A crowd of about 75 was out to watch moving day for the CPR Station in Goderich - Date/Photographer unknown.

31 July 2013

CPR Station is on the Move

Goderich Ontario - In a white cowboy hat, pink dress shirt, and loose blue jeans, Laurie McCulloch looked relaxed and confident as the massive CPR Station slowly made its way on a 96-wheel portable foundation to the beachfront.
 
The owner of his namesake moving company was in Goderich to oversee the final stages of the moving process. Crowds gathered for three days to watch the station slowly creep to the beachfront and a permanent foundation 100-metres away.
 
"It looks slow but we have to be careful not to get stuck," McCulloch said.
 
Crews initially used heavy trucks that winched together for extra horsepower.
 
An 1987 Mack truck then hauled the portable foundation and 106 tires in total were handling a 400-tonne load.
 
McCulloch said the hardest part was moving the station off a soft spot. The crew ran into a fair amount of problems along the way that required troubleshooting.
 
Moving in small increments and constantly checking for cracks meant the move would be slow, he said.
 
"This is a learning experience, every building has its challenges."
 
The station was last used as a boarding platform in 1956.
 
"I think everyone is thinking it should move faster," said Barb Currie, who was watching behind a fence. "But when you're that old, you don't move that fast," she said of the historical station.
 
"There is incredible teamwork in action," added Bob Maddock, also watching the move. "All these guys know exactly what they are doing."
 
Herb Marshall, the Goderich businessman behind the project, said he was up at 3 a.m., on day one of the move with just a few butterflies in his stomach.
 
"There is a lot of self satisfaction seeing things move along."
 
The project has been 3 1/2 years in the making, including studying its feasibility, arranging the move, finding a company to pull it off, and ultimately refurbishing the station and opening a restaurant, the Beach Street Station.
 
Marshall said the project cost is $1.85 million, which includes extensive renovations. "If it's more I'll be screaming," he said with a laugh.
 
Marshall said a lot of effort went into reaching an agreement with the town. Professionals on the job worked hard finding solutions to problems that have arisen, such as soil conditions and a foundation that McCulloch labeled "terrible."
 
Marshall, owner of the Parkhouse Restaurant, hopes to jumpstart a beachfront economy when opening his newest venture, and boost tourism in Goderich and Huron County.
 
A crew has been on site for about two months getting the underside of the station prepared to move. McCulloch said there is never a timeline on his projects and the move will continue rain or shine.
 
By Friday afternoon, the station was almost on top of its foundation.
 
Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt said the initiative is a combination of preserving heritage and economic development.
 
"It's a new beginning for the lakefront. It's a drawing card, as Herb has indicated, and it will help other businesses if we can draw from other areas."
 
Paul Cluff.

Vancouver Island
British Columbia
Canada