29 July 2010

Restoration of The Spirit of Sir John A. Right On Track

The Spirit of Sir John A.

Kingston Ontario - After more than 40 years of resting at the same location in Confederation Basin, Engine 1095, decommissioned in 1958, will soon be leaving the station.
 
The engine, better known as The Spirit of Sir John A., won't travel far, however. And it won't be riding the rails either.
 
The Kingston Branch of the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society, working with the City of Kingston, plans to relocate the engine as early as November of this year. For the group, comprised of local volunteers with a shared interest and passion for both history and trains, the restoration project has been a long time coming. But with a $650,000 grant from city council, the project which will see the locomotive air lifted to a newly-built site about 6m from where it now sits, is moving full steam ahead.
 
The Restoration Society was formed about four years ago. In that time, the group has carried out surveys and made presentations to Council outlining their desire to restore the engine to its original historic appearance. The need to do so goes far beyond aesthetics, said Douglas R.G. Smith, spokesman for the Society.
 
"We thought the locomotive needed some TLC," said Smith, who personally has over 50 years experience in the locomotive industry. "There's a lot of corrosion. We're going to correct all that, and we'll need some significant welding and steel work done."
 
Smith said the wood work in the floor of the engine is totally rotten and needs to be replaced. The cab of the locomotive has been vandalized repeatedly over the years, as well.
 
"We're going to make that look like what it was originally, and try to make it more of a museum piece for the young people in particular to realize what it was all about," said Smith.
 
The need to restore Engine 1095 goes beyond historical accuracy. Smith explained that the tracks on which the engine presently sits are still tied with original wooden rail ties underneath the pebbles at its current site. These ties are entirely rotten, meaning the rails could begin parting any time, possibly tipping the locomotive and posing a threat both to the engine and the public.
 
Smith was eager to point out the project, and the funds allotted, are going into far more than a new coat of paint. The group plans to build a plinth, or a large concrete platform, which will have rails built into in for the engine to rest on once it's lifted from its current site. A shed will be built around the new site to prevent corrosion, vandalism, and degradation in the future.
 
But photographers need not worry about the future appearance of the most photographed site in the city. Much planning has gone into ensuring the covering will have aesthetic appeal and cause as little obstruction to the view of the engine, Smith said.
 
The group hopes to have construction of the plinth underway in September. The new site has already been assessed for its ability to support the weight of the engine and plinth, and has also undergone an archaeological assessment.
 
Paulette Nagle, Trade Restoration Organizer for the Society, feels the group is very fortunate to have many local trades unions on board. Those already involved include the Local 221 Plumbers, Local 115 Electricians, Local 249 Carpenters, and Local 269 Sheetmetal Workers unions.
 
"[The] hours to restore 1095 will be immense," said Nagle. "But we are all determined to see this project completed, as it is a major tourist attraction."
 
One thing's for sure, with the determination and drive of local volunteers, the preservation of the Spirit of Sir John A is back on track.
 
To volunteer or donate to the project, call Paulette Nagle at 613-389-7569. Make cheques payable to SOLRS, P/O Box 1714, Station Main, Kingston, ON, K7L 5J6.
 
Tori Stafford.