By prearrangement, I was escorted through the transportation collection by the curator and got a great deal of information and opportunity to hear about what's up in the Museum. First off, this is a world class museum, and when the new building is completed it will be "world-classier".

The main locomotive display includes the last CNR streamlined Northern, CPR 3100, also a 4-8-4, and Royal Hudson 2558. The Hudson cab has been restored after vandals started stripping it and the 3100's in the museum. Her backhead is now behind a barrier and 3100's has been replaced with wooden parts. During the "heritage" years, CPR approached the museum about retrieving 3100 to add to the fleet. Building considerations made that impossible.

A favorite locomotive, and the one the public least seems to appreciate is CPR 928, a ten-wheeler with plenty of stories behind it, including the fact is is composed from a variety of other "D" class ten-wheelers. She is far more typical of the work horse locomotives of Canadian history.

While the staff would rather CNR #6200 not be outdoors, she is very well painted and secured. There is at least one volunteer who is active in returning her original piping and fixtures. The number plate is a copy, and the real plate is in a vault. She is greased and oiled. 6200 actually makes for a very inviting presentation as you approach the museum.

The warehouse collection is huge and all of it will be moved into the new building. There is active restoration going on and everything is tarped. The museum was looking for a second-generation Diesel locomotive and had pin-pointed a CPR SD40-2 as historically important, but a previous CPR official (HH) didn't wish to cooperate and the unit was scrapped. That being said, the Diesel jewel (if there can be one) is the FM C-Liner, CPR 4065. While in rough exterior condition, the Museum understands her rarity and has plans to bring her back to display condition. There are crates of parts for her, marked and shelved.

The current CPR administration is in contact with the museum and interested in being more proactive regarding Canadian railroad history. That can only bode well.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

You failed to mention 1201. Could it be involved in this more proactive approach CPR has towards railroad history? I heard a rumour just last week that involved Canadian Pacific and 1201. To tell the truth I thought it was only that... A rumour.

CPR 1201 was mentioned as a possible candidate for shopping. The railroad has looked into fixing her up. It remains a balloon in the air for right now.

What is going with those arcing display boards with the locomotives? Do they serve a particular purpose?

When I was last there, tours of the streamline'd northern's cab were possible which I'm sure helped maintain it's integrity. Is that still offered?

Joshua

The arched informational boards are hated by photographers, but appreciated by others who like the way they look. It was discussed. The CNR 4-8-4 is closed to prevent vandalism, except when a docent is available. Hard to imagine people walking into a museum and walking out with part of a prime exhibit.

The cabs of the CPR Northern and Hudson were already stripped senseless when I visited the place in the early 90s.

And what of the CN 0-6-0t and 4-4-0 that are there? I don't think anyone has seen them in 60 years...

The 4-4-0 is under restoration in the warehouse and the 0-6-0 is under a tarp, having been lubed and waiting its turn.
The massive amount of stored railroad equipment pales by comparison to the farm and automotive equipment, including a "Pope-Mobile". Everything gets worked on, but again, the museum needs responsible restorers and money to pay the people. I think they've done only "unbelievably and remarkably fantastic", considering the collection and building work.

We all have our priorities, but the Museum hasn't slacked at all.

My only problem with that large museum is tha they do not have much of their traction collection on display. I hope that some of it goes into the new building you mentioned.

A new building is always a good thing at a railroad museum!

ted66

You have to take into account this place is not a railroad museum though. There is a lot more here than just trains. It's the Canada Science and Technology Museum which happens to have some railroad equipment as part of the technology. They even declared a number locomotives surplus 30 years ago to make room for other non-rail related exhibits. The equipment was distributed to other groups even though they were in pristine condition. CNR Hudson #5700 (nee 5703) being one of them. It is now at the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario.