THE ASSINIBOINE VALLEY RAILWAY     3001 ROBLIN BLVD., WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, R3R 0B8 E-MAIL  iceman@swedenfreezer.com                      Phone 204-837-1305                       or 204-786-4882 or                        cell 204-782-7090

• Bill Taylor - President and chief of nut production.

• Len LaRue -  Vice-President. In charge of machining and medical control of nut ingestion.

• Vic St-Germain - Vice-President in charge of engine house and surplus control of nuts.

• Dwight Kjartanson - Vice-President in charge of signals and control of nuts running reds.   

• Mary-Lou Taylor -  Vice-President. In charge of nut roasting and other culinary skills.    

WELCOME TO THE AVR'S GROWING WEB PAGE. TAKE A LOOK AROUND. CLICK ON THE TITLES BELOW TO GET TO OTHER PAGES. IF A LINE IS UNDERLINED THEN IT TAKES YOU TO ANOTHER PAGE OR A PICTURE. DROP US AN E-MAIL AND TELL US HOW YOU LIKED OUR WEB PAGE.

THIS PAGE LAST UPDATED BY BILL TAYLOR OF WINNIPEG May 12th, 2008

THE ABEL BRASS AND MODEL & BOOK COLLECTION FOR SALE

THE ABEL MAGAZINE SALE LIST

MAP OF TRACKAGE 19/01/07           AVR RULES                   WHO ARE WE?

OPEN HOUSE DAYS  26/01/08           OUR HISTORY WITH PICTURES 13/03/04

LOCOMOTIVES AND ROLLING STOCK 02/02/08  THE DINNER TRAIN 26/01/08

HOW TO FIND US           OTHER RAILROADS WE HAVE VISITED   08/10/07

THE CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN 26/01/08         OUR MEMBERSHIP FORM

 ENGINE HOUSE 02/02/08                MEMBERS  03/05/08 

 AUGUST  JOINT 2008 MEET                      BADGES & PATCHES FOR SALE

OLD NEWS 15/04/08          AUGUST JOINT MEET 2008 REGISTRATION FORM

CHRISTMAS AT THE TAYLORS                 MEMBERS ONLY

MEMORIAL PAGE IN PETER'S HONOUR INCLUDING THE EULOGY

YOUTUBE VIDEO CLIPS ON THE AVR

 

COME SEE US IN JUNE ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY THE 14TH AND 15TH FOR OUR FIRST SUMMER OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND OF 2008

 

THE TANK CAR SITS ON THE LIFT IN THE DEEP SNOW AT TRAIN MOUNTAIN. IT WILL BE RIGHT AT HOME ON THE AVR.

INTO THE VAN FOR THE TRIP HOME.

