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| Steaming Day and Golden Spike Ceremony - Monday July 1 | |
 Harry Savile getting his Consolidation ready to leave Moore's Station with a full load of visitors |
The public steaming day and Canada Day celebration saw record high temperatures with lots of engines and visitors at the GHLS track. As a result of the TV promotion done earlier in the week, the public started to show up early to see and ride the trains before it got too hot. There was even a live TV remote from the track during the CH TV news broadcast at noon. JoAnn Intini was kept busy all day working the ticket tent and donation box as hundreds of visitors got their ticket for a free ride on either the ground or elevated trains.
The ground track was busy early with Michael Guy's Romulus, Harry Savile with his Consolidation and Moe Chaput with his Mikado taking turns giving rides all day. Ron McKinley was also out with his OMLET winning 7-1/4" Hercules to give rides during the afternoon. |
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| The elevated track was also busy with several engines taking to the track to give rides. Ted and Jack McJannett were out first thing with their 3-1/2" Pacific to give rides for several hours before having to leave early. Frank Dely also had his 3-1/2" Pacific out as well as Tom Stewart's 4-3/4" Pacific, with several members sharing the driving chores on Tom's engine. Aubre Whitehouse was also out with his OMLET winning 4-3/4" 0-6-0 tank engine and gave rides most of the afternoon.
The big star on the elevated track this day though was Eric Wootton's beautiful 4-3/4" Evening Star. With Bob Intini working the throttle, the Star made its first appearance giving rides at a public steaming day. It was a wonderful sight to see the Star running and especially nice to see Betty Wootton out at the track to enjoy a ride behind Eric's engine. |
 Lots of action on both the ground and elevated tracks all day |
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 Bob McDowall (left) leading the Golden Spike ceremonies as the engines prepare to meet |
Thanks to all of the GHLS members who were out to help with all of the other chores involved in giving rides to the public. Lots of members took turns being conductor and stationmaster and enduring the record high temperatures.
At noon, everyone took a break from giving rides to observe the Golden Spike ceremonies. The traditional driving of the last spike ceremony, which marks the official completion of the first phase of the GHLS ground track construction, was presided over by GHLS President Bob McDowall. Bob took this opportunity to lead everyone in a moment of silence to honor two long time GHLS members, Jim Gilbert and Ken Gent, who past away during the last year. |
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| Michael Guy's Romulus and Harry Savile's Consolidation were arranged head-on next to the level crossing for the spike driving ceremony. Ian Kerr-Wilson of the Hamilton Museum of Steam and Technology, GHLS Vise-President Tom Stewart and GHLS Chief Superintendent Harry Savile were each given the honor of driving the ceremonial Golden Spike in recognition of their contribution to the completion of the ground track. With plans well underway for the next phase of the ground track expansion, it won't be too long before this ceremony will be repeated again for phase two. |  Ian Kerr-Wilson was first to take a turn driving the Golden Spike |
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 Tom Stewart driving the Golden Spike with Harry Savile (right) waiting to take his turn at driving the last spike |
After all the spectators had left and everyone had a chance to packed-up, it was time to cool-down and relax. Everyone got together to enjoy a BBQ by the Museum Wood Shed. Thanks to Bob and Jeanne McDowall who were kept busy cooking hamburgers, which everyone enjoyed along with all the other potluck goodies.
Good food and good company, a great way to end a long hot day of action at the GHLS track. |
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 (L to R) Ian Kerr-Wilson, Bob McDowall, Harry Savile and Tom Stewart look on as the engines meet after driving the last spike |
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| Track Work | |
| The ground level car barn project is nearing completion. During the past month the framing has been erected with the roof, siding and windows now completed. Brian and Steve Moore have been very busy along with the help from lots of members during several workdays and evenings in July. All that remains to be done is to complete the track into the barn, install the doors and finish the grading and pedestrian crossing.
The GHLS donor sign beside the water tower has been updated thanks to Barrie Ward. The sign recognizes those companies that have helped with the building and maintenance of the GHLS facilities. Also recognized on the sign are some of the families that have made significant contributions to the GHLS facilities. |
 Ground level car barn |
| The GHLS have acquired a supply of Kentucky steaming coal. The Muskoka Fleet, which operates the Segwun steam ship out of Gravenhurst, agreed to sell us some of their coal at cost. Thanks to Harry Savile, Tom Stewart, Linc Johnson and Barry Graham for enduring several traffic jams while making the trip up to Gravenhurst to shovel several tons of coal on a very hot day. The coal bins at the north end of the Station are being re-arranged to accommodate the new coal. Volunteers will be needed to help with crushing and sorting the coal once the coal bins are in place.
