Celebrate the Canada Day long weekend at the Alberta Railway Museum
-          Ride the train in our passenger coach, built in Montreal
-          Pretend you're the engineer in steam engine #73, built in Kingston
-          Tour the historic St. Albert station, built in St. Albert
-          Climb up into our two cabooses, both built in Canada
-          Walk through our collection of railway cars from Canadian National, Canada's  largest railway
When:  Saturday June 30, Sunday July 1, Monday July 2,  10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Alberta Railway Museum; 24215 - 34 St. Edmonton
Admission: $5, adults; $3.50, students and seniors; $2 children; kids 2 and under free. Train rides $4.00 / person.
Information: Tel. 780 472 6229 or www.albertarailwaymuseum.com

Clickety-clack down the track
The Alberta Railway Museum offers the unique chance to inspect the track, free of charge! Take a ride on our speeder, a little orange motor car rail workers used to inspect the track in times past. Discover where the clickety-clack comes from, inspect the track, and enjoy the ride.
After the ride take the time to be the engineer in the steam engine, climb up into the caboose and wave, or go to the Mail & Express car to look for the secret passage! Bring a picnic and stay for the day.

When:   July 7 & 8; July 15; July 21 & 22 
Where: Alberta Railway Museum; 24215 - 34 St. Edmonton
Admission: $5, adults; $3.50, students and seniors; $2 children; kids 2 and under free. Speeder rides $2.00 / person. 

We had a visit from about 20 amateur photographers on Saturday.  They wanted to see and photograph dilapidated and unrestored equipment.  I was happy to oblige. Copies will be posed on their website so that we can choose the ones we would like to have.

The track inspection report has been received from Alberta Transportation.  It documents the non-compliance findings which we will address in  the coming weeks.  Compared to former reports we're in good shape. Thanks to Don, Niall and PNR.

Donations are coming in regularly ;
Frank Dove -  a tapestry: Carey LaRose - 10  coffee table books, pictures, and manuals: Heather Elliott-Martin -  keys and papers from Dave  Martin' s estate: Lon Marsh- magazines and archival materials:
Norm Corness: Ernie reports that Norm's "donations include 369 slides and something over 600 prints and negatives. They include pictures of 1392 in "Silence of the North", "Gunfighters", and "Days of Heaven" and many other "old time" pictures. There are pictures of action in Cromdale, CN Calder in the days when it was Calder Yards, and in the South Yards as well."
Don K has donated a restored hand car.  Hans picked it up and it is now on site.
My sincere thanks to all  of you.

Speaking of donations - if anybody has a small chest freezer and  fridge-freezer  combination to donate, we would be happy receive them. Some of ours are not reliable anymore.

We had a very significant donation from the Namao Store which is operated by Keith Reed. He has generously donated an ice cream freezer and a pop cooler. Keith has been a staunch supporter of the museum for years and this is another example of his interest in our mission.  He is finishing his lease on June 30.  

This is a two part donation which he has arranged to deliver to us.  The first part, the freezer, arrived on Saturday and was installed in the gift shop.  Keith graciously delivered ice cream to fill the freezer.

The old freezer, which had committed some sort of appliance suicide, was removed to the fire hall.

The cooler will arrive next, sometime in the next two weeks when transportation can be arranged.

We have also been able to secure a supply of drumsticks which are used to fuel Barry C.'s Herculean efforts to keep the curb appeal appealing!

Herb

Father's day was very successful. Stephen's presence on our behalf at a Clareview Community Celebration on Saturday helped to increase the numbers. Stephen has prepared a cutout card for a conductors cap for kids to make up. One of them got to be conductor for a run on the train along with Stephen.

Cab rides were handled by draw and everyone could visit the engine room on 9000 when she was stopped and idling.

Lots of children and their dads attended.  The train was well filled every run.  Kevin from Carrillion Roadways  and his family enjoyed their visit.  The children were fascinated by the tour of the engine room of 9000. Kevin got the Railway Museum sign up for us again on Highway 37. It had blown down in the last windstorm.
 
Frank Dove donated a railway wall hanging that belonged to his mother. Frank was Road Foreman of Engines for the NAR and is a good friend.  

Heather Elliott-Martin brought in a set of keys and a box of memorabilia that belonged to her husband Dave.  He passed away several years ago.  Dave was on the board and worked in the archives as well as  being conductor. Thanks Heather! We miss him still.

Ray Myers and family were also at the museum.  Ray keeps our equipment inspections current and within the regulations.

Smoking and safety!  We need more signs  to remind visitors of the rules.

Niale lettered the newly painted wash car and completed most of the lettering on Boxcar 512719 inside Dunvegan Shop.  It is a sister  car to 509893 which was recently completely restored and painted.  Both are used for storing parts and supplies.

