STEAM RAIL NEWS. Canada Day Celebration and Runs for Rocky Mountain Rail Society July/August 2010

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1 STEAM RAIL NEWS Rocky Mountain Rail Society July/August 2010 Canada Day Celebration and Runs for 6060 RMRS provided 6060 to APSE for three runs on July 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd, 2010 from Stettler to Big Valley and return. This involved a large number of volunteers, starting with Kevin Quigley and Don Totten organizing things and our chief engineer, Harry Home, as hoghead on We also want to thank Ted Sayer, Brian O Neil and Rich Graydon, our newest members and other members, Al Watch, Bob Leinweber, Carter Bilik, Glenn & Tracy Astren, John & Gloria Pinter, Neil Dowdell, Duane Drouillard, Zac Brewer, Ann Hokea, Susan Forest and Holly and Amy Totten. Work started with preparation, fueling, water and water treatment before light-up could start by Al Watch and Bob Leinweber. The all-important wiping was carried out by Ted Sayer, Carter Bilik, Brian O Neil and Rich Graydon. Of course, Harry supervised these operations. On this occasion they also had to set up the locomotive for the Canadian flags, set up children s art work in the station and boxcar, set up the souvenir tent and prepare the Big Valley station grounds for Susan Forest, Holly and Amy Totten to carry out their face-painting talents for train passengers. Big Valley Legion flag bearing squadron members provided a welcome to the train as it arrived in Big Valley on July 1 st and ably assisted by our own Brian O Neil on the bagpipes. After the passengers disembarked in Big Valley they were able to get free speeder rides on the RMRS speeder and purchase souvenirs in the tent or get their faces painted. Then they could go for their roast beef lunch at the Big Valley Community Hall. The train passengers all received the post card size photos with a description of 6060 on the reverse side as they always do. These are handed out by one of our members riding the train so they can answer questions and provide information about the engine and our society. When the train as departing Big Valley for its return to Stettler, Brian O Neil and the Legion flag bearers were there to give Harry a resounding send-off. In the evening, Gloria Pinter and Tracy Astren hosted a barbecue at the Pinter and Astren RVs at the Stettler Lions RV Park. A good time was had by all. Runs were also carried out on July 2 nd and 3 rd, with all the attendant efforts by all except without the flags and bagpipes but just as exciting and rewarding! John Pinter

2 Page 2 Canada Day Pictures STEAM RAIL NEWS Face painting done in front of Big Valley Station by Susan Forest RMRS souvenir booth Ted Sayer manning the RMRS boxcar Fireman Don Totten in the cab of 6060 RMRS speeder displaying it s enormous acceleration capabilites Some of the elementary school work displayed in the RMRS box car

3 July/August 2010 Speeder Dreams Page 3 This story begins with a question. Who knew this would happen? July 16 th the Alberta Prairie Hi Rail had a malfunction in its hydraulic system. As it was a Friday night it couldn t be repaired for the next two runs. On the morning of the 17 th I was working at Warden on the RMRS speeder and some other equipment. The road foreman for Alberta Prairie Orest Pruss drove up and asked if the speeder was operational and could it be used to do the track patrol on the weekend. I said no problem but we would need to move it to a crossing. Orest suggested we do it in the Warden yard and that we should do it Rail Fan Weekend August 2010 quickly as the train would be going out in the afternoon. The two of us got the speeder on the rail then I was given permission to bring the speeder into Stettler. It was neat putt putting along in the warm morning air. As I approached the station 6060 was steaming away. I think everyone was a little surprised to see the speeder again and so soon after Canada Day. Currently it is late July and the RMRS speeder was still doing the patrols. It continues to run well and should be good for as long as Alberta Prairie needs to use it. All the best. Don Totten The weekend started early for RMRS members this year. First of all, 6060 was needed to run some extra trips prior to the weekend and so members Al Watch and Bob Leinweber were up early to get 6060 warmed up and ready to go. On Wednesday evening the fellows took a break and went for a speeder ride from Warden to Big Valley. The Alberta Railway Museum speeder trailer was in tow for a couple of us to ride on. It was a beautiful evening except for the mosquitoes that attacked in hoards when we stopped or slowed to a stop at crossings. When we got to Big Valley we prepped for shut down. While this was going on Rich Graydon one of our new members and a Mountie happened to observe some young fellows doing some no good putting a number of items on the track at the Big Valley station. He took a few photos then identified himself. He then asked to speak to their parents. We happened to see a mom come to get one of the young offenders and she was not happy with her child. I believe the young fellows will have some community service work in their future. I wonder how they would like cutting grass in the mosquito patch at Big Valley out front of the station.. On Friday and Saturday Kelly Gillespie and I were engine crew on She ran great but we had a few issues with the ditch lights that haven't been resolved yet but hopefully will be resolved by the next time we run. Harry arrived on Saturday and was engineer with Alberta Prairie's Jim Potter for the next two runs. On Monday, 6060 put on a real show at the run past at Big Valley. Wow was it something to see. Hopefully someone shot some video. There was also a run past of Alberta Prairie diesels and our speeder was very popular during the afternoon. Following the run past all the diesels, the RMRS boxcar and 6060 were spotted on the Big Valley station platform. All too quickly it was time to pack everything up and load the passengers for the return trip to Stettler. Kelly Gillespie headed out first with the diesels followed a short time later by 6060 and the passenger train. Our speeder brought up the rear as far as Warden where it was taken off the rail. I think we need to have a number for the speeder some time maybe we can make a contest for members. It has been quite a year for our speeder it has seen a lot of service this summer and shown its value. It sure has been fun. It will certainly get some TLC this winter. We will have some projects with the speeder in mind next winter. Stay tuned. By the way Railway Days will be coming up at the end of September in Calgary at Heritage Park. It should be a great time. All the best. Don Totten

