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January 30, 2011

Well, despite the winter weather, we are still working out at the shop.? With the lack of windows in the building, it cuts down on the length of time, and number of volunteers that come out, but we are still moving forwards.? The Plymouth diesel has had many of its air lines removed, inspected, and re-installed.? Some lines are being replaced due to rot.? There are some water issues in a couple of the air?lines, and they are being thawed out, inspected, and replaced where needed.? If it’s a heavy snow outside, chances are it’ll be snowing inside, as the 2 photos below show.? These were taken at 12 & 2pm on January 22nd.? Oh well, it’s still better than working outside.

Cold, but very little snow.

And now theres snow

The next display for the Niagara Railway Museum will be at the annual Heritage week event held at Niagara Square mall on February 18th to 20th.? This event gathers groups from across Niagara to display thier historic artifacts.? Then, just 2 weeks later, the 11th Annual Niagara Falls Model Railway Show.? See the website events section for more details on both of these events.? The development of the CNR diesel shop into the Niagara Railway Museum relies on fundraising and donations, so please come out and support the NRM as we move forward to create a great railway attraction in the Niagara Region.? All donations over $25 are eligible for a charitable tax reciept. Donations can be made directly on our website through the secure server. www.nfrm.ca?

January 6, 2011

NRM Events page updated

The Events page for the Niagara Railway Museum has been updated with the shows we are attending, and putting on.? There are still more events to be added, but this is shaping up to be a very busy year.? Of special interest are the upcoming NF Model Railway Show on March 6th, and our first open house of the year, which will be held on May 14/15.? As always all proceeds made at any of our displays helps the NRM move closer to our final goals.? Support the NRM, and come out and see what we have to offer.

December 19, 2010

Happy Holidays

On behalf of the members and volunteers of the Niagara Railway Museum, I would like to take this time to wish you and yours all the best this holiday season.? The NRM has progressed far in 2010, and with continued support from the Community and abroad, we look forward to even bigger and better things to happen in 2011.? Have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Ken Jones Jr.

President

Niagara Railway Museum

?

November 21, 2010

NRM’s Plymouth comes to life!

At 12:12pm on Sunday November 21st, 2010, the Niagara Railway Museum’s 1953 Plymouth MDT40t, returned to life.? After a few months of work, the 8cyl. engine, which has not run in about 20yrs, was turned over on Saturday November 20th, and fired up and idled on the 21st.

There is still a very long way to go before the actual locomotive is operational, but this is the first major accomplishment.? Most, if not all of the hoses will need to be replaced, as will all of the wiring, and probably the gauges in the cab.? We are also in need of new batteries, as the ones we had were on loan for the day.? The air compressor was severely damaged and is seized solid, and cracked.? The entire air system, which not only operates the brakes, but also the transmission, will have to be rebuilt.? We have managed to acquire a bell for the diesel, and will also add a set of? air horns, which once served on a CP Rail snow plow.? We are still raising fund for the restoration of the locomotive, and donations can be made directly to the Museum off the main page of the website.? As always, donations to the NRM are eligible for a tax receipt.

Revving up the engine!

I thank Bill McCraw, one of our newer members, for spending so much time and effort to get the Plymouth running.? Bill used to work on that type of motor for a living, and without his expertise, we would not have managed to get the engine running this soon.? Along with Bill, William, Scott, Eric and Steve also helped out when they could.? There were 6 of us working on it today to get it running and Bill’s friend Russell donated a set of batteries for the day, in order to make this happen.

On a personal note, when I founded the NRM in 1997, I always said the day we have an operating locomotive was the day I feel we have really accomplished a goal.? Today was that day.? Thanks to our members, donors, and Babcock & Wilcox in Cambridge who donated the engine to us 3 yrs ago.

October 29, 2010

Fall Model Railway Show a success!

The 4th Annual Fall Niagara Falls Model Railway Show was held on Sunday, October 31st, 2010.? Attendance was up sharply over our 2009 show, and there?were a great may deals to be had.? 34 vendors from across Ontario took part in the show, and many have already booked in for the 11th Annual show, which will be held on March 6th, 2011.? The NRM wishes to thank all the visitors that came from around Ontario and the US to take advantage of the great bargains.? We also thank the 34 vendors who travelled to the show with thier wares, and look forward to welcoming them back in March.

October 17, 2010

Weekend Work Report

It was a very productive weekend at the Museum site.? Scott and I (Ken Jr.) spent some of Saturday working on the brake rigging on the Plymouth, and also spiked up some more of track 2.? We also looked around inside and out of the shop and made up a list of jobs to be done before winter.? Sunday saw 7 members out to work.? Bill worked on the Plymouth motor, replacing some of the missing parts as the test fire draws near.

NRM Member Bill McCraw has his head stuck in the hood of the Plymouth as he works on a gasket.

Steve, William, Scott, and myself worked on HEPC 46. ?For the past 30+ years, it has been stuck in forward. With the help of a hydraulic jack, we were able to move the linkage back to its neutral position. It is still very tight, but a careful eye was kept on all moving parts to ensure that everything moved as it was intended. The reversing gear on HEPC 46 is now in neutral, instead of forward.

The reversing gear on HEPC 46 is now in neutral, instead of forward.

Ken Sr. and Ryan worked in the inspection pit on track 2, clearing out garbage and debris.? Next time there are more hands, all the debris from the pit, and the old washrooms will be removed from the shop as we continue to clean the facility to make it better for our members, and visitors.? As I was leaving, Norfolk Southern train 369 from Buffalo came into the yard.? The lead unit was a former SOO Line, followed by 2 NS, and a brand new CN GE ES44DC #2325.

NS train 369 enters the Fort Erie yard with brand new CN 2325, a GE ES44DC.

My thanks to everyone who came out today.? Still lots to do?before the winter sets in.? And a reminder to everyone else, the?Fall Niagara Falls?Model Railway Show is just 2 weeks away, on October 31st, 2010.? The show is?once again held at Optimist Park Hall, and is open from 10am-3:30pm.? Model railway vendors, layouts, and displays.? There will be something for everyone, so come on out and support the Niagara Railway Museum.

October 2, 2010

ex-CNR Flanger donated

The Niagara Railway Museum has recently acquired an ex-CNR Flanger, which was donated by Trillium Railway Company.? The Flanger was built in 1923 as a boxcar for the Grand Trunk.? In 1936 it was rebuilt by the CNR to a wood body flanger #56452.? The car was retired in 1980 and was aquired by the City of Welland, Ont. where it was turned into a Tourist Information booth at the corner of East Main & Prince Charles Dr.? After a fire in 1999, the car was offered for scrap.? Trillium acquired the car, and?removed the burned body, creating essentially a flatcar with snow plow blades.? The car was moved to Dain City, where it has been stored ever since.? With clean up proceeding at the site of MJ Jones (also where our Plymouth diesel was stored until June of this year) the flanger had to go.? It has been offered to the NRM, and we are currently looking for donations to help move the car, and to restore the body.? We hope to be able to move the car before the end of 2010.? Any donations towards the project would be greatly appreciated, and are eligible for a charitable tax reciept.

September 28, 2010

NRM update

While most work has stopped on the shop itself, other than routine cleaning, work continues on equipment restoration.? E-7 has had 2 footboards re-installed, and the restoration to operation of the Plymouth MDT40t is also progressing.? The diesel engine is said to be in very good condition, and we are currently tracking down a few minor parts needed to make it complete.? One of which is an air filter, which apparently is no longer available (what a suprise!!).? While it doesn’t look like there will be windows in the shop by the winter, we do have plans to use very heavy plastic sheeting to cover the windows, as much as we can anyways, to make the building a bit more weather proof.? We are also working on a new look to our website, and will soon be adding a link where visitors can make online donations to the Museum.? At this time, the NRM shop is closed, however, visitors are welcome by prior arrangement, or if any of our volunteers are at the shop the day you show up.? Admission is as always, by donation.? The Fall Niagara Falls Model Railway Show will be held on October 31st, 2010, 10am-3:30pm at Optimist Park Hall on Dorchester Rd in Niagara Falls.? Contact us for more information.