CAR 3108 IS UNLOADED AT THE AVR WITH BILL, GIL AND ROB

TANK CAR SPOTTED BY THE ENGINE HOUSE AND MACHINE SHOP BEFORE PAINTING

Saturday Bill welded and ground the 12 coupler holder units. Vic and Ralph worked on the boiler jacket and the running boards of 5427. Richard gathered up garbage around the railway and gathered up track side lights. Richard and Bill took down the lower parking fence and put it away. Dwight checked out the track conditions now that the snow has receded. Barry came to check on progress and add his expertise to certain loco building skills. Rob and several other members looked after the display at the museum. The powder coated tank came back from Gimli.  Sunday Rob, Fred and Ed watched the show at the museum along with Robs two kids. The public was light. Dwight cleaned up the signal and switch display while, Rob, Bill and Fred brought back the cars and track to the AVR. Monday Vic worked on the running boards of 5427 and Ralph worked on body filler on the boiler jacket. Gil painted the frame of the new tank car and changed oil and serviced our snow blowers. Phil applied the lettering to three of our log cars. Rob completed the hole drilling on the side holders of the box car. Bill cut the four centre sills for the box cars along with 16 bolster plates. Ebay was opened and closed for the week and lights were taken down. Tuesday Bill packaged parcels and took down lights. Gil cut the four floor boards to length for the box cars and checked the water in the bush. Wednesday Vic continued on running boards and modified the upper walk way on the tank car. Gil painted it and put the west pump into operation. Phil took a look at radios for possible modifications. Bill spent the day on E-bay selling items for the trust fund.  Thursday Bill set up the east pump and Gil checked the west pump, spending time clearing the feeder ditches. Bill packaged up parcels and took them to the post office. Friday Gil met with the sign man on the tank car and the lettering job was completed. Gil also checked the west pump. Bill spent the afternoon and evening collecting lights along the track and using 3001 checked both rail lines. Saturday Bill updated the web and got a train out. Vic and Rob took the tank car body outdoors and Rob took a series of pictures. The tank was then put back on the frame and Vic replaced all the bolts and secured the walk way. Rob, Fred and Phil spent the afternoon drilling holes on the box car side. Bill and Gil spent the afternoon taking down lights in the Chapman and Creosote area. The train was used to transport four train loads of light storage boxes to the upper shed. Mary took down lights along the east and centre fence and some at Old Fort and mile 6. Bill cleaned up lights at Old Fort and East Tunnel. August helped transport lights. The new tank car was added to the light train and taken to Paterson for Rob to take pictures. Dwight spent the afternoon replacing all spring switch levers and dressing all switch points on the railway. Bill started the job of yard cleanup after our long winter. Sunday Bill updated the web and packed up 5 orders to be mailed out. Rob brought his family plus a guest for a train ride. Monday Vic worked on the right side running boards and its hangers. Bill opened and closed this weeks e-bay items.  Wednesday Vic completed the work on the right side running boards. Gil & Linda worked on the upper sections of deer fencing completing the second level where needed. Phil worked on locomotive controllers. Thursday Bill packed up parcels and mailed them out. Friday Rob completed the rivet hole drilling on the side of the steel box car. Saturday April 26th Vic mounted the right side running boards to the boiler jacket of 5427. Bill drilled out mounting holes on 5 bolster bars for the 4 outside braced box cars and then welded in king pin holders in two centre sills and welded bolster bars on one car frame. Rob marked out mounting hole locations on the steel box car. Dwight gathered materials for four new switches that will need to be built. Gil fixed up some deer fencing and started to switch table saws in the machine shop. Monday Vic worked on the left running board for 5427. Gil and Bill took remaining lights down in the "Olds Fort" area and Gil started moss removal on the track at mile 36. Bill opened and closed this weeks E-bay and drilled out the remaining bolster bars. Wednesday April 30th, Vic continued cutting, welding and grinding parts for the left running boards on 5427. Gil completed the switch to the smaller table saw for the shop and located the old saw behind the station and began constructing a weather protective top. Bill packed up more packages for mailing out. Rob continued to mark holes for the steel box car. Thursday Gil completed the new top for the saw and cleaned up the shop. Bill packed more parcels and mailed them out. Saturday Bill updated the web page and did more yard work near the station. A quantity of steel poles and re-bar were put away along with the small building from the Ashdown collection. Vic continued on running board construction. Adding the extensions past the fire box to the cab. The right side is starting to take shape now. Gil and Bill removed moss from the section of track from the "Old Fort" east switch to lightning junction. Using 3001 and some cars, the surplus material was loaded in 5 gal buckets and moved to mile 28 for use in repairing road pot holes. A load of Christmas lights were taken to upper storage. It took another train load to complete the moss removing process. The west side pump was then removed and stored. Fred and Ed completed the moving of Ashdown buildings to storage and finished the