March 2009 News 1.Pub
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WCRA NEWS MARCH 2009 ROUNDHOUSE & CONFERENCE CENTRE AGM FEBRUARY 24 WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE The Annual General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, Feburary 24, 2009 at 1930 hours at Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby. The memberhsip will see the 2009 Strategic Plan, and be asked to approve the 2009 budget, 2008 financial statements and the 2009 slate of Directors. Please make an effort to attend this important meeting. The February General Meeting will follow the AGM. Entertainment will be a Canadian Steam DVD as time permits. ON THE COVER CN’s business car train, bringing special guests for the announcement of the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre sponsorship, backs into the West Coast Railway Heritage Park on Thursday, January 29, 2009. On the point is B39-8E BCOL 3911, with consist of Fraser Spirit generator / galley car, dome car American Spirit and business car Pacific Spirit. Full coverage begins on page 17. (Ken Storey photo) MARCH CALENDAR • West Coast Railway Heritage Park open daily 1000 through 1700k • Wednesday, March 11 2009—Deadline for items to be included in the April 2009 edition of WCRA News • Friday, March 6—Wild at Art opening gala, Heritage Park CarShop, 7:00PM • Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 15—Wild at Art event—Gallery open in the PGE CarShop daily, special entertainment events and activities all week. • Saturday, March 14—Heritage Day at Wild at Art, Karen Fowlie concert at 1200, the Jocelyn Band concert at 1300, Brian Robertson concert at 1400, Brian Couture Logging Show 1424k plus other activities / market all day, Rotary BBQ • Sunday, March 15—Western Rails Show, Cameron Rec. Centre in Burnaby, 0900-1600 • Tuesday, March 24—Tours Committee Meets • Tuesday, March 31—WCRA General Meeting, Rainbow Creek Station, 1930 hours The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia railway history. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. We are a non-profit British Columbia society, registered as a Canadian charity. Individual membership in the WCRA is $50.00 per year, family membership is $60.00. E Members (electronic newsletter, $15 savings) are $35 individual and $45 family. (Outside Canada, please remit US $) Other categories are: - Junior Member (age 18 and under ) $ 25 - Sustaining Member $100 (tax receipt) plus membership type regular fee - Life Member (one time fee) $700 individual life / $1,200 family life All memberships include the monthly newsletter, Heritage Park admission (except Special Events), mini rail rides and discounts on food and merchandise. The Association holds a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at 1930 hours in Burnaby at Rainbow Creek Station in Confederation Park. Apply through www.wcra.org or mail to WCRA, PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2. WCRA News, Page 3 EDITORIAL A LARGE STEP FORWARD Thursday January, 29, 2009 marked a large step forward for the Roundhouse & Conference Centre project, as CN announced a $1.25 million donation to the project, and the name of the new facility was officially unveiled as the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre. The full story of the event can be found elsewhere throughout this issue of WCRA News. To say that we are delighted to have CN aboard in this way is an understatement. Our appreciation goes far beyond this specific piece of support. CN is the right name for us to have on the innovative new centre for the Heritage Park and the Squamish community. CN is our host railway, one with whom we must work and cooperate with in many ways. Our work with them has to be a two way street, and we have had many such opportunities over the years as we build our working relationship. CN has helped us in many situations, including occasional operations in the Squamish area for community events, such as the downtown trains during Wild at Art in 2008 and the recent Polar Express operations this past December. On our side, we have been able to provide track space for freight car unloading on occasions where their space was unavailable, and have been able to provide things such as shop space to repair rail maintenance equipment, and rescue services for motive power emergencies (water, freeze prevention etc.) on occasion. CN is also integral to the story we tell at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, the story of how the railways opened up Western Canada, established our communities, established much of our economies, and continue to be leaders in efficient shipping and transportation today. We are pleased to have the name of such a company on our new facility, and to have it branded the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre. We thank CN