ASSINIBOINE VALLEY RAILWAY INC.

UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THIS WEB SITE STARTED IN SPRING OF 2001 WE DID NOT SAVE THE NEWS THAT APPEARS NOW ON THE HOME PAGE. THAT OLD INFORMATION WAS SIMPLY PURGED NEVER TO EXIST AGAIN. THIS IS THE PROBLEM WITH THE INTERNET AS A VENUE FEW PRINTED RECORDS ARE KEPT OF VAST AMOUNTS OF MATERIAL. NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO CHANGE THIS SO EFFECTIVE APRIL 6TH, 2003 ALL INFO PURGED FROM THE HOME PAGE WILL BE STORED ON THIS PAGE.

The following information was from the home page during the Christmas run of 2002-2003 and has been saved here for your information.

Friday was the first night of the Christmas run and lots of members came. The night was cold and extremely windy so visitors were light. The "A" Channel came and video taped the light display and rode the train. 3001 was the only train to run but the others were ready if needed. 

Saturday was a nice afternoon. Bill repaired several places that deer had chewed wires and put up another 593 lights including poinsettia # 3 that is on the station. The crew started arriving at 5:30 and by 6:00 we sent out the first train. We ran 3001 and 202 doing 29 trips and moving 184 passengers. The last train came in at 10:00 pm. Never a big crowd but very steady all evening.  We had visitors from China, South America and Australia.

Sunday Dec 1st was a cold night with the temp dipping to -18 C and then -25 C overnight. As is typical the riders were down. We are behind the winter of 2001 but ahead of the winter of 2000. It is totally weather dependant. Poinsettia # 4 was completed with light but not installed. 

Monday and Tuesday nights were equally cold with temps down to -25 overnight. Thanks to scout groups having camp fires the trains were kept busy. Both nights the national judges for Christmas lights came. On Tuesday they got to ride the train.

The last few nights have seen the passengers increase each night with Saturday Dec 7th being the busiest of the season. Temperatures have been colder then last year so we are comparing the winter of 2000 as the one to beat. We hear that temperatures will be going up next week which should make us a little busier. Bill painted poinsettia #5 and half of 8 new candy canes.

The remaining candy canes were painted. Monday night and Tuesday night were very busy, three members gave 367 rides on Tuesday. Things went very well. If the weather stays warm through the weekend and if we have enough members we will run three trains this weekend. We did run three trains for about half an hour on Wednesday and it was workable.

Friday was the busiest this season with 530 riders and three trains running so waiting time was reduced. Bill welded two poinsettia frames on Wednesday and painted them Saturday. We added two new radios to our new system. Several Candy Canes were strung with lights Saturday.

On Friday and Saturday we had visitors from Japan, Africa, Iran and India. On the home front we had visitors from as far east as Newfoundland. Saturday we had a good crew and ran 62 trains with 612 passengers. We had the first for the AVR on the last train of the night with Len at the throttle and Bill doing a Christmas light inspection ride. Bill noticed the couple in the car in front were particularly attentive to each other and at the end of the ride it was announced that he had proposed marriage to her and she had accepted. The small group applauded and just as they were leaving the train the music system started to play the Hallelujah Chorus by Handel. A fitting end to a great day.  

The last week continued to be busy and by Wednesday we started to get snow thanks to a Colorado Low that hit Winnipeg. Snow had to be cleared from the driveways, trails and track on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and now Sunday. We will have a White Christmas. Passengers continued to come out and lots of members to run trains. We will need members next week. Saturday the AVR passed two mile stones. The first was carrying our 65,000 passenger since the first open house during October of 1996 and the second was our 10,000 person to tune into our web page in the 18 months it has been up. For the members: the December copy of the "Nutty Report" is now being printed and will be sent to you in the next few days unless you come to the station first.

The weekend after Christmas was very busy with the passenger numbers growing each day until Sunday the 29th when we had the largest turnout of this season and the busiest Sunday of all time! It was also our second busiest night since we started giving rides.

On New Years eve we passed our 10,000 rider for the 2002 Christmas season. There were three last trains of the night as people poured into the station at the last minute. Those members who were able to stay enjoyed a Chinese dinner and toasted Champagne after the public had departed. The lights stayed on to see the new year and it was very peaceful.

As of the end of the last Saturday we are 111 passengers short of 12,000 riders for this Christmas season. The members look forward to a short ceremony Sunday to mark the mile stone guest. Saturday Jan 4th 2003 also is the day the Christmas display received the very generous gift from Jim Ashdown of his detailed 24 foot long diorama of part of downtown Winnipeg in 1881 looking north on Main Street from the Ashdown Hardware Store. The diorama is being displayed on the main candy cane trail until Jan 10th. It will be stored until next Christmas when a new base will be built and appropriate lighting will be provided. Jim Ashdown assisted Bill Taylor and Jim Nowell in transporting the buildings to the AVR site. 

A big round of thanks goes out to all the members from the AVR and their families who helped make this years light display and Christmas run a great success.

Bill, Peter, Len, Helen, Mary-Lou, Ed, Dwight, Carmelina, Richard, David, Barry, Maureen, Andrei, Tony, Shari, Hank, Lisa, Rob, Jim, Carol, Gil, Fred, Norman and Nance plus three of our junior family members, Lee, Dain and Brandt.

In the Feb. issue of the "Nutty Report" we will publish all those statistics that Peter will produce. 

Sunday night was cooler with the odd snow flake. The crowd came early as kids start school Monday. Bill picked out our 12,000 rider for the season and took several pictures of Caley who is 3 1/2 years old along with her father Dan Dyck. as they waited for the train and with them seated in our seat of honour behind the engineer. Before the night was over we broke the all time best year set in 2001/02 with a total of 12,200 passengers carried this season. The nine members who ran the system Sunday then had a gathering in the station to celebrate the years activity and raised a toast to the success of 2003.

The AVR will be purchasing: 1500 feet of new rail,  4 new radios with 12 rechargeable batteries and charger, a metal cutting saw, materials for signal maintenance, steel for new mechanical lift, steel for the new steaming tracks near the loading area, switch parts and frogs, a new operator's flatcar, paint/batteries/small parts to complete box cab loco, more materials for west tunnel, materials to start new engine house/machine shop, gas powered leaf blower, more crushed rock and ballast, and materials for new concrete pad at steaming/unloading area.