4 Page 4 Brian Bellamy No matter how carefully and judiciously a steam locomotive is run and fired, it must also be properly maintained and kept in good repair. We continually endeavor to keep the 6060 in a state of top mechanical condition. However, running for short periods of time, continual warm-ups and coolings-off, and long, long shut-downs in the off season all combine to produce unique problems which would not normally occur in regular, year-round steam operation. Consequently, we must cope with these problems as they occur and quickly find the solution. Fortunately, we have the background experience and teaching of many first class railroad men to assist us in the proper solution(s). In Kamloops there was Jack McNeil, Teddy Tedder, Hec Blaikie, Kenny Lucas and in Boston Bar, Fred Johnson. In Jasper there was Harold Senz, Bob Key and Ray Sansom. In Edmonton we had Red Heron, Stan Chappell, Norm Corness and bob Trepanier. In Toronto s Spadina Shops, there was the expertise of Leith Tilson, Phil Embury, Harold Black and Dennis Moore to call upon. I ve left out many more. More recently in Vancouver and Jasper, Bob Swanson, Pip Stairs and Ernie Ottewell taught us a great deal. In Stettler, our mechanical crew often speaks of Brian Bellamy of Mirror, AB. Brian was a first class Railroad man, an experienced machinist and a teacher in so many facets of steam locomotive repair, maintenance and trouble shooting. Interestingly enough, Brian s teaching and advice has been very helpful in achieving solutions and preventing engine failures as over the past year or two we have had to cope with plugged swing bearings, leaking cylinder back head, improperly set wedges, excessive spring wear, sticky a/c governor, setting safety valves, upgrading the water glass, plugged sanders, erratic voltage from the dynamos and cranky injectors to name some problems but not all of them. So today, I shall try to pay Brian the tribute that he so richly deserves. He was born in Jasper Alberta STEAM RAIL NEWS August 3, 1930 the first baby boy ever born in the newly constructed Seton Hospital. His dad Sid Bellamy was a Locomotive Foreman s Clerk in the Canadian National Railway Shops here. Sid might also have been the Car Foreman s Clerk in Jasper. The family soon moved to Mirror AB where Brian received his school education. When he was old enough, he was enrolled in the Machinist s Apprentice Program at the CNR s Calder Shops in Edmonton and when he graduated, he was a fully accredited and skilled Railway Machinist. In those days, the CNR and the CPR were recognized as having excellent machinist and boiler-maker training programs. After his graduation, Brian returned to work in the Mirror Shops where he spent his entire Railroad career. The motive power he worked on consisted generally of the 40% tractive effort Consolidations (2-8-0) in the 2600 and 2700 numbering series but also included what they called the 35% Consolidations (2100 series) and the 50% Consolidations (2400 and 2500 series). Other locomotive types included the 32% Pacifics with a wheel arrangement in the 5600 series. (The tractive effort or tractive force is one of the ways in which steam locomotives are rated for their pulling force and is computed from a number of things including their boiler pressure, piston stroke, cylinder diameter, driver diameter, and the weight on the drivers. For example 35% means 35,000 lbs drawbar pull, The 6060 s tractive effort is rated as 52% as can be seen on the side of the cab.) The locomotives at Mirror had been in service for forty years, plus or minus, so there were lots of mechanical challenges to be overcome by Brian s skills. Since Brian and I both came from Railway Families, we found lots of common ground to talk about with our similar backgrounds and upbringing. Brian and I were often able to entertain our colleagues at Stettler and Warden with stories about our experiences while working in the motive power shops. But it was