Rick Intini has completed a new water tower that will replace the existing one next to the elevated track transfer table. The new tower, which has a much larger capacity, will be installed on the existing tower base. The tank cladding and finishing touches will be completed after the tower is in place. |
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| CH TV Morning Live - Tuesday June 25 |
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 Frank Dely getting ready to show his 3-1/2" Pacific on live TV |
Several members were out to the track very early in the morning to prepare for a live appearance on CH TV with local TV personality Lori DeAngelis. The Hamilton TV station morning show, which airs from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, features live remote shots from various locations in the Hamilton-Niagara area. Ian Kerr-Wilson arranged the appearance to help promote events at the museum. Ian was also on camera several times to describe the upcoming GHLS activities on Canada Day.
GHLS members were at the track before 5:00 AM to prepare for the first live shot which aired just after 6:00 AM. Frank Dely had his 3-1/2" Pacific out along with Harry Savile's 7-1/4" Consolidation. Barry Graham also had his partially completed engine for display and to explain about steam locomotives. Tom Stewart, Moe Chaput, and Russ Milland were also on hand to help out. |
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| Frank's Pacific was the star of the show with several appearances of his great running engine. Frank described his engine and was shown giving Lori several rides around the track. After Frank explained how to run his locomotive, he even allowed Lori to take a turn at the throttle.
There were a total of 11 different live appearances by Ian, Frank, Harry or Barry during the three-hour show. Lori is a very interesting and energetic person, which helped to make everyone forget there was a TV camera there. This also made the time between shot's pass very quickly and the three hours went by in no time. The promotion seemed to work, as evidenced by the large public turnout at the July 1st steaming day. A videotape of the live shots aired during the show will be available at the next business meeting in September. |
 Lori DeAngelis of CH TV gets ready to interview Harry Savile about his 7-1/4" Consolidation |
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| The Evening Star Rides Again - Sunday June 30 |
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 Bob Intini giving the refurbished Evening Star a test run |
Several members were out to the track very early in the morning to prepare for a live appearance on CH TV with local TV personality Lori DeAngelis. The Hamilton TV station morning show, which airs from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM, features live remote shots from various locations in the Hamilton-Niagara area. Ian Kerr-Wilson arranged the appearance to help promote events at the museum. Ian was also on camera several times to describe the upcoming GHLS activities on Canada Day.
GHLS members were at the track before 5:00 AM to prepare for the first live shot which aired just after 6:00 AM. Frank Dely had his 3-1/2" Pacific out along with Harry Savile's 7-1/4" Consolidation. Barry Graham also had his partially completed engine for display and to explain about steam locomotives. Tom Stewart, Moe Chaput, and Russ Milland were also on hand to help out. |
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| Pindal Tramway Open House - Saturday July 13 |
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| Kai Pindal and his family invited the GHLS members to enjoy the electric tramway at his residence in Oakville. Several members were out to see and ride Kai's interesting backyard railway. The 15" gauge track and cars, which were built by Kai and his son, operate on 36 VDC via an overhead wire. Everyone took a turn at either driving or riding in the beautifully built cars. Thanks to Kai for sharing his unique railway with the GHLS members. |  Kai Pindal (center) gets tramway car No. 8 ready as Harry Savile takes over the controls |
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 Kevin Intini enjoying a turn at the controls of tramway car No. 6 |
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| New Member | |
| We have a new member to welcome to the club, Ryan Kirkpatrick from Niagara-on-the-Lake. Ryan is a long time friend of the Museum and has been helping out at several steaming days this year and is interested in everything about live steam. | |
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| NOTICE: Potluck Picnic and Steam-up - Saturday August 17 | |
| Linc and Lois Johnson would like to invite all GHLS members to a potluck picnic and steam-up at their backyard live steam track. The track at the Johnson residence in Waterdown is about one thousand feet of ground level dual gauge (7-1/4 & 4-3/4) and will be open for running. There is plenty of parking along an access road just to the west of their | |
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Upcoming Events
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