afternoon by drilling holes in the second side of the steel box car. Dwight made modifications and upgrades to a group of high switch stands. Bill set up the track panel jig and set up rails and switch ties for future assembly. If anyone is interested in doing renovations to the Ashdown collection the club would welcome their help. A work area will be made available in the maintenance building for such endeavour. The buildings will require some rebuilding and a good coat of paint. Sunday May 4th it snowed. So late in the season. Bill cut four bolster bearing plates and welded them to the outside braced box car steel frame and mounted the completed frame on the wood floor. Four intermediate steel channel bars were cut and test fit. Monday May 5th Vic continued to work on 5427 cutting more parts and mounting the air compressor to the left side of the locomotive. Bill opened and closed another session on E-bay and packed up parcels.  Tuesday more grounds clean up and a trip to mail parcels. Wednesday Vic cut and fitted more parts, making several more hanger spots and then mounting the bell on the locomotive. Bill drilled fastening holes on the under floor channels and fastened them to the car. These were welded to the main sill and ground off. The first floor is now ready for paint and brake detail. Rob took a series of pictures of progress on 5427. Thursday May 8th Vic spent the day getting metal for the "Z" bracing and angles for the four outside braced box cars. To keep club costs down Vic spent the day bending all the material as needed to form the various pieces. It looks to be excellent material. Friday Bill picked up club supplies, updated the web. Saturday Vic transported material to the engine house and spent the afternoon working on 5427 completing a good part of the left running boards. All members present agreed that the locomotive is starting to look very good. The preliminary plans for the tender were unveiled and they look very impressive. Vic and Gil got the tender frame and trucks out so Vic could check for fitting locations and modifications. Rob continued with rivet hole drilling on the second box car side and also lined up the three gons that need lettering applied. Ed and Phil provided some assistance.  Ed put a coat of shellac on the first car frame and floor. Phil continued with controller repairs. Bill laid up the second frame and welded on the bolster bars at one end. Dwight continued with his modifications of high switch stands to make them more durable. Gil, Bill and Mary spent most of the afternoon clearing deadfall and small trees from the area where the club will build a low level 50 ft long car shed for storing of from 16 to 18 rail cars. The new shed will be located in the north west corner and have track access off the new passing siding at "Duck Lake". Gil and Bill using tape measure and long string with steel poles outlined the position of the building and then cleared and raked the area in preparation for sub roadbed. Len picked up coupler castings for machining and assembly. The new car shed is planned to be 41" wide plus 7" of roof overhang. The west wall to be 30" high and the east wall to be 25" tall allowing a slightly slopped single run roof. There will be two tracks in the shed. Several of the roof panels will be hinged and lift able  for access if anything gets derailed inside. The shed is not intended for anything more than car storage. The foundation will be 2" by 6" pressure treated lumber laid on a bed of crushed rock and pinned in place with long pieces of re-bar driven into the ground to stop movement. A double layer of heavy Polly will be applied to the base below ties to act as a vapour barrier making the storage area dry. The siding will be the same material that is on the car barn and engine house as it keeps its paint a long time and is a maintenance free material. A discussion is to paint the structure with a dark colour that will blend into the surrounding bush. Sunday Bill cleared leaves and brought in 1500 lights missed on the west trail. Monday Rob worked on the steel box car completing all rivet holes on the second side and started placing components. He was able to give some special guests a tour of the facility. Bill updated the web page and set times, dates and meal list for the Joint meet with Red River at the end of August. THE AVR is a non profit club and we welcome new members who have an interest in small railroading. We are looking for interested model builders who would like to take on or help with structure building projects for the AVR.  THERE ARE OVER 150 PICTURES IN OUR HISTORY WITH PICTURES. TAKE A LOOK... NEXT WORK SESSIONS WILL BE  Wednesday & Saturday afternoons.      Put on  lettering for three gondolas . Start on steel box car.    Final touches on the new shed. Christmas displays.  New Locomotive work. Construction of four new outside braced box cars. Make track panels and build three switches. CLICK BELOW FOR SOME CURRENT PICTURES ALL PICTURES ON THIS PAGE WILL END UP IN OUR HISTORY SECTION WITH SEVERAL HUNDRED OTHER PICTURES. 2365 THE PACIFIC CONSTRUCTION PICTURES 2365 PACIFIC PASSES TEST AT TRAIN MOUNTAIN 5427 CONSTRUCTION PICTURES (NEW) CPR # 2816 STOPS IN WINNIPEG OTHER RAILROADS WE HAVE VISITED (UPDATED OCT 8TH, 2007) WHIT JOHNSON AND 2856 AT AVR BOX CAB # 25  (BUILDERS PHOTO) AVR REFRIGERATOR CAR (BUILDERS PHOTO) WINTER WORK ON ENGINE HOUSE   WINTER VIEW AT FLAMINGO GULCH 6109 GETTING NEW COLOURS   OUTSIDE BRACED BOX CAR  202 IN HER NEW COLOURS  STOCK CAR CONSTRUCTION  (BUILDERS PHOTO) FOUR LOG CARS (NEW)   Send us an E-Mail and let us know how you liked our site.

 

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