September 15, 2010

Open House a success

1927 REO Bickel Fire truck

The NRM’s second open house is now a thing of the past.? I’m not sure of the exact visitor count, but I can say that the shop had a steady flow of visitors both Saturday & Sunday.? We heard nothing but positive comments, and have people from across the Niagara Region, and even from the US.? The weather Saturday was great, nice and sunny, and warm.? This allowed the Fort Erie LaFrance Association to bring out their 1927 Bickel fire truck for display.? They had originally planned to bring out more than one truck, but didn’t have enough drivers due to sickness.? This was their first visit and it surely won’t be the last, as we have invited them back to any of our open houses in the future.? It adds to our displays, and gives them exposure as well.?In July, a headlight and CPR bell were donated to the NRM, with the instructions that they be used strictly on HEPC 46 (although we were told that if we wanted to temporarily? display the headlight on other equipment, we could).

HEPC E-7

We decided that since 46 had her front headlight on (the new headlight will be used on the back of 46) the other headlight should go on E-7 for display.? It looked pretty good with both locomotives beside each other with headlights.

The Southern Niagara Model Railroad Club brought their small HO scale layout, and the Ontario Northland Railway H&TS also had a display at the show.? The ONR display showed photos, books, and models of ONR equipment over the years.

The Niagara Railway Museum’s newly donated HO layout was also on display at the open house, and was very well recieved.? The layout is being rebuilt slightly, with new track, and more scenery, but other than that, it is pretty much staying as it is.? It is a double track layout, with a large mountain at one end.

Southern Ontario Model Railroad Club HO Layout on display

A bit more of the shop was open to visitors this time, as we kept all 3 locomotives inside.? The upper level inspection platform was open for people to walk up and look inside the cab of E-7 & 46.? They could also go underneath the platform, where we hung flourescent lights to light up the wheels and undercarriage of the 2 locomotives.? As always, the cab of the Plymouth was open for viewing as well.? The motorcar rides were once again enjoyed by many, and although it is only a short ride, it gives people a chance to ride on a piece of equipment normally only used by Maintenance personnel.

NRM layout

As the museum grows and developes, more will be available for viewing.? The architect is working on the designs for the office area, which will be the main entrance, and artifact display area.??? The restoration to operation of our Plymouth diesel has also started.? The damaged air compressor has been removed, and will be rebuilt.? The motor in the locomotive is in decent shape, and will likely need some rewiring, and new hoses, but there is hope that the engine may be running by the end of the year, possibly sooner.

Thanks to the many NRM members that came out to help with the open house.? The NRM also thanks Modern Corporation in Niagara Falls for the portable

toilets,? The Fort Erie LaFrance Association for the fire truck, and The Southern Niagara Model Railroad Club & ONRH&TS for bringing out their displays.

The Northwest face of the NRM shop, taken about 1030pm Sept. 11.

E-7 & 46 at night

There are still lots of things to do at the NRM, so if you wouldlike to come out and volunteer, drop us an email, or give us a call.? No skills required, just bring yourself, safety boots, and lunch, we’ll do the rest.

September 8, 2010

Open house update

Wow, this has come on really fast.? Just 2 more days until the Niagara Railway Museum open house.? Things are coming together great.? Lots to see and do, a few special surprises as well.? An addition to the weekend will be drinks and hot dogs for a small fee.? We will also have portable restrooms on site, as our plumbing is not currently in operating condition (actually, the indoor plumbing doesn’t even exist!!).? Food and drinks, in addition to all the other displays, and who knows what might show up on the weekend.? Come on out and support the NRM, it’ll be a great time.? Remember, the event runs rain or shine, so please dress for the weather (if the outside temp is cool, the shop will be as well, please be prepared).

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