Erie was not spared.  While there were a few inches outside, the interior of the shop was coated in about a 1/2" of fresh powder.

New work has also begun on the Plymouth MDT40t. An evaluation of the control panel has started, as has cleaning of the cab, to get it ready for repainting in the warmer weather.  Wiring for the electrical will be completely replaced, as the current wire has been in place for a few decades.  Best to start new to avoid any potential problems.  The air gauges will likely have to be replaced as well, but will at least be tested first.  Other gauges like oil, water, etc, are easy to find at any automotive store.  We are also looking into new batteries, likely about $500 for the pair as well as a generator/alternator, which we believe is missing.  The air compressor is being rebuilt and the fuel system has also been checked over.  Air lines and the air system have also been looked at, and some of the smaller pipes need replacing.  Once we are able to move the locomotive, we will move HEPC46 further back, and put the Plymouth over the pit to do some repair work on running gear and a wheel.  If all goes well, we hope to have the locomotive operational for 2012.  We are still seeking donations for the restoration, and any donation over $100.00 will get the donor a chance to be one of the first people to operate the Plymouth on our Museum track, once it's restored. Please feel free to contact the Museum for more information on this unique opportunity.

In other news, don't forget, the 12th Annual Niagara Falls Model Railway Show is coming up on March 4th, 2012, at the Optimist Park Hall in Niagara Falls Ont.  We will also have displays at the Ancaster TH&B Flea Market at the Ancaster Fairgrounds on January 29th, and will also once again be part of the 13th Annual  Heritage Showcase at Niagara Square Mall on February 17th – 19th.

Our first open house of 2012 will be held on the weekend of May 26th & 27th at the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. Shop in Fort Erie, Ont.  Come out and see our equipment, artifacts, and recent shop developments.  There will also be other displays with information coming soon.

January 1, 2012

Happy New Year

Progress on E-7

2011 is now in the past, as 2012 is upon us.? I would like to take the time to thank everyone who came out and supported the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. in 2011, and of course our dedicated members who do their best to keep the Museum going, despite not being open to the public.? 2012 is going to be a big year for the NRM.? More details on this years plans will be forthcoming over the next couple of weeks, so stay tuned to find out more.? Some work has been progressing this weekend, mostly on the cosmetic restoration of HEPC E-7.

HEPC 0-4-0st #46 is covered for the winter as she sits right beside the missing windows.

The Plymouth is also covered, for the same reason, but also because the cab windows were broken and removed in 2010.? Aside from the restoration of HEPC E-7, the other main project for the year is the restoration to operation of our Plymouth diesel.? The motor starts and runs great, but we are in need of replacing some of the missing parts.? The electrical wiring is all needing to be updated as well, and some of the smaller airlines going through the cab floor have rotted away.? These are fairly simple to fix, but some other issues will have to wait until warmer weather.? The compressor is being rebuilt, and will be reinstalled and hooked up as soon as it is ready.

As always, if you would like to donate to any of our projects, it would be greatly appreciated. The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. is a registered Charitable organization, and can issue a Charitable Tax Receipt for any financial contributions.

December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!?I want to take the time to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and promise a new update in 2 days, and more frequent updates through 2012.

December 2, 2011

Wow,didn’t realize it had been lo long since my last post on here.? There have been quite a few things happening around the shop.? At the end of October, the original diesel fuel tank was removed for safety & insurance reasons by the property owner.? While it is unfortunate we lost part of the original infrastructure, it was a major liability on the property.? Pending repairs to the roof, we hope to take over the other building, the former boiler house, early 2012, and will turn that into the interim Museum site for our artifacts and displays, while we continue to develop the main site.? Our track work weekend was pretty good, despite rain both days.? We did get our track extended by another 80 feet or so, but still have to gauge and spike one rail.? We are now at the location where the turnout to the middle shop track will be.

The October Niagara Falls Model Railway Show was a very big success, with the highest attendance of the October shows thus far, just shy of 400 paid visitors.? The NRM also received a very generous financial contribution from the Lonsbury Family, and we greatly appreciate their help. Our next model railway show is Sunday, March 4th, 2012, Optimist Hall Niagara Falls from 10am-3:30pm.? Our next display will be Woodstock in January, and Ancaster at the end of January.

There are still quite a few projects on the go out at the shop.Restoration work continues on both our electric locomotive, HEPC E-7,and our Plymouth diesel switcher. There are also smaller take home projects available.? If you think you would like to help out, please drop us a line.

I will add some pictures this weekend of the past 2 months events.

 

September 25, 2011

Break in break through!!

After over a year, an arrest was made in one of the break ins at our shop.? The article on the Niagara Falls Review Website can be seen here.? Please note, the break in WAS NOT at the Fort Erie Railway Museum as it says, but was in fact at the Niagara Railway Museum Inc. shop, located at the listed address.

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3311595

NRM Track work weekend

October 1st & 2nd 2011 will be the first major track construction weekend for the Niagara Railway Museum since we took over in 2010. We are looking for anyone who wants to learn how to build track, or who have experience with track construction. We will have a skidsteer at the site to move rail and ties around, and clear any spots that are needed for leveling.? If you are interested in joining us for this, please drop us an email.? You don’t need to have any experience, but you are required to have safety boots, safety glasses, and?reflective clothing (vest or shirt) . We have a limited number of vests available.? We will provide all the tools, and water.? Our goal is to get at least another 4 sticks of rail laid, but the more people we get out, the more we can get done.? Saturday will start about 0930, and run into the afternoon. You do not need to stay the whole day, and you only need to do what you feel you can do. Hope to see you there.

