(The London Free Press published the following story by Hank Daniszewski on its website on September 24.)
LONDON, Ontario — Londoners will soon get a chance to ride an authentic piece of Canadian history rumbling into the city. A steam train meticulously restored by volunteers will stop at the city’s Via Rail station at noon Friday to pick up passengers for an excursion to Stratford.
Deb Prothero of St. Thomas Central Railway, which operates the train, says it’s the first time the London station has seen an operating steam engine in about 40 years.
“Our goal is to educate people about our railway heritage,” she said yesterday. “We want to share the steam engine with as many people as possible.”
St. Thomas Central Railway is a tourist railway operated on a non-profit basis by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society.
Restoration of the 1923 steam locomotive known as No. 9 was completed in 1997. Initially, the train only ran in the St. Thomas area, but this year trips between Goderich, Stratford and Waterloo are scheduled for the next few weeks.
The train from London to Stratford will travel at a leisurely 24 to 40 kilometres an hour with a stop at St. Marys. The trip is one-way but passengers can arrange a return trip with Via Rail.
The train’s passenger cars include a 1923 CPR coach, a 1920 CNR diner and three passenger coaches from the ’50s
The train will be self-sufficient with two gondola cars stuffed with coal to fuel the engine, a water tanker and a car to carry tools.
Prothero said coal and water towers once used by steam engines are long gone.
IF YOU GO
What: London-Stratford steam train trip
When: Friday noon
Where: York Street Via Rail station
Ticket information: 631-0099 or at www.steam-train.org