The AVR regular members have voted that if possible we should build some new gondolas this winter. It will now be possible to buy the materials, truck castings and coupler castings for three new gondolas.

Saturday Feb 22nd was a very cold day but the group continued on with the storage building and built and erected the south wall. Back in the station Barry and Bill completed discussions on the lift and Bill is now prepared to order the needed steel. Peter showed the castings of brake details that he is making for his refrigerator car. Norm and Dain painted some of the new sign boards. The afternoon was finished with Fred and Bill building and erecting the west wall of the storage building. 

Westminster United Church in Winnipeg was donated a new Schulmerich Carillon by a member for a memorial. To make room for the new Bill was able to acquire the old carillon for use at the AVR. The equipment was disassembled and transported to the station which would be a temporary home while space in the garage was made. Upon examination we had an old system with two ancient 1949 version tube amplifiers with a roll reader and bell generator built in 1966. The system did not work. Bill spent several evenings reconnecting cables and as of Saturday was able to use one amplifier and ring bells using the roll reader. More work needs to be done and a new solid state amplifier would be a very nice addition. 

No work was done on Wednesday as it was too cold. On Thursday Bill spent the evening removing things from the work bench in the garage. It is being dismantled for future use in the new machine shop. This heated space will become the new home for the Carillon. 

Friday Bill cut up the lumber and designed the first of seven trusses for the storage shed.

Saturday was a cold windy bitter day but a group of dedicated members showed up from noon till 6 pm to continue with work. Gil, Peter, Fred and Bill using the pattern of wood cut up enough 2 x 4' s to make up seven trusses. A beer break followed to warm up and also have a lunch in the station. After lunch Gil, Norm, Fred and Bill nailed all seven trusses together. Richard arrived in time to help. Peter worked inside the station on castings he had made for the brake details on four cars that he wishes to build. Norm and Dain continued their painting project on sign boards and completed the second side of what had been started last Saturday. Dwight and Carmelina arrived. Bill aided by Fred, Richard and Carmelina took on the job of dismantling the work bench and storing it in the summer house. The bench was well built dating back to the second world war. All boards were screwed or bolted together. Upon re use we will need two new top boards but the balance are sound. The old heavy vise was taken to Dwight and deemed to be repairable with some work. Dwight used the new metal saw for the first time as he removed surplus material from the four frogs being used for four new switches that we will be building. The remainder of the day was spent in conversation in the station. During the afternoon Jim made a brief appearance to drop off a graph on Christmas runs.

Wednesday March 5th was very cold. Bill spent the morning at Westminster learning how the new carillon will work. It is very advanced in comparison to the old with its 49 bells. The old carillon has only 25 but alas the AVR can not afford the cost of this new system. It is great that the old system will live on. After the final set up of the new bells the installer from Schulmerich was kind enough to come see the old system. In a short time he was able to tell us what several of the old controls actually did and to point out some of the sequencing. His parting words were that these old units need a lot of contact cleaning and adjusting. Our best time would be spent cleaning and adjusting contacts. Armed with this new knowledge Bill went to work cleaning. At noon Gil and Bill built the east wall for the storage building and put it in place. Bill continued fixing the old carillon and now has the 3/4 and 1 hour strike of the bells working automatically.

Friday night Bill continued to work on the carillon as he was beginning to understand the operation and to find his way around the printed circuit plans. He found trouble with one of the wafer switches on the hour stem. This was repaired and before the end of the day Bill was able to have the bells ring each quarter hour. 

Saturday morning Bill continued to repair contacts and by 10:00 am had the system ringing correctly. Concern is that the contacts could be jarred when the unit is moved to the garage. We will need to be careful. Richard was the first to arrive and he and Bill cleaned up the floor where the Carillon would be going. A stop was made for lunch and while eating Barry arrived with eight side frames that he had drilled bearing holes in. Norm and Nance arrived with the two kids. Rob arrived shortly after. Rob set about shovelling the entire old main line while Bill, Richard and Norm moved the carillon to the garage. Dwight arrived and he and Norm sorted out all the ties placing enough for one switch on the table. Nance, Richard and Bill loaded eleven sheets of plywood for the storage building and went down and nailed up three.  Norm arrived to relieve Nance and Norm, Richard and Bill nailed up the remaining eight sheets. Back at the station Dwight, Jim, Rob and Gil cut up and drilled all rails needed for the first switch. The blade on the new power saw failed. William came with some food and spent the afternoon in the station. 

Wednesday March 12th, Bill spent the morning in the station and the garage working on both the carillon and computer. After 2:00 pm Peter, Jim and Bill worked on cutting up the rails to make six switches using Dwight's plan. While Peter and Jim cut rails Bill went to Princess Auto and got a replacement power saw blade plus a grinder dressing tool, new file and spare hand hacksaw blade. Bill reassembled the power hacksaw and made some changes to make it work better. Bill cut the base on six guard rails while Peter and Jim drilled holes. Later in the evening Peter ground the guard rails.

Friday afternoon Peter fastened all the guard rails onto main rails for all four switches. Bill and Peter untapped the lower part of the road arches.

Saturday March 15th was a very mild day after 8 weeks of cold cold weather. Bill started after 8:00 am to take down Christmas lights. He finished the un-tapping on the 16' road arches. Next he took down the 90' lighted train, lights in the parking area, all lights on play house, lights along the yard trails, east end and centre section of station, bushes in the front yard and lights on the top of the fence around the lower parking area. Fred arrived followed soon by Peter. While Peter files a frog for the first switch Fred and Bill carried to storage the 16-16' arches and the Christmas train. Jim, Dwight and Carmelina arrived and started to build the switch. Carmelina numbered all of the cut ties for easy length selection. Fred and Bill modified two of the trusses to be used as gable end trusses. Peter took down the lights on the car barn. Bill, Peter and Carmelina removed all lights on the dog house and the upper lights on the station except for the 200 that are on the dormers as Bill deemed that walking out on the roof was still too dangerous due to melting snow. The three then un-taped all trail lines for retrieval Sunday. Four more candy canes were carried in and stored. Dwight and Jim completed the first switch except for the points.  

Sunday March 16th Bill continued to take down Christmas lights and using large plastic milk boxes he collected up 11 full boxes of lights off the walking trails. Peter came over and prepared the second frog for the next switch. On Monday afternoon Peter and Jim assembled the second switch less points. On Tuesday Bill started taking down the lower parking fencing. On Wednesday Bill took down the last of the station lights and brought in more candy canes and other objects. He collected two boxes of lights off bushes. At noon Peter and Jim arrived with William coming mid afternoon. Together the second two switches were assembled.

Saturday March 22. Bill worked on controls for the carillon and installed a new code switch for the station canopy lights to bring them on at dusk and off at dawn. The signal circuit was added to the same system. It will automatically go off at midnight each day if we accidentally leave them on. Gil and Richard arrived before lunch and along with Bill spent the afternoon installing the roof trusses and half the roof deck. Lots of water as the snow melts quickly. Peter and Jim cut up steel for two show car under frames that Peter is building. Dwight and Carmelina spent the afternoon fine tuning the four switches. Shim plates and insulation were installed. During the afternoon William and Barry dropped over to see what we were doing.

Wednesday Bill spent the morning on electronics. At noon Gil came over and the two spent the afternoon bringing in arches from the main line. Jim came over to get some lumber to make switch machine ties for the four switches. William came over and Peter worked at home on bolsters for his new car.

Saturday March 29th,. Bill set up a slid show at the WMRC Spring Show. It will also run on Sunday. At noon Gil, Fred and Richard joined Bill and the four moved the new storage building east as once the snow melted we realized we were on the Paterson's property. We moved it east to clear the line. We levelled the four corners of the building. During the week Gil and Jim made up the long switch ties that will hold the switch control motors that Dwight has designed. After lunch Gil, Fred, Richard, Norm and Bill put on the rest of the roof deck and cut and installed the gable ends along with the facia on the south and north sides. While this was going on Jim and Dwight installed the points and completed one of the switches. Norm and Dain removed and stored all switch covers and Carmelina and Nance rolled up Christmas lights from the upper parking area. Barry came for a visit and Peter dropped in after his lily meeting and with Dwight replenished the station beer supply.

Wednesday afternoon a group of members gathered at the station. Bill and Fred took all 12' and 6' arches down from the upper road and parking area and stored them in the new storage building along with road marking lights from the same area. It was really nice saving all the time to take them down to the older storage area. In the station Jim, Gil and Peter worked on the switches with some help from William. A fifth right hand # 8 has now been built.

Thursday Peter, Jim and William installed the points on three more switches. Alas it snowed again tonight. 

Saturday April 5th was sunny and nice but the new snow was still around. Gil, Richard, Fred and Bill got out the table saw and cut up lumber for 12 mile posts and 2 x 2's for the shed door. The four then built the door frame and secured it to the building and put on the plywood. The facia was also installed on the east end. Later Fred and Bill took down and stored the upper parking lot fence. Back at the station Peter, Dwight, Rob and Jim completed all five switches and built components for a sixth switch which will be a #6 for the spur off the siding at Paterson. This spur which will run past the new storage building.

Wednesday April 9th was a great day with the temp going up to 24 degrees C at the station. For those used to F that is 75.2.  Peter and Bill started to assemble the curved # 6 that will be installed on the siding at Paterson to feed the new storage building. Dwight arrived after work and by dark the switch was completed making 6 switches built and ready to plant.

Saturday April 12 was a lovely day with sun and cloud. Bill started the morning off updating the WMRC web page and then getting 3001 out with 6 more cars. He took the first trip since Jan on the old line removing crews that had pinned the main line switches for the Christmas run. He then took a run to the end of the new line. It was decided that changing joint bar style and putting washers on the crews has allowed the tracks to expand and contract without pulling in on the corners. After a very hard winter the extra time and effort have paid off. Bill then collected three milk boxes of lights and cords along the main line. Other objects were made ready for transportation. Gil arrived in time for the last trip round. Peter arrived and he and Gil went to survey the pin near the new storage building to determine that we had pulled it far enough east to clear the Paterson's east line but that we were almost on the line going east west on the back jog of their property. 

Norm, Nance and the two kids arrived followed shortly by William and two of his in-laws. Everyone was given a ride on the main line. Peter, Dwight, Gil and Bill then tied back an ash tree that was leaning against the car barn. We succeeded in getting the eight inch tree to move off the facia board. Later in the spring we will use a come-along to move it still further. The group then went on a ride down the new line and Norm, Nance and Bill loaded the train with tools to complete the trim on the storage building while Peter, Gil and Dwight spent time contemplating how to extend the station trackage to the west.. The storage building crew then completed the facia boards and installed the soffits, returning to the station by train to get the shingles. Peter helped to load and unload the shingles. Norm and Bill then placed the first six rows of shingles with Nance and the boys supplying materials as needed. At 6:00 pm we cleaned up the area and took the train back to Charleswood station.

Tuesday April 15th, Bill ordered the steel for the lift, three steaming bay tracks and a new car top carrier for cars. 

Wednesday just after noon Gil,  Richard and Bill arrived and set about cleaning up the remaining Christmas displays now that the bush has dried up. The train was used to transport displays to the lower shed and the new upper shed. During the afternoon the steel arrived and was unloaded by Gil and Bill. Peter arrived in time for some conversation before the group left for the day. Bill worked on the carillon in the evening and on Thursday and now the roll reader plays bells automatically with the addition of some new solid state modifications.

Good Friday warmed up and our last snow fall melted. Bill cleaned up the turn circle and worked on the next issue of the Nutty Report. He then put out markers on four sidings to mark where trees are to be cleared. Peter arrived in the evening and proof read the nutty report and we went out by train on the new line to check what needs to be cleared for the sidings.

Saturday April 19 Bill and Gil cut up most of the steel for the new mechanical lift for the loading area. Richard cleaned up junk left over from the winter, worked on sign poles and took down a few remaining Christmas displays. Carmelina cleaned up the station. Gil and Bill measured the steaming track area and determined how big the concrete pad needs to be and later loaded all the remaining switch ties into a hopper car and stored them in the car barn. Peter creosoted four switches and transported two by train to Winch. Norm, Nance, Jim, Fred and Barry completed the shingle installation on the storage building. It is now ready for painting. Bill repaired 11 pagoda trail lamps by replacing the white plastic lenses.

HAPPY EASTER

Easter Sunday was not busy at the AVR. Bill arrived home after Church and family activities around 6:00 pm and was soon met by Andrei who brought a friend to see the railway. They got 3001 out and went for a ride. Later Bill repaired 6 more lamp heads and took the train out to replace all 17 tops, one socket, replaced 20 light bulbs and 6 bass poles. In all about 30 lamps were repaired that had been broken by our deer population during the winter. In order to discourage this activity some steel rods were put around the lamps in the most exposed areas to try and minimize the damage by running deer.