September Open House

We once again had great weather for the final open house of 2011, held on September 10/11.? We changed up the displays a little bit, showing off some of the other artifacts in the NRM collection.? We also added another motorcar for display, with our ex-CNR Fairmont M9g, being shown to visitors for the first time in about 4yrs.? Thanks to Bill Woods from the ONRT&HS society for coming out early Saturday to help set up, and to all the other NRM members who came out to help man the shop.? There was also a fair amount of work done out there on the Sunday, as Richard Berry still had his Caterpillar motor grader and gradall out there.? We’ve been wanting to do some preliminary work on the turntable pit, to see exactly what the condition is under all the fill.? A 10’x10′ test hole was dug, and I now know exactly where the roundhouse went after the fire in 1991. When the roundhouse was demolished, the remaining structure was used to fill in the pit.? A layer of topsoil covered the rubble. Preliminary inspection of the pit wall and base found it to be in very good condition.? The excavation of the pit itself is a ways off yet, but hopefully the rest of the pit is as good as our test hole.? We also graded the right of way for the continued track construction.? The north track of the shop has been graded about 125′ to allow a temporary track to be put in place in case we are able to move some of our equipment over during the winter.? This will be laid with 85lb rail for now.? The grading for the rest of the south and middle track was also done, and we hope to have part of the turnout to join the 2 tracks in place by winter.

September 4, 2011

Steam Era show in Milton

Traction Engine Lineup

The Niagara Railway Museum Inc. attended the 51st annual Steam Era power show in Milton on the Labour Day long weekend.? This is one of the largest events of it’s kind in Canada, and this years show featured numerous makes and models of farm tractors, construction equipment, and steam traction engines.? There were 10 traction engines under steam, and 2 smaller steam engines powering other equipment.? There were also vendors, some great food, a large Meccano display, and lots of items for sale in the flea market.? There was a large kids area, and quite a few antique cars & trucks to top things off.? There were garden tractor pulls Friday night, farm tractor pulls Saturday morning, and a country music show Saturday night.? Kevin Forster of Toronto also hooked his 20hp George White Traction engine up to the fan and put on a bit of a spark show on the Saturday night (he had also hooked it up to the tractor pull sled earlier in the day!)? Kevin also invited me up onto his machine to take it for a spin around the grounds, over an hour later, and after?joining the parade past the grandstand, we finally parked it.? Also had the opportunity to drive the big Sawyer Massey 75hp Steam traction engine with a friend, THRA member, and railroader, Michael Guy.? This was a great 2hr endeavour that also had us in the competition with the other traction engines.? This was an excellent weekend, and I must say that being able to drive the steam engines around the grouds were by far the highlight of the weekend.

My thanks to the NRM members that came out to help man the booth during the show, and to set up and tear down.? We’ve already been invited back next year, and we are looking forward to it.? Now we can turn our attention to our own event on September 10/11, 2011 at the NRM site in Fort Erie.

 

NRM display

Our Display

Traction engine lineup

Traction engine lineup

Spark It Up!

Spark It Up!

Ingram Road Roller
?

 

August 21, 2011

Sunday shop report

In addition to work that was done at the shop on Saturday (see previous post), I spent another 4 hours out there today. My goal for today was to set up and get operating, a set of crossing signals.? This set does have to be semi portable, so I went with a PVC pipe? instead of the standard railway grade pole (that will be for the permanent set inside the shop!).

The display crossing lights, about 60% complete.

The bracket the lights are mounted to has a hole to allow for wires to be run down the inside the pole and into the ground to relays and such.? So, one must first cut a small oval in the pole, which a hole saw works nicely for. After that, I filed it down, made sure it was smooth, and mounted the lights.? They fit quite well, so that part is done.? I managed to stand the whole thing up, which is a pain, as it is quite heavy.? The pole was secured to the railing so I could work on it upright.? With a 12v battery ready, I managed to scrounge some wire from around the shop.? The lights I was using have been sitting outside for

almost 15yrs, so I didn’t know if they’d even work.? Well, I figured out what wires and terminals were for what lights, and to my amazement, all 4 lights lit up.? Before starting all of this, the shields and hoods were cleaned and painted.? So, 2 of the lights got thier shields and hoods back, the other 2 will be next weekend.? The post, which was white, was painted silver to look like an actual post.? Right now all 4 lights are wired on, as I hope to have the actual flasher relay this week.? When complete, this post will be displayed at certain events throughout the year.? The first one will be the Steam Era show in Milton on the Labour Day Weekend, September 2-5.

Despite a very heavy downpour of rain, which created a waterfall in the heavy repair bay, it was a good working day inside the shop.? Once the sun came out and started to dry things off, I managed to get a bit of? primer on the bare metal that was cleaned off on Saturday.? Not likely to get a coat of paint on it by the September 10/11 open house, but at least something has been done.

HEPC E-7 gets a bit of primer

Still lots of work to be done out there.? If you’re interested in helping out the NRM, please email us or give us a call.

« Newer Posts — Older Posts »