for their support and look forward to a long future of working together. Don ASSOCIATION NEWS FROM THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING The January General Meeting was held Tuesday, January 27 at Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby. Colin Dathan chaired the meeting with 30 members & guests present: • A moment’s silence was observed in memory of Mac Norris, who passed away January 25 at Lions Gate Hospital • Don Evans provided the President’s Report, updating the membership on the fundraising WCRA News, Page 4 activities, including the Endowment and the Roundhouse & Conference Centre. Members were invited to be at the Heritage Park January 29 for a major announcement. • Don Evans reported on the Heritage Park for Susan, noting a good New Year’s Eve event in the Carshop attended by 600 people, making good funds for the Park. This was followed with the filming of a TV Commercial for Verizon, which used the Budd Cars. • Don Evans reported on finances for Jim, noting that production of T5’s is underway as are the year end tax receipts for donations. The draft budget for 2009 is now ready and will be presented at the AGM in February. • Colin Dathan reported on the 374 Pavilion, noting that volunteers are always needed and that the snow delayed the removal of the mini rail after Christmas • Colin Smith reported on construction of the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre, noting that Norson Construction has now been retained as Construction Manager to see the project to completion. The roof sheathing is currently being installed, and completion is set for August 2009. The HVAC system will be a geo-thermal system thanks to CN’s contribution, wells have been drilled and tested. • Don Evans reported on the collection, noting that the Alberta project has now been fully funded and is full steam ahead, and that work to prepare the Henry Pickering open car for Whistler Mountaineer service is also underway. • Bernie Tully announced the next event is the Mount Pleasant Lions show, Feb. 8 • Bill Johnston reported on tours noting good response to the recent mail out, and a date change for the Railways of BC’s Interior tour to September 21. A new tour, Steam Trains of Alberta has been added and will depart June 26. • Colin Dathan asked members to remember to send him their volunteer hours • Ryan Cruickshank and Bill Marchant provided Trackside Reports • The calendar was reviewed, raffle held • Entertainment was a DVD “This Is My Railroad” - SP in the 50’s and 60’s WCRA TRIVIA # 242 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank What did Canadian Pacific Airlines have in common with the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad? (for answer, see Credit Lines) VOLUNTEER HOURS PLEASE It’s that time again, as we ask our members to make sure you submit your volunteer hours for the 2008 year. Volunteer hours are anything you do for the WCRA except attendance at the regular general meetings. So, if you write items for the newsletter, help with tours or attend committee meetings, attend board meetings, volunteer on activities at 374 or the Heritage Park, serve in any way—please send in your hours. These help us in leveraging grant funds and many other things based on our incredible volunteerism. Please send them to Colin Dathan by e mail [email protected] or call Colin at 604-298-3734. (C.D.) WCRA News, Page 6 WESTERN RAILS - HELP WANTED Have some spare time March 14th or 15th???? WCRA can use your help in 2 areas at the show. • Sunday Mar 15th WCRA Booth – if you can help staff the booth during the Show, contact Bernie Tully at 604.325.0923 or email [email protected]. • Saturday Mar 14th &/or Sunday Mar 15th Western Rails Show Committee needs help with: - Setup on Saturday Afternoon starting at 1300k to 1800k; - General Show duties (Admission Ticket Sales, Raffle Ticket Sales and Site Security) Sunday; - Take down 1600k to1800k Sunday. If you can help out with Western Rails Show duties, contact Jeremy Davy at 250.890.3233 (from Vancouver Area 604.484.2791) or email [email protected]. (J.D.) MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS Memberships dated 01/31/2009 have now expired, and if your membership expired 11/30/2008, this will be your last issue. Please check the label on your newsletter and renew today. Remember that renewals are being accepted for memberships with the E–Newsletter—check page 2 for current membership rates. Is your email address current???? It is particularly important that those of you who have registered for access to the Members Only area keep your email address current in the Server. Each time a new issue is posted the Server sends a notice to the email address you supplied when you requested access. Because the undeliverable messages from a Server do not bounce back to it I have no way to be proactive.