Monday Bill took the power sander to 13 mile post poles and then gave them a coat of white primer. Tuesday the Scouts helped by cutting down 5 small poplars on the siding at Paterson as part of their axe training. Later in the evening Bill repaired 13 more light heads. We will have some spares.

Wednesday Richard arrived in the afternoon and did some cleanup around the track and brought in a few missed Christmas lights and trail marking poles. Peter and Dwight arrived later and struggled with the interlocking trackage to the west of Charleswood Station. It was decided that two #7 switches were needed and if we could not find a #7 frog we would need to build them from scratch. Bill put the second coat of paint on the 13 new posts for mile signs. Dwight took the long hood off 3001 and Bill topped up the four batteries and put them on charge.

Thursday and Friday Bill continued painting signs and completed enough mile boards for the posts and started the second coat on a group of flanger boards and painted half the primer on all the cross- bucks.

Saturday was a grand day. Bill reassembled 3001 after it's battery maintenance. Bill cut all remaining trees at Paterson and raked out all ground cover while Gil and Fred transplanted two Amur Maples to the Poole's property line. The three then put out the splines and moved sufficient crushed rock to complete the doubling of the Paterson siding. Back at the station Peter and Dwight continued to look at solutions to the west switches onto the new line. Peter and Carmelina cut up sufficient ties for another four switches and cut 2 x 2's so Bill could construct three more deer gates.  Norm and Nance brought some visiting family and using 3001 took them for several rides. Around 6:00 pm all tools and equipment were put away.

Sunday it rained at the AVR. Bill printed numbers at the office for mile post signs and picked up supplies. Material for corners on shed, box car paint for shed sides, screws for mile post signs and 8 more light bulbs for trail lamps. Back at the AVR Bill put numbers 1 to 18 on one side of boards.

Monday the truck from Oklahoma arrived with 1500 feet of rail, 3 gondola kits, one flat car kit and other accessories. All was loaded into Bill's van except 1000 feet of rail. At home Bill put numbers on reverse side of sign 1 to 18. 

Wednesday Peter came early and spend some time fixing the curve on the switch for Paterson Spur. Bill arrived at 1 pm and after a quick lunch Peter and Bill using Peter's level racked out the siding sub-road-bed. Two loads of rock were needed to bring it up to grade. The train was used to transport ten track panels to location. Later Dwight arrived and assisted with the switch adjustment and spend the remaining evening replacing damaged bonding wires on the old line. Bill screwed on the 18 sign boards to their poles and painted urethane on 66% of the completed signs and set out to dry. 

Thursday Peter creosoted the north station track switch for the new line. Bill ordered a truck load of 3/4 clean crushed rock and it was delivered. Later Bill urethaned the remaining parts of the signs. They will be used to replace the old signs from 2 to 13 so those poles can be refurbished and put back into service on the new line. 

Friday Peter creosoted the Paterson Spur switch. Bill planted the 12 new mile posts on the old line. The old poles have been brought in. Eight can be re-used and four will be used as flanger poles as they had been broken in service and are now too short for mile posts. 

Saturday May 3rd was a great day with a little wind. Bill was at work by 8:30 and spent till noon repairing and adding to the deer fence around the yard. About six areas that deer had managed to penetrate were added to or repaired. We use 54" high stucco wire and in four places the deer have jumped over pushing down the wire. These were repaired. In order to make the wire higher it was installed about 14" off the ground. It was discovered over last summer that the deer have learned to "limbo" under this fence where the bush is thin. It was strange to see a full size adult doe at full run simply slip under the space. To fix the problem these areas are being filled. About 10 am Andrei arrived and spent his time dismantling the roof of a small shed in the space were the new engine house will go. Fred joined him and the two laboured away all afternoon. The remaining chain link fence was removed from the old dog runs including the wood top frame. The roof from the shed was dismantled, old shingles were placed in low areas on the walking trail. It was found that raccoons were living inside the roof and several pictures were taken. All usable materials were cleaned up and stored.

Peter and Bill unloaded 500 feet of rail from the van and set up the table by the garage in its summer work position. Gil arrived and helped Peter drill out rails for the Paterson siding. The four corner trim boards for the shed were cut and five new mile posts were made. The saw was moved to its summer home. The group broke for a lunch of hot dogs. 

Norm, Richard and Bill spent the afternoon till 6:00 pm digging out the fallen soil "clay" from the west tunnel excavation and widening it to accommodate the tunnel frame.  A centre line was established by Peter with clearance of 27" on both sides. An elevation line was also established from the end of  track to the location of the next diamond. As the tunnel has a grade through it we needed to establish the bottom depths where the footing timbers will be placed on a bed of crushed rock. Norm and Bill brought in by train five loads of rock and spread them on the bottom. It was essential that this be completed as now if we get more rain we will be able to work in the tunnel excavation without getting mired down in the mud. 

Peter, Gil, Nance and Carmelina began the task of laying the track at Paterson. As the new siding will follow the main line around the corner it was essential to make sure the curve at Paterson was correct so the templates were taken out and the curve checked. Then all new rails were joined together with joint bars and made ready for screwing down. The rails have been connected to the two switches at either end and the spur switch was located in a favourable place to allow the spur to run to the new storage building.

Dain and Brandt had a grand time checking out the new rock pile as only kids can do and acted as crossing signs each time the train passed by with a new load of rock. They also enjoyed walking the track and riding the train when possible.

Sunday May 4th. Peter and Ed arrived first and got supplies out for spiking down the track at Paterson. Bill arrived and the three unloaded the van of the equipment from Oklahoma. Peter and Ed went back to track laying while Bill took down the 500 lights over the upper parking area. Bill then spent 2 hours painting the east wall of the new storage building. Particle board costs less but it sure is hard to paint. 

Monday Ed and Peter continued to work on the Paterson Siding. Bill arrived after work and spent till 8:30 working on five more sections of deer fence. Rob came in the afternoon to give his son a ride. Jim and Carol brought the frame of the box cab back and showed one side of the box cab with the louvers applied and new ladders fastened. Jim has been working at home on the body.

Tuesday Peter and Ed continued to work on the siding and finished all but the last 30 feet. Bill spent an hour on deer fencing and worked with the scouts on bush projects.

