During this summer vacation we went back up to visit family in Newfoundland. While I didn't get to visit as many sites associated with the old Nfld Railway as I did last year, I did get a few shots of some interesting stuff that I'll share with you. To quickly recap, the Newfoundland Railway (which name I'll use to cover the full history of the line, even though it operated under various names and corporate structures during its lifetime) was the longest narrow gauge (3'-6") system in North America. Construction started in 1881, first train across the island operated in 1888, and the line was finally abandoned and they started to lift rails in 1988. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newfoundland_Railway One spot that we saw last year but revisited again this year was Clarenville. Even though Clarenville was a division point on the railway, it got the short end of the stick when the railway was abandoned and equipment donated to towns for display/museums. Clarenville wound up with only an old Plymouth switcher and a couple of flatcars from a local private operation, plus a NR caboose. Late last year, it became known that a diesel and a few cars which were on display in a park in the capital city of St Johns were to be removed and scrapped to make room for some change in park services. The local railway historical society in Clarenville were able to get the locomotive and one dining car (the balance of the cars were considered too far gone to restore) and raised the money needed to haul them to Clarenville by means of donations and local fundraisers. So here are a few shots of #900, the first diesel road locomotive to operate in Newfoundland (they did have 3 diesel switchers before). It's a model NF110, 1200hp, C-C, built in 1952 by GM of Canada, resting in its new location in front of the old depot in Clarenville. It still needs a lot of work to bring it back into decent condition after years of neglect in its old location. But the Clarenville group is pretty dedicated and I expect that it will fare much better here in its new location. Regards Ed
Here's a shot of the one car that they brought out to Clarenville with the diesel. It's an old dining car. It's in worse shape than the diesel, but the folks there felt that it could be reconditioned, given enough time and money. I shot the Plymouth switcher that was there last year and posted a photo. But either they did some maintenance on it during the year, or maybe the lighting was better when I visited this year, so here's a shot of it as it appeared in July of this year. And one from the side. I guess I never noticed before, but I was surprised at just how short a wheelbase it has. Next up: "The Newfie Bullet"
One thing I really wanted to do this year was to drive across the island and visit the museum at the old Humbermouth station in Corner Brook, which is operated by the Railway Society of Newfoundland. There they have the only remaining steam locomotive from the old line, plus a few passenger cars. We made the pilgrimage, even though we arrived on a rainy day. I wasn't disappointed. There she was in all her beauty, 4-6-2 number 593, with 5 cars in tow. She was originally #193 when she was built by Baldwin in 1921. 180# steam pressure, 52" drivers, a whopping 20,400# of tractive effort. Originally a coal burner, she was converted to oil in 1949. And, of course, I had to spoil this shot by standing in front of the locomotive. Later: the consist. Regards Ed
They have 5 pretty well reconditioned cars behind the locomotive. First is an express boxcar which I managed to not get a decent picture of. Behind that came this RPO car. Then this coach. Then diner #10. And bringing up the rear was sleeper "Twillingate". All the cars had been nicely redone and were in great condition. We got a guided tour through the train which was enthusiasticly done. Next up: What else they have there.
They also had one of the NF110 road diesels at Corner Brook. Here's #931, a newer sister of the one now on display at Clarenville. But, like all the equipment here at this museum, it's in great shape. I believe it even still has its prime mover and traction motors. It's wearing the CN zebra stripe paint scheme. As at several locations, Corner Brook has a caboose. This one is wearing the "Terra Transport" logo and paint scheme. This was the last incarnation of the railroad's identity (1979) as part on CN's attempt to isolate itself from the system (probably already planning on abandoning service). And, of course, no Nfld Railway display worth it's salt could be without a snowplow. Here is one of the big push type plows. But the steam locomotive and the passenger train were the main reason for the trip, and I was extremely happy to see them, and to find that they (and all the equipment here at Corner Brook) were in such good condition. I remember posting last year how disappointed I was with the poor condition of the equipment on display at several locations. It was a great trip. We're planning on going back again next year. Maybe I'll find something else worth shooting. Best regards Ed
Ed, the 593 looks pretty good. Any chance they would restore her to operate some day? Hey, you look pretty good, too. :teeth:
I've never heard anyone on the Nfld Railway group in Yahoo speak about the possibility, so I don't suspect it's anything they're contemplating. I don't know if that's due to the condition of the locomotive and boiler, or simply a lack of sufficient funds. It's a pretty small historical society, and I suspect they don't have much available in the way of money for a major locomotive restoration. But that's just my guess. Regards Ed
Ed, Thanks very much for sharing your vacation travels. BTW, I pray that Felix affects you less than Dean. I share and sympathize your anxiety during hurricane season......'tain't fun.
