11 August 2007
Group Looks for Help in Restoring Engine
David Page (l-r), Douglas Smith, and George Dillon, are trying
to get support from the city and the public to help restore the aging Spirit of Sir John A, steam locomotive located in Confederation
Park.
Kingston Ontario - Listen quietly as you walk around
Confederation Park and you may hear the faint whistles of some giants that once steamed their way into the Kingston and Pembroke
Station in downtown Kingston.
Ghosts of this city's illustrious railroad past.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries Kingston remained an important Great Lakes port and a centre for shipbuilding and
locomotive manufacturing, including the Canadian Locomotive Company, at one time the largest locomotive works in the British Empire.
Few of these giant locomotives remain.
When Kingston's 1095 (aptly called the Spirit of Sir John) was built in August of 1913 at the Kingston Railyard, she was one of the
largest locos ever built. In its hay day, over 500 of the 4-6-0 engines were pulling freight and passengers from coast to
coast.
Today there are only seven left.
Engine 1095 has been a feature of the Kingston city centre for over 40 years. Located adjacent to the old K&P station (now the
tourist information bureau) across from City Hall, she has been a favourite with visitors for over a quarter century.
It was built in 1913, just a few blocks from where it now sits at the Canadian Locomotive Company, Kingston Works.
Unfortunately 1095 is looking a lot worse for wear, with its boiler and cylinder jackets long gone, and black paint well oxidized.
For a number of reasons this city-owned artifact had not been maintained at all and is now in critical need of attention.
So much so that if something is not done soon, it may well be on the same path of extinction that befell its predecessors.
Several concerned citizens, among them Douglas Smith, president of the Kingston Division, CRHA, George Dillon, local writer and
streetcar historian, and David Page, retired ex-CPR Motive Power engineer, approached the City earlier this year to see if
there was any support for undertaking a cosmetic restoration of engine 1095.
The engine was retired in 1960 and was placed at its current home by the visitor office in 1966 as part of the Centennial Celebrations.
She arrived on her own steam on tracks that have long since been removed.
Not many Kingstonians are aware of Kingston's rich rail history, but this group of dedicated rail fans hope to change that.
The subject of restoration has been on and off for some years, but at last it seems that the city is interested in providing 1095 with
a new lease on life, or, at least, finding out how big a job a restoration would be.
Kingston used to be one of the largest railway towns in the nation, with the railyard building and maintaining a large portion of the
nations engines.
But this is no longer the case and as such the Limestone City is not much of a railway town any more. Finding volunteers with the
knowledge and willingness to become involved in such a project will not be easy.
"Our main purpose right now is to create an awareness and possibly some interest about the plight of engine 1904," says Page.
"Our first task is therefore to cast out the net and see whom we can catch."
The group began by approaching Mark Flurher, the city's culture and recreation director, who has expressed an interest in our proposal
and explained that phase one of the project needs to be a feasibility study.
"To everyone's delight the city has shown interest in such a project, and has asked the above-mentioned to undertake
a survey of the engine to determine restoration feasibility and key tasks needed to accomplish it," explains Page.
The survey is now being planned, but it has become quickly apparent that more steam locomotive restoration expertise will be needed to
make it happen.
Whatever railway industry skills may have been here in Kingston 40 years ago have long gone, or so it seems. Digging out skilled and
willing volunteers will not be easy.
"If all goes well and the project goes ahead, the first step will be to build a restoration shelter around half of the engine. For
this we will be looking for a sponsor," adds Page. "We are hoping that the Bytown Railway Society will review our results and
provide some outside input as to what needs to be done."
They are not sure of the costs involved but to properly restore this piece of Kingston history could run well into six figures.
She needs a lot of work. To the untrained eye, the engine looks spectacular, but anyone who knows anything about trains, is quick to
notice that there is a need for cladding to be replaced around the "naked" exposed boiler.
There is also lots of missing hardware and a considerable amount of rust damage that needs to be repaired.
"We are looking for a mixture of professionals and volunteers to undertake this project," adds Dillon.
People who know the engine and can advise, and volunteers to help do the work. Anyone interested in rail is welcome.
The original diagrams are available for reference, says Dillon, a former CN employee who worked on Diesel Locomotives in the mechanical
department in Montreal.
The Engine 1095 Restorers will be combing the countryside of eastern Ontario, including Bytown Railway Society, and the Smiths Falls
Railway Museum memberships, along with sending out notices in Kingston, hoping these will unearth a core of people to undertake (and
advise on) this pre-project activity.
Something needs to be done to conserve this important piece of Kingston's historic past.
Few people realize that when they enjoy an activity in Confederation Park or in one of the Ontario Street clubs or restaurants, they
are in fact standing in what was once, one of the country's largest railroad yards.
Until the 1960s trains used to stop at the station, that is now the visitor bureau. Down the way along Ontario Street, thousands of
labours built and maintained steam and locomotive engines at the Kingston Railyards.
As we sat chatting about the plight of 1095 a steady flow of tourists stopped by the giant engine.
In a span of 45 minutes, no fewer than two dozen tourists photographed what these rail fans feel is the second most photographed
feature in Confederation Park.
"These vacation photos travel all over the world. It's an embarrassment not only to Kingston but to all rail fans that this engine
is so deteriorated," explains Smith.
"Quite often this is the first stop for tour busses as they visit our city. We feel obligated that the loco looks good."
"We have reached a stage when this engine needs major restoration work.
"Only seven of these giants are left in all of Canada and it would be a crime to let her disappear like so many of her
kind," explains Dillon.
Smith adds that, "We have not had a great deal of success in getting people out of the woodwork to join us. There is an enthusiasm
around, but we just need to tap into it."
The group also needs to attract someone who is interested not only in trains, but also has a knowledge to help promote the entire
project.
"We also seek younger people. Many of us, who remember Kingston as a great rail city are growing older and as the memories fade,
so does this major piece of Kingston's history," says Page. "Most Kingstonians have forgotten that the locomotive works was
once a major employer, as important to the history of this city as the restoration of any limestone building."
"I've been a railway man for as long as I can remember. I hate seeing this engine in such pour shape. It needs to be properly
maintained and I'd like to see it done properly so future generations can experience what I have so grown to love."
Anyone who is interested, or know someone who might be, can contact the group at
engine1095restorers@sympatico.ca.
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