Wednesday Peter, Jim and Richard completed the tie in on the east end of the switch and all is complete except for the points and switch mechanical. 

Thursday Bill purchased a roll of 6 mil vapour barrier for the tunnel footing.

Saturday May 10th, 2003. The weather had turned decidedly cold with light rain. Bill spent the first hour updating the web and then got the train out (3001 with six cars) for a 10:00 am birthday party group. Twenty guests came and rides were given to everyone's satisfaction. The rain had stopped by 10:00.  Bill then sanded and filled holes on six mile post signs and then completed the last page of the Nutty Report and printed the first six copies. Richard arrived and did some clean up and found three Christmas decorations that had not been put away. Lunch was made in the station. 

When Fred arrived the three went off to level the two side footings of the tunnel. First project was to run a string down the centre at 7" above rock level. Grade posts were driven every 18" down the centre. Norm, Nance, Carmelina and Rob hauled rock for the side levelling operation. A spirit level was used by Bill to check elevations from the centre line of posts. Fred shovelled while Richard raked it out. Rob carried in five timbers and they were test fit. Then a layer of 6 mil poly was laid out and the foundation timbers were replaced and the rock team filled in the centre space to protect the plastic. Jim joined the transportation team and they brought in all remaining timbers to the work area. Richard, Bill and Fred started to assemble the first 12' of tunnel liner. When Richard left Carmelina took over the job of holding the tape measure. By 6:00 pm we had assembled the first ten feet of frames and the liner was starting to take shape. While this was going on Peter and Ed laid out the centre line for the spur at Paterson that will access the new storage building and the upper parking area. They then turned there attention to cutting diagonal corner braces for the tunnel and made seven. Dwight spent his afternoon adjusting switches and completing switch points. For a cool day a lot got completed and the obstacle of the tunnel is being overcome.

Sunday Mother's Day. After family activities Bill spent an hour painting the south side of the storage building and ran out of paint. He then installed four pieces of fencing material on the deer fence to plug more holes to prevent deer "limboing".  Bill then sanded seven more mile posts. He then filled imperfections with plastic wood on 13 posts and after drying sanded these again. He then painted primer on all 13 posts and set to dry. Next 20 cross buck boards were given a coat of paint on the second side and seven mile boards were painted on the first side.

Monday Bill dug three flower gardens and weeded one and a half more. He then put the second coat of white paint on the 13 mile posts and a second coat on cross bucks and a first coat on more mile boards. Peter and Bill approved the final location for the Paterson spur and grain elevator. The Paterson's were consulted and Lorne will try and get some plans for an actual elevator from Paterson Grain Co. 

Wednesday May 14th, 2003. Peter and Jim completed the cutting of the 30 needed diagonal braces for the tunnel frames. Rob came over and moved some rock for support at two switch locations. Dwight and Bill arrived at about 6:00 pm and cleared trees and bush on the Winch siding. Three ornamental type trees are now ready to transplant and then rock can be placed in this area. 

Thursday Bill gave guests from his youngest granddaughter's first birthday a ride on the AVR. Later the 13 posts got their first coat of black on the bottom. 

Friday Bill put on the second coat of black and painted all sign boards a coat of white paint. He printed the rest of the "Nutty Reports"

Saturday May 17th, 2003. Bill took masking tape off the 13 completed mile posts. he put a final coat of white to all sign boards that were at that stage. He started deco paging the "CROSSING" lettering on 14 cross bucks. Peter arrived and he and Bill went around the railway counting the number for flanger, number boards, whistle and cross buck signs that will be needed. Richard arrived and took on the job of relocating the ornamental trees from the Winch siding to the Pool's east property line. The crew stopped for hot dogs in the station. After lunch the group divided into two groups. Group one headed up by Bill took on the job of assembling the tunnel frame and putting it into place. The team consisted of Bill, Richard, Norm and Rob. By 7:00 pm the structure was completed and moved into the tunnel slot. The side boards were only nailed on high enough to clear the side soil that is already in place. This keeps the structure lighter so it is easier to move this 28 foot long structure. During the three main moves all other members on site would help with the pushing and moving which was made possable using six pipe rollers and a two wheel dolly.

The second crew was headed up by Peter and started with the drilling out of the 30 diagonal braces and then cutting up 15 flanger posts and 14 cross buck posts. This crew consisted of Peter, Ed, David, Nance and Carmelina.  This crew also looked after giving a few rides to some casual visitors. Dwight worked on a new modification of spring switch points to strengthen the assembly. Carmelina cleaned up the station.

Sunday was a very wet day. No outside work but after church Bill deco paged 14 "RAIL  WAY" lettering on the opposite side of cross buck arms. He put numbers on both sides of 17 mile post signs and installed 16 of them on 13 posts. He then painted white on 24 flanger signs on both sides and completed the painting on the remaining crossing bucks. Peter replenished the station beer supply later in the evening.

On Monday, Victoria Day, Bill was up early and put the protective coat of Varathane on the 13 completed mile post signs. Mile post 1 and 19 was installed. Bill installed five more pieces of fencing along the deer fence. Later in the evening he added five more pieces to help keep the deer from feeding on bedding plants. Andrei and Peter arrived about 10:30 and re-surveyed the tunnel and centre line for the connecting sub-road-bed. As was thought the finished tunnel centre is correct at the west portal but 2 inches too far north at the east portal. Not a problem at all. We stopped for lunch and Nance and Norm arrived with their two boys. After lunch Bill and Andrei and later Richard and Rob joined to nail on all the side timbers and four rows of roof timbers. We are short seven 2 X 8's x 12' long timbers to complete the roof. Norm and David also helped with the nailing. Bill did all the cutting. 

Norm and Nance spent most of the afternoon hauling rock to the area west of the tunnel. Nance operated the train several times to try her hand at running #202. Dain also made a couple of trips and helped his dad do some switching. Later Brandt and Dain kept busy pushing each other around the old line in the black gondola. David using Peter's level set the elevation of the sub-road-bed from end of track to the west portal. Peter acted as rod man and raker. Later Norm and Andrei switched places on rock detail and Andrei started pushing the rock on the flat car by hand without using the locomotive.  All rock and grading was completed to the tunnel but only 9 of the 14 bays were filled with rock. Track panels were hauled to the area and Peter drilled out 7 rails. At one point all three locomotives were in action. Bill and Andrei un-stacked some cars and got two trains ready for a scout activity on Tuesday night. 