Thanks for the concern, Hank, but I'm sure we'll be fine. We're some 10 miles inland from the Gulf, and sufficiently high that we don't have problems with either waves, tides, or the river rising. Our house is solid, solid concrete frame, concrete roof, and solid brick walls (not brick veneer), so it's not going anywhere. We cook with gas and have a stationary gas tank on the roof, along with a large cistern for utility water. Our major inconvenience in a Hurricane is losing power, as we did for a few stretches during Dean. But that's more of an inconvenience than a major concern. People who live along the Mississippi coast on the other hand....... Best regards Ed
Nice photos, Ed. My mother is from Corner Brook, and I've been planning to get back there with her sometime soon. Also, the name on the building in the background, Rhoady J. Hickey, was the name of my aunt's brother. Yes, it's named after him. Dave.
Here's a link to a picture of Rhoady himself in the cab of Class R-2-d Mikado #321, a 1947 product of MLW. The tender doesn't appear to carry any logo, but this is after the CN takeover. http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=779692 And there's a Rhoady T. Hickey who is still listed as a contact for the Railway Society of Newfoundland in Corner Brook. I'll assume he's a cousin? Regards Ed
Yes, he's a cousin. Actually, I think it's WAS a cousin. I believe he passed away earlier this year. I'll have to check and get back to you. Dave. Fast check with my mother, Rhoady passed away a couple of years ago. His wife, Winnie, is now looking after everything. My mom also mentionned that there is a "small train that you can ride on" that was built by Rhoady that is still operating. She believes that it is the Codroy Valley area. More to follow. As an addition, all 12 in the Hickey family worked on the railroad. Dave.
Thought you might like to see the latest pictures of locomotive #900. That's the one in the photos in the first post in this thread. Remember that it was rescued from oblivion earlier this year and transported to Clarenville. The pictures in the first post were taken around the end of June (+/-). Looks like the local railroad historical society there in Clarenville didn't merely rest on their laurels after pulling off that rescue and move. Here is a link to photos in the Newfoundland Railway group on Yahoo Groups showing the loco wearing it's new coat of paint (and new lexan windows) in the as-delivered paint scheme. Nice work in a very short time. http://ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/Nfld_Rwy/photos/browse/4aee (I hope the photos are accessible to non-group members). Regards Ed
darn, I was afraid of that. Oh well, you'll just have to wait until we go up there again next summer. I'll be sure to stop by and get some shots that I can upload to Rail Images. maybe by then they'll have started work on reconditioning the diner. Regards Ed
Hello, everyone. I myself loved the "peoples' road" (Nfld. Railway) I've been looking over the posts on the railway and figgered I'd throw my 2 cents in. For those that cannot see 900. Here's a link to the town of Clarenville;(Scroll to the bottom) The Town of Clarenville - Site of The First Transatlantic Telephone Cable Rhoady Hickey's brother Ted, who is also deceased, was the one who had speeder and some cars set up in Spruce Brook at his cabin, 20 miles west of Corner Brook. He was a machinist and built a model of a steamer that ran on compressed air, while doing his apprenticeship training in StJohn's years ago. 931 in Corner Brook hasn't run in sometime(1998)due to 4 of her batteries being toast. The biggest reason for the rr sites in sad repair is simply lack of funding.What some places get thousands of dollars for, we would only get maybe hundreds.(but I'm still buying lotto tickets. ) Here's a nice link with photos; http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/nf/ Cheers! Brian H.