The engine was smoothly and professionally operated by Jim as engineer and  Barry W. as fireman. The  conductors were Ken J. and Stephen. The role of conductor is not easily filled.  Our  conductors transmit the feeling that we are in the business of preservation as well as being an attraction. Ivan was in training as brakeman so that he can operate the train along with the rest of the team.

John B. has agreed to handle our volunteer software.  Irene and he discussed the need for recording volunteer hours.  John will be making some recommendations for internet connection.  John was also a great help around the station and grounds.

Gloria and Carol skilfully managed the gift shop and registrations with their usual good humor.  Their work as a dedicated team made the day even more successful and gave the museum the added human touch that makes people feel welcome.  Giving out free gift bags is no small task.

Thanks to Bob Greer, CN police for bringing us the safety materials for the gift bags. Bob is about to retire and I for one will miss him - his genial attitude and manner have given CN Police a real niche in our operation.
Thanks Bob for a PR job well done. Best wishes from all of us!

The season has been gratifying so far. Comments have been positive about the changes that have been made: the gate sign area, the roadway into the museum, the grass mowing, the handrails into the station, the platform and the water tank clean-up.

Barry C. painted the south side of the Wash Car and supervised  a CSV crew to finish the job last Thursday.  It looks great!  Niale has applied the decals on the washroom doors and identified the car as "Wash Car".

Ivan and Hans have staked out the proposed mini-rail route so that we can plan the location of structures around the area north-east of the station. Now we can move the "Family Car" and build a deck around it to give our visitors a place to picnic  and have birthday parties. We have not had a place like that before.

Father's Day celebrations are under way. Saturday -  lots of speeder rides and visitors.  The ice cream freezer that was donated by Keith at Namao Store, was put into the gift shop. The pop cooler will follow. 

More on Father's Day later

Herb 

On Track for Father's Day!

Get Dad on the right track for Father's Day by taking him to the Alberta Railway Museum. Ride the train, take in the history, and enter Dad for a chance at a ride in the locomotive cab of CN 9000, the queen of the diesels. Dad can hang out with the engineer and fireman, while enjoying the best view from the train! After your train ride, tour the inside of locomotive CN 9000 as well as our collection of preserved and restored train cars. Bring a picnic lunch and stay for the day.

When:  Sunday June 17, Father's Day, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Alberta Railway Museum; 24215 - 34 St.
Admission: $5, adults; $3.50, students and seniors; $2 children; kids 2 and under free. Train rides $4.00.
Information: 780 472 6229 or www.AlbertaRailwayMuseum.com

Work continues on the grounds and buildings.  Barry is making some major differences in the look of the place. We are using CSVs for many 
tasks that were formerly done by volunteers - grass cutting, painting, cleaning and moving furniture, mattresses (from one car to another) and keeping the garbage and litter cleaned up.

The Bulldozer was out of service for several weeks because of a leaking hydraulic line.  The line was almost impossible to remove from its location. Dave H. tackled the job, removed the line and Don ordered a new one. When it arrived from John Deere in the US, Dave then installed it. Bravo!

The casino was held on May 28 and 29. It provides solvency and gives us a means to grow and develop new ideas. The proceeds will be partly used for renovation of Dunvegan Shop - heat, light, insulation and roof repair.
Thanks to all the volunteers, but especially to Stephen and James who, along with the advisors, made things happen.

Plans are in the works for development of a mini-rail on the grounds.  
Mini-rail is being proposed as an additional source of revenue that will take us along the road to sustainability. As the mini-rail ideas take shape they will be vetted by members and  the Board of Directors.  
What began as a layout for landscaping has morphed into a mini-rail layout while keeping the landscaping idea in focus.  Janet and Roland, Ivan, Ric and Irene have put a great deal of effort into this proposal.  

John B is being trained to staff the gift shop.  Some other individuals have shown interest and they will be included in the training sessions later.  

John took the pot from the popcorn machine and got it working again.  He took it to the manufacturer's representative, got it repaired, rewired, and it was put into service today. Samples of popcorn were enjoyed by Don, Barry and Cathy.

Cathy's sister Pat is undergoing cancer therapy and was hospitalized today for triage.  Pat will be in hospital for an undetermined time. Our sympathies to Cathy and Rosemarie.

Lon brought in a few historic magazines and two speeder wheels today.  He says that the wheels have been in his garage for a long time. It is called spring cleaning. If you have a GMD1 in your garage we will be glad to have it!

Don K has donated a restored handcar and four lengths of rail to the museum.  Don is a strong supporter and has assisted us in many ways. Hans is arranging to pick it up.  Many thanks Don!

The new season is underway!  Come to see us and enjoy the changes.

Herb