Tuesday Rob arrived in the morning and filled the remaining sections in the tunnel with rock. After lunch Peter joined him and the two laid track right up to the tunnel portal. At 6:30 the Scouts, Cubs and Beavers of the 82 nd Westminster group came for their windup wiener roast and train ride. Rob and Bill gave 112 rides on 10 trains. Rob took 6109 up the new track to the tunnel and Bill did double laps on the old loop with 3001. The kids and parents had a good time. Rob put trains away while Bill cleaned up food from the event. There are some left over cookies for the AVR crew.

Wednesday May 21st. Gil and Jim screwed down the 28 feet of track through the tunnel. Rob came and moved some rock. Peter started to lay out the "Y" switch that forms the western end of the tunnel cut-off. Later Dwight came over and he and Peter completed most of the switch. Bill arrived after work and with Jim they raked and used the "Weed-Eater" on the Winch siding and placed the splines and spread the first six loads of rock on the siding. 

Thursday Bill purchased 11  2 x 8's to complete the roof on the tunnel liner.

Friday Peter checked out some calculations and decided that the "y" switch under construction could be improved so with Ed and Gil's help they totally rebuilt the switch making it fit the position better. Later in the evening Peter and Jim creosoted the switch so it will be ready to install on Saturday.

Saturday May 24th, 2003. "The Real Victoria Day" Bill and Fred completed the job of putting 2 x 8's on the roof of the tunnel liner. They then put 6 mil poly all over the top and down the sides to keep mud from getting to the timbers. During this time Gil was building a hinged gate for the deer fence were the tunnel line will leave the yard. Peter, Andrei and David installed the tunnel cut off switch and interconnecting line. Norm, Nance and Rob moved rock to the siding at Winch. They used the wheelbarrow on the train plus loaded 10- five gallon pails with rock to get a good load per trip.  Andrei and David conducted a level survey on the siding and rock was added to bring it up to level. The siding is now ready for switches and track. Once the tunnel and gate were done Bill, Gil and Fred cleared all brush off the 150 feet of the Paterson Spur and raked and used the "Weed-Eater" to clear away all organic material. The first set of splines were placed and a start at moving rock was made. David and Andrei did a level survey of the line and indicated four areas were some digging will be needed. Rob left early to baby sit and returned with five kids and along with Dain and Brandt made up a train with seven children who became the first people to proceed through the tunnel and the cut off back to the station. Dwight had spent the afternoon installing a set of temporary spring points on the switch at the cut off and doing some insulating for the signal system. Before night fall all members had a chance to ride through the tunnel and back to the station.

Sunday Bill planted a whole bunch of beading plants including all the pots around the station area. He then worked on the deer fence plugging up some more holes for a couple of hours and finished the day planting mile post signs at 14 through 18. Four of the old poles will be re-buildable and two will become flanger poles. Peter, Ed and David checked out what was needed for the diamond and spent the rest of the afternoon working on the diamond. 

Monday Peter and Ed continued to work on the diamond. Many pieces of track to cut and fit. Bill spent two hours cutting grass and then plugged some more deer holes in the fence. At 8:30 Bill measured the new track for correct places to plant mile post signs from mile 19 to 37 on the new line. By the time he got to mile 37 it was too dark to read the tape. He then planted mile post signs at 24, 30, 32, and 34 using the head light on 6109 and the abundant fire flies in the area. While on the line he repaired 8 of the trail lights.

Tuesday Bill planted mile post 28, 35 and 36. Jim came over and he and Bill carried rock by train to level the reverse elevation at the switch at mile 35. They also levelled the "y" switch at the tunnel and the cut off track at mile 34. Bill purchased provisions for the station. 

Wednesday - The diamond is ready to plant. Peter, Ed, Jim, Gil, David and Dwight took turns making final completions to the new diamond and last night Peter creosoted it making it ready to plant. Richard and Gil also hauled rock for the last run to the station. Bill rolled out the last of the water line and had the big sucker truck clean out the facilities storage tank. Bill spent the remaining evening sanding and preparing 4 poles for cross bucks and four mile sign posts.

Saturday was a bright sunny day. Bill was in the station by 8:00 then spent 15 minutes chasing a deer out of the yard that had got in. Six lilies were eaten. Bill put up the lily fence and installed two new speakers for the carillon on the top of the implement shed. Peter and Gil arrived followed by Fred. Bill, Peter and Fred worked on installing the new diamond. Gil made two extensions for the deer gates. Rob and Richard arrived and together with Gil hauled rock to fill up the tunnel track. They then carried rock to fill the area between the diamond and the station track with Nance, Norm and Bill's help. Fred did a level survey of how much rock was needed. Bill, Gil, Richard and Rob dug out the five hills on the Paterson spur. Bill and Peter joined up 20 feet of track east of the new diamond but will have to wait for Sunday to be screwed down. Dwight spent the afternoon working on a #7 frog that is needed for the next switch. Carmelina spent time cleaning up the station. Dain and Brant spent the afternoon enjoying the railway and pushing cars around. 

Sunday Peter and Bill screwed down the next 20 feet of track east of the diamond and ran a train through it. Bill planted more bedding plants. Len came over to inspect the work done this spring.

Monday Bill painted the prim coat on four mile posts and four cross buck poles. After he painted the west and north walls of the storage building.

Tuesday Bill ordered a truck load of 3/4 clean rock. Standard thought they could have it delivered by Wednesday afternoon. Later the eight posts got the second coat of white paint.

Wednesday June 4th, 2003. Ed and Peter came over in the afternoon and discovered a stretch of track between the Creosote diamond and the east tunnel that had lost its super-elevation. They fixed it. Dwight completed the #7 frog so the switch needed next can be built. David found an elevation bench mark near the railway and would like to find the actual elevation above sea level for the railway. A truck load of rock was delivered in the evening. Bill put a new saw blade on the electric band saw.  Bill with assistance from Rob moved 18-5 gal pails of rock and spread them on the freshly super-elivated track. They also placed 12 buckets of rock at the west end of Old Fort where the super-elevation was always going out. Later Bill placed 14 buckets of rock at the end of track were the #7 switch will go. 

Thursday Bill painted the black bottoms on eight sign posts.