5 July/August 2010 Brian Bellamy (cont.) not all hard work there was some time for horseplay like sending new men for a bucket of steam or red lamp oil or green lamp oil, asking them to wind up the turn-table, or to pump water into the boiler with the reversing lever, and son on. Brian also had a knack for nick-names. It was he who came up with the hilarious nickname for John Mitchell, the Penguin, which Mitch proudly holds to this day. The Bellamy name was well-known on the CNR. There is even a Bellamy spur at Mirror. Sid Bellamy was very kind to new employees seeking a railroad career on the CNR. George Bellamy was a Locomotive Engineer on the CNR who worked out of Lucerne and Jasper and retired working out of Vancouver. I shall never forget how I benefited from George s teachings on how to run a locomotive especially the 6010 on the Yale Sub and various 4300 s on the Albreda Sub. One day in Mirror, the last locomotive available was found to have a broken driver spring. There were no spare springs in the stores and the train had to go. Brian saved the day by cutting a rail and fitting it to replace the broken spring. The engine was sent out on time and made the trip to Brazeau and return. Interestingly enough, the Engineer said the engine rode better with Brian s spring than it had on previous trips. One day Bill Ottewell and I were having difficulty in adjusting the Air Compressor Governor when Brian came along, took one look, turned the inner plate right side up, cleaned a bit of debris off the surface and the Governor has worked fine ever since! A few years ago (this would be after Brian s retirement from the CNR), Don Gillespie of APRE (Alberta Page 5 Prairie Railway Excursions) was looking for a machinist As I recall, Brian applied for the job and was hired on the spot. This was also the start of a close relationship between Brian and RMRS. Brian made a lot of improvements to the 41 (APRE s Consolidation!) and when he could, he did so much for the successful completion of our maintenance and repair projects on the We often went over to Mirror to see Brian for help, to take him for supper at the Highway Restaurant in Mirror and to try and figure out the water wheel in his back yard. This water wheel defied all laws of phyics by running backward to the flow of the water! Brian also had a work shop which was full of mechanical projects, etc. including the building of a model of the 41. His house was the old family residence and there were lots of artifacts, souvenirs and pictures to enjoy. Brian was held in high regard by the people of Mirror and he loved his family very much, including his daughter Phyllis who works for Alberta Prairie Steam Excursions. His other children are Linda, Evelyn, Frederick, Rose and David. Sadly, his wife Julia Isabel passed away a number of years ago as well as two great grandchildren. Brian has also gone to the great roundhouse in the sky on October 4, 2004 and we miss him very much as a friend, teacher and fellow Railroader. At a recent function of APRE, Gus Annas (another old Railroader!) said: I think Brian Bellamy was one of the greatest machinists ever! I second the motion, Gus! It was an honour to have known you, Brian, and your memories and teachings are cherished by us all. Submitted by Harry Home

6 Page 6 STEAM RAIL NEWS Rocky Mountain Rail Society Annual General Meeting Saturday, October 16, 2010, 11:00 a.m. Location:-- Iron Horse Park in Airdrie, AB, just north of Calgary. Time:-- Meeting at 11:00 a.m. followed by lunch and social. Iron Horse Park members will have one of their trains out for inspection and possible rides after the meeting. Please let me know if you plan to attend so we can order enough food. Also, if you need a ride out, please call me. John Pinter at or pinterlaptop@hotmail.com Also, anybody wishing to renew their membership for 2011 early are more than welcome to do so at the meeting. You can bring your cheque or cash to the meeting. Thank you. RMRS Member Profile: Rich Graydon I was born in New Liskeard, ON (pop about 5500 people) and lived there until going away to University in After University I was foolish enough to follow the suggestion of a family friend who was in the RCMP and apply for the Mounties. I was sworn in as an RCMP officer in 1987 and after training in Regina for six months have spent all my service in Alberta. I started out in Ft McMurray and was posted in Desmarais, Bashaw, St Paul, Leduc, Valleyview and now am in Red Deer. My current job is as the Sergeant in Charge of Central Alberta Informatics. I look after all the radios, phones, cell phones and computer equipment for all our Units from the BC border to Sask border and from the Didsbury area to Wetaskiwin area. It's my first desk job and I love it. My wife Darlene and I live in Red Deer don't have kids but do have a 16 lb fur kid named Murphy (he's a Cockapoo and sometimes is Jesus Murphy depending on if he's in trouble or not). I keep telling Darlene I'm glad we have him because at least someone in the house has a shorter attention span than I do. Strangely enough she doesn't argue??? My only real connection to railroading is that my Great Grandfather, George Lacy, was an Engineer with the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway. He ran trains from Elk Lake to Earlton Ontario in the early 1900's. I've had an interest in steam locomotives for some time and now that we've landed in Red Deer can spend some time volunteering. I was on the internet one night and found the Steam Rail news which led me to the RMRS site and now "I are one". I'm really enjoying the people I've met through the society and am very impressed with the dedication they all have to I'd also like to say hi to my friend Slick if I can. He's a big fan of your publication as well. Rich Graydon Ed. Let s meet our members! I m planning to feature a RMRS member each month. So send in a short bio and picture of yourself so that the other member can get to know you. your bio to steamrailnews@gmail.com

