July, 2007 V3N7 CFQ TO BENEFIT FROM INFRASTRUCTURE MONEY Biggest portion to CFMG; CFC and OCR also get upgrade In a June 28 announcement, the Governments of Canada, Quebec and the Chemin de fer de al Matapédia et du Golfe (CFMQ) announced an investment in excess of $14 million to restore the CFMG between Rivière- du-Loup and Matane, and between Mon-Joli and Matapédia. Quebec Premier, Jean Charest, the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ms. Nathalie Normandeau, Deputy Prime Minister of Quebec and Minister of Municipal Photo: Dave Watts Affairs and Regions, on behalf of Ms. When “Thomas and Friends” rolled into Ottawa Central Railway’s Walkley Yard on Julie Boulet, Quebec Minister of August 17th, thousands of families were ready with a welcome fit for royalty! Settling Transport, and Mr. Marc Laliberté, in for a two-weekend visit, Thomas the Tank Engine brought with him the highly interactive Imagination Station, and controller Sir Topham Hatt! President, Quebec Railway See Page 2 for more on Thomas, and Page 8, 9 & 10 for pictures! Corporation, met for the announcement in New Carlisle. "Infrastructure projects such as CFQ’S MARC Organizational Changes this clearly demonstrate Canada's new See Page 6 government's commitment to LALIBERTÉ NEW improving Canadians' quality of life RAILWAY CLUB and protecting the environment," PRESIDENT Inside The Spareboard stated Minister Cannon. "This project Vol 3 No 7 is a perfect example of partnership Congratulations to Chemin de fer between the federal and provincial du Quèbec CEO, Marc Laliberté! As • “Backtrack” 2 governments and railway companies, reported in the August, 2007 Canadian • From the ‘Dining Car’ 3 • Incidents & Accidents 4 to improve the rail network, thus Railway Club Newsletter, Marc was • Performance Indicators 5 & 14 improving citizens' safety and quality recently introduced as the new • “Steele Rail” by Don Steele 7 of life." president of the CRC. • Birthdays/Anniversaries 12 See Upgrade on Page 3 • OCR Safety Rule 12 See Marc Laliberté on Page 7 • From “The Corner Office” 14 Page 2 “(Children) put themselves into Fern’s Thomas. They really feel like he’s Rule Of The Month their friend, their brother, their sibling - and it’s happened all over the returns next The sixth in a series of profiles on month world,” says Bill Watson, Thomas’ classic Ottawa Event Manager. “Thomas is North American trains just as popular in Japan as it is in “The City of Los Angeles” They couldn’t get England; as it is in North America.” Thomas & Friends was created by a enough of Thomas! British father for his son. When a Another streamlined train running from Chicago to Los Angeles was the young boy himself, the father, “Children relate to Thomas. Reverend W. Awdry was inspired by City of Los Angeles. It was operated Thomas is like themselves.” real-life steam engines and years later by both the Union Pacific and - Bill Watson, Ottawa Event Manager used his rich imagination to give each Chicago and North Western Railway. By Dave Watts of the engines names and Competing with the AT&SF Super Chief (See the Spareboard, June 2007), personalities. It was a wonderful gift Initially, they seemed just plain the City of Los Angeles was the pride for his son Christopher then, and to tired and past nap time. But it didn’t of Union Pacific. the world, some 60 years later! take long to realize that those children Beginning in 1937, the train was Making its debut on British crying hot, bitter tears while exiting powered by one of only two EMD television in 1984, the show reached the “2007 All Aboard Tour” were in E2 locomotives ever built. The North America in 1989. Every fact furious at their adult companions second ABB set powered the sister program contains an educational for dragging them away from this train, the City of San Francisco. component. “Many children have consummate fantasyland that had In the mid 1950s, the City of Los learned to count, read and do a somehow, magically come to life. Angeles couldn’t resist Hollywood’s number of other things,” says Mr. Thomas the Tank Engine and his call! The train was featured in two Watson. friends had arrived in Ottawa for the episodes of the popular TV show, I “Children relate to Thomas. first time. Thomas is like themselves. He gets Love Lucy. Thomas blossomed to life in real into little problems, Sir Topham Hatt In 1955, the Milwaukee Road time for virtually every child (the controller of the railway) is a parent replaced the Chicago and North scampering through the gates. Just figure for children, and they just relate Western with service between Chicago inside, amid the inbound traffic jam of so well to him.” In addition to Sir and Omaha, Nebraska. little feet, the clatter of red wagons, Topham Hatt, Thomas has many By 1960, and in order to trim strollers and even carriages, young friends on