Friday Peter and Ed came over early and built the #7 switch.  Rob came over to give his son a train ride. Dwight came after work and fine tuned the switch. Bill picked up 100 nuts and bolts to fasten the lift together. Bill brought to the AVR the last two boxes of rail. Bill mounted four sets of cross bucks and one mile post sign on five painted posts.

Saturday June 7th. 2003.  The shy was overcast and rain was likely. Bill went to the station and put a coat of urethane on the five completed signs. He then began repainting the gold portions of the hand rails on #3001 and touched up some missing paint. Andrei arrived at 10:00 and got 6109 out with the work cars. He then unbolted the station cut off tracks so the road-bed could be raised. Peter and David arrived. David and Andrei took Peter's level and commenced a level survey to bring a bench mark elevation reading to the AVR. Peter put on old clothes and creosoted the new #7 switch. Richard arrived and with Bill's help lifted the station cut off tracks out of the way. Then Richard dug in the water line going between the new track and old main line. Peter and Richard finished their first tasks and it started to rain hard. Just in time for a long lunch break at the station. After lunch David and Andrei switched their survey skills to the new track area and spent their remaining time doing level shots in that area. Richard, Ed, Norm, Nance and Carmelina spent a good part of the afternoon moving rock to bring up elevations on the new track all the way to the station. Dain and Brandt spent time ridding with the rock train and pushing around a couple of gondolas. Peter supervised the progress. Bill completed his painting project and then laid out the steel base for the lift and drilled all the holes and test fit the bolts to start the foundation for the lift.  Two scout leaders came over to borrow the grill. Richard took the opportunity with Carmelina's help to clean up the area after winter's accumulation of junk. They tidied up many areas around the station making it ready for the open house. Before end of work Peter and Dwight had located the place were the next several switches need to be located. Tolerances where tight and some compromises will need to be made. Rob came over in the evening and helped. Some of the tie in track was cut to length and placed. Dwight had been working quietly all afternoon on points. A set were installed on the east switch at Paterson and one point made for the spur. Others were made for other locations but will be completed later. Bill planted the first two new cross bucks at the east station level crossing. Tools and train were put away and six of the members went out for a late supper.

Sunday Peter came over to spike down the track connecting the #7 and #8 switches. Later in the afternoon Rob and his wife Shirley came over and together the three spiked down the line and reconnected the station cut off line and Peter spiked down the first 20 feet. Bill spent the afternoon cutting grass in the yard, outer trail and upper parking area. He stopped to take seven casual visitors for a ride on the new and old lines. After supper Lisa and Bill went out and greased the whole system and then planted new crossing signs at Amur Glen and placed the mile 26 sign. Several trips were made to spread the grease. Bill used the weed eater to clean up the area around the station.

Monday was a day filled with rain. Ed and Peter cam over in the morning. Ed had his wife and grand kids so several train rides were given. At 11:00 am a senior Citizens home group came and Bill gave a double ride for a group of 14 and 13. Due to the age we put all three operator cars on one train giving us five seats with backs. Worked well. Old people loved seeing our deer including the new born. They stayed for a BBQ lunch and left about 1:00 pm. Peter stayed and in the evening when the rain stopped he connected the north siding in the station to the new track and left the south connected to the old line. It will now be possible to go completely around both lines before stopping and end up going in the same direction. Bill dismantled 3001 and removed batteries 1 & 2 as they will not hold a full charge. These are to be replaced. Bill cleaned up the car and started to modify the train rack.

Tuesday Peter was again over and with Ed's help they continued to screw down track on the station cut off and almost got to the end. During the day they also completed the tie in of the new line to the north track of the station and would have been able to run a train but Bill had 3001 in pieces all over the station and 6109 was boxed in. Bill was able to exchange the two batteries and at 5:30 started to re assemble 3001 but Peter had to leave and did not get a ride. Bill modified the train rack for the van and put it in ready for Sunday night. Rob came over and both went for a ride to test out 3001 and its new batteries and to test out the new trackage.

Wednesday afternoon Peter and Ed completed the track on the station cut off and Richard and Rob hauled rock and levelled the new track widening the base. The group took several rides on the new track. Dwight came and disconnected all the switch control mechanism from the station switch until it is relocated and needed again. Bill arrived and went out to trim weeds and long grass at both Amur Glen and Ash Grove. About 500 feet of trimming was done before it became too dark. 

Quietly and without much notice the Assiniboine Valley Railway now can run trains around both complete loops with a station pass through between. While there are still three switches and a fourth diamond needed to get the system complete it is non the less complete in that we can give passengers rides without backing up on the new line. During the spring of 2003 many members volunteered countless hours to the various projects but at the end of the day credit needs to go to one member who pushed us all on to complete the project. He was determined that nothing would stand in the way of having the loop back to the station. He was here almost every day and pushed on regardless of the weather. This single honour goes to our first vice-president Peter Abel. The completion of the line not only makes us all happy but it will be remembered as it falls on Peter's birthday. Congratulations and many more to come.

On behalf of all the members, a big thanks goes to Peter for giving us the guidance and perseverance to push ahead.

Thursday Bill planted another 10 dz. plants and did some weed eating near the station.

Friday Gil, Peter and Rob came over and cleaned the exterior of 3001 and 6109 plus cleaned the rugs and gravel from all gondolas in the dog house. After work Bill made up a project list and operating rules for this weekend's run. Rob came back and he and Bill took four black gondola loads of extra stuff out of the station and back to the maintenance building. Peter came later to assist. Bill and Rob cleaned up the gondolas that were in the car barn. Bill touched up some paint scratches on 3001. Bill did battery maintenance on 202 in the maintenance building and returned it to charge.

Saturday was a glorious day but attendance at the open house was light but steady. The numbers grew as the afternoon came. Bill manned the station and Rob did most of the runs but was helped by Bill, Len, Peter, David and Richard. In all 23 public runs were had. During the club's BBQ Rob put 12 cars on 3001 to have a very long train and it navigated our railway but we are not sure how well with 35 passengers?  Other members took on projects. Richard, Fred and Gil with assistance from Carmelina and Nance hauled most of the rock for Paterson spur. Norm and later with help from Len and Fred removed all fence posts from future locomotive house and stored them. Len wired up the car barn for sensors. In the station Dain and Brandt helped by handing out train tickets to guests. Dwight installed a switch controller at Paterson and adjusted and made additional parts. All members who could stayed for a BBQ of hamburgers cooked up by Bill.