7 July/August 2010 Railway Days at Heritage Park Once again Heritage Park in Calgary is holding their annual Railway Days celebration and we have been invited to participate. It will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 25 th and 26 th, Please be prepared to come out and help us promote ourselves to the train-loving public that will be streaming out to Heritage Park on this weekend. If you feel inclined to volunteer ahead of time, please contact the following: Page 7 Don Totten H: C: dontotten@shaw.ca Kevin Quigley C: kquigley@gienow.com John Pinter H: C: pinterlaptop@hotmail.com Bill s Notes Thanks to Dave Emmington for setting up the special arrangements for the painting by Max Jacquiard. Max has been approached many times to do a painting of 6060 and he has finally done one. The profit on the sale of the 40 special edition Giclee Canvas Edition copies will go to our building fund. Bob Leinweber has agreed to act as our treasurer until the AGM in October. The work load has changed dramatically as we have secured an outside person to handle all the clerical work of the treasurer. We still need to seek a replacement for treasurer and if anyone wishes or knows of someone who would be interested in the position, please give me a call. As always you can contact me any time day or night at: billwill@telusplanet.net or Telephone: (Direct) or Fax Casino 2011 We have not received our funds for the last casino yet. AGLC informed us that the funds would be distributed in mid-august but no amount was given. We look forward to that distribution. We ll be looking for your help again in 2011 in either July, August or September. We have been notified by AGLC that our next casino should occur in one of those months. John Pinter, Casino Chairman, pinterlaptop@hotmail.com

8 PO Box , BPO Calgary, Alberta T2J 7C9 RMRS Board of Directors: President, W.E. (Bill) Williams Vice-President, Don Totten Treasurer, Bob Leinweber Secretary, Kevin Quigley Past President, Joe Cernak Directors, Harry Home Larry Buchan Ron Switzer Al Watch Casino Chairman, John Pinter Steam Rail News: Editor, Glenn & Tracy Astren Max Jacquiard Print and Mount Robson We have been given a special offer by Max Jacquiard and Banman Publishing to sell this special print as a fund raiser for RMRS. Don t miss the opportunity to secure one of these limited editions. We do not expect them to be on sale for very long due to the small run. For those who don t know, Max Jacquaird is probably one of the most famous painters of trains in North America. His works are sold all over the world. The galleries will NOT sell this special sized edition (32"x20") unframed Rocky Mountain Rail Society fundraiser. There will only be 40 signed and numbered editions for sale, $700 unframed. Editions can be framed for $145 (cost price, no mark up). Shipping from Banman Publishing is extra, about $45 unframed, by Greyhound. Orders are to be placed through RMRS. A RMRS delegate then places the order with Banman Publishing. The text for this edition reads" Westbound 6060 emerging from the rock shed after a stop at Mount Robson Station for passengers to view Mount Robson at 12,972 feet is a Mountain Class U-1-f (4-8-2), the largest working steam engine in Canada owned by the Rocky Mountain Rail society. Today an important provincial industrial heritage icon, the 6060 is know as the "Spirit of Alberta". We have Henry Reese of Banman Publishing and Max Jacquiard, the Painter of Steam Engines to thank for this iniative Please send orders to: Don Totten via dontotten@shaw.ca and cc: Bill Williams via billwill@telusplanet.net We accept Visa, Mastercard or Paypal. Please indicate how you wish to pay in your first