the Island of Sodor to expenses, the City of Los Angeles and eyes caught a giant size poster of an accompany him in his adventures. City of San Francisco combined animated steam engine positioned on There’s cheerful green Percy; the ‘self- service and by 1971 Amtrak assumed nearby fencing. Without fail, little proclaimed ‘really splendid’ red engine the train’s operation. fingers pointed. They knew it was James; proud and boastful Gordon and Backtrack appears regularly in “Murdoch” (the engine)! many more. The Spareboard So, what is the mystique of Thomas’s Thomas? relationship with the other engines helps children learn how to interact with each other. Bill Watson “He has a bit of a tough time with with some of the engines, brother engines shall we say, and you know what happens with brothers sometimes!” See Thomas, Page8 Page 3 Upgrades from page 1 After frantic phone calls, Pat OCR Staff go Robinson and Bill Campbell "This investment will support extra mile for answered the call and ran an extra economic development in Quebec train to Coteau to pick up the late and its regions in order to promote client arriving billet cars. interregional, interprovincial, and The shipment arrived at Ivaco international trade and commerce," Hats off to a number of OCR before midnight. Thanks to all said the Honourable Jean-Pierre staff for some excellent client those involved for professionalism Blackburn, Minister of Labour and service follow-up. and dedication demonstrated with Minister of the Economic The situation started on Tuesday, this extra effort. Development Agency of Canada for August 21 when a shipment of the Regions of Quebec. billets destined for Ivaco was late "The restoration of shortline arriving at Southwark. railway infrastructures in Quebec A subsequent connection would was one of the priorities underlined have brought the billets to Coteau in the Canada-Quebec agreement for pick-up by OCR. As time was on cost-shared investments for crucial, waiting OCR train 520 infrastructure improvements," said departed for Ivaco without the Pat Robinson Bill Campbell the Premier of Quebec, Mr. Jean billets and seven empty cars. Charest. "In accordance with this Almost immediately, OCR's Mike agreement, the Government of Downey met with Ivaco and was Québec will invest $3.9 million to informed the seventeen billet cars support the CFMG restoration were required immediately for Page 12 project. This investment will production. strengthen the region's dynamic economy in a context of sustainable development." CFMG's objective is to bring the track's bearing capacity up to North American standards. Shippers, as Quick & Easy well as CN, would like CFMG to “SAVORY BEEF” improve its infrastructure so that higher capacity railway cars can 2 lb beef fillet travel more efficiently. This work 2 tbsp vegetable oil will be carried out over 347 ½ lb sliced fresh mushrooms 2 small onions, sliced kilometres of track. 2 tsp paprika "In addition to improving safety ½ cup dry red wine and client service, our investment of ½ cup beef broth $4.8 million will enable CFMG to ½ sp summer savory continue to be one of the key links ½ tsp salt in the national transportation ¼ tsp pepper network. This work will ensure the 1 tbsp chopped parsley sustainability of this important Slice the beef into thin strips. Heat oil and sauté beef in a large skillet over transportation infrastructure," said high heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and onions and cook until the onions Mr. Laliberté. have softened. The CFMG, which is owned by Stir in the paprika, wine, broth, savory, salt and pepper. Heat the pan to the Quebec Railway Corporation, simmer then remove meat and raise heat to reduce the sauce a touch. enables businesses on the Gaspé Peninsula and in Eastern Quebec to Pour remainder of sauce over the beef and garnish with parsley. Serves 4 to 6. CFQ benefits, see page 4 Page 4 July FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN FIN 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 Main Track Accidents* 1 0 4 0 2 0 1 JULY TOT TOT TOT TOT TOT 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 Non-Main Track Accidents* 4 13 10 9 11 6 8 Human Factor 1 2 4 3 5 3 Ice & Snow 0 1 0 0 0 1 Track Crossing Accidents 3 1 1 2 2 4 2 Conditions 1 4 1 1 0 1 Vandalism 0 1 0 0 0 0 Trespassing Incidents 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 3rd Party 2 5 5 5 6 1 Employee Injuries* 1 1 3 2 5 8 0 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 13 10 9 11 6 Cardinal Rule Violations 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 Hyrail Accidents 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 Vehicule Accidents 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 CFQ Benefits, from page 3 TOTAL 11 16 20 15 21 19 19 access North American and overseas markets at a competitive cost.