Sunday open house, another fine day. People were waiting at the station when Len and Bill arrived. Trains were got out and rides given. Engineers today were Len, Bill, Peter, Gil, Ed and Rob.  Len, Norm and Bill emptied the contents of the old white building where the new engine house will go. Some went to new storage and some went to land file at the new tunnel. The siding at Paterson was used for the first time. Nance and the boys handed out tickets and all members enjoyed the visitors.  3001 and three cars were loaded for the west coast ramble.

Tuesday Jun 17th, Bill mixed up six batches of Round Up and with the 2 gal hand sprayer treated weeds on the entire railway with the exception of between Duck Lake and Ghosty Hollow. The area around the new engine house was sprayed along with the turn circle paving stones. Having still time on his hands Bill took the axe and cleared all brush from the siding at Chapman. As Bill was still waiting he tackled sanding the ten old mile post sign boards and after removing all the old paint he painted them with primer and also painted eight flanger boards. Then he sanded three tall crossing poles and seven mile post poles. After sanding all the imperfections, nail holes and knots were filled with plastic wood.

Due to the WEST COAST RAMBLE this weekly update will not be added to until the open house in July.

Engine #3001  attended the 2003 west coast ramble starting at Train Mountain in southern Oregon. The meet lasted a week with 240 train present at the Saturday parade. While at Train Mountain we also ran on the Over The Hill Club.  Next it ran at the Medford, Oregon followed by a trip to Kit Sap in Washington but #3001 stayed in the van. Next stop was a ferry ride from Port Angeles to VIME in Victoria, B.C. followed by a visit on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Burnaby where 3001 pulled the public and helped that club celebrate its 75 anniversary and 10th year at Confederation Park. The next day #3001 was unloaded at the Train Museum at Squamish and got to try out their new lift and run on the Mini Rail. On the way back home the AVR's #3001 became the first visiting locomotive at Airdrie near Calgary and to run on their first loop of track. #3001 is now back home after a long trip.

Back at the AVR several of the members kept projects going. Dwight fabricated and installed points on all switches that were connected to track. He also overhauled the east end station switch. The rock was completed on the Paterson spur and track panels and rail were placed and joined together ready to be screwed down. The old white building was dismantled to make way for the proposed engine house. On Friday Bill cut the grass around the station and upper parking.

Saturday July 12th, 2003 was a glorious day for an open house. People came at a steady pace all afternoon but one train was enough to handle the visitors most of the time. As a good group of members were present other projects were completed. Richard took on the job of digging the cut for the siding at Chapman. He was assisted at various times by Andrei, Barry and Bill. The soil was used to make ramps for level crossings and was transported by train. Bill put the primer paint on all posts sanded and he was assisted by Gil. Gil took the job of installing the corner trim boards on the new shed. Dwight took on the job of building a #6 switch for a spur off the spur at Paterson which will service the future Paterson grain elevator. He was assisted by Peter, David, Norm and Andrei. All members took a turn at driving, dispatching, ticket distribution and PR.

Sunday was the second day of the open house and Peter, Gil and Bill handled the guests who came to ride on the AVR. It looked like rain but unlike many areas of Winnipeg that got heavy rain and hail the AVR was spared.

Monday July 14th, Bill ordered the four Acme screws, nuts, bearings, sprockets and casters for the new lift. In the evening he bolted together the base and one of the uprights.

Tuesday Bill picked up the four casters and 300 lock nuts for joint bars. In the evening he drilled and erected the remaining three corners of the main lift.

Wednesday Richard, Gil, Peter, Bill, David and Dwight came to the AVR. Peter completed the #6 switch with Richard's help and then creosoted it. Bill with Gil's help cut up the eight brackets for the caster mounts. While Bill machined the brackets, Gil and Richard cut up the top brace steel. Bill then installed all four casters and with David's help moved the lift to the driveway area. Bill then installed the upper bracing. Dwight put a spring on the main station lead switch and rebuilt the switch points. Peter and David set out lines to look at a different way to extend the station track. At a late supper Peter, Dwight, David and Bill talked about the pros and cons of the four solutions to the station track problem.

Thursday Bill sanded and wire brushed with drill, sander and side grinder all the rust off the new steel lift frame and then applied one coat of red oxide primer to the structure. It took four hours. Rob came to inspect the progress.

Friday Bill was interviewed by the Metro News on the progress of the AVR and several pictures were taken.

Saturday Bill was in the station by 8:00 am and worked on a report on the ramble for two hours. David was first to arrive. Bill took out 3001 as a work train for Chapman and David took out 6109 for a work train for Paterson. Richard arrived and he and Bill went to get Chapman ready for its siding. Nine more 5 gal pails of soil were dug and deposited on the trails near the station. All roots and small stems were chopped out and the whole siding area was cleared with the weed eater and raked. Splines were laid out to hold the crushed rock and three loads were taken and spread but due to the heat and humidity work was slow. David, Peter and Carmelina took equipment by train to Paterson and planted the new switch and continued to screw down track on the Paterson spur. Back at the station Dwight replaced the points on the north end of the tunnel cut off and then re-used those points on the elevator spur off the Paterson spur. Bill with help from Richard and Dwight started to do the fabrication of the lift section for the new train unloader. A sudden rain brought all work to an end as we scrambled to put equipment away and not get too wet.

Sunday after church Bill continued the rock moving to Chapman siding and moved by train 70 five gal. pails of rock and moved the splines to the end of the siding. He spent one hour drilling and bolting the three spacers on the lift section of the unloader. He also measured and clamped in place the first of the lift arms. Peter, Ed and David came in the afternoon and screwed rail on Paterson spur to the 80 foot mark.

Monday Bill ordered a tandem truck of 3/4 down lime stone for road repairs and steaming bay area building to come on Wednesday. He also ordered 14 yards of soil to fill the pot holes and depressions in the upper parking area. The last item was the rental of a "Bob Cat" for Saturday to do the work. When Bill got home from work he moved 55 more pails of rock to complete Chapman siding. He raked it out and moved three splines to the elevator spur off Paterson. He then used the weed eater to clear grass and the axe to clear brush from that spur. Two small cuts were dug and the first five pails of rock were spread. Work stopped when the light failed.

Bill arrived at the AVR at 5:30 and took 3001 out and filled 20 more buckets of rock and spread them at the elevator spur. That completed it to the fence. He then used the weed eater on grass on the new spur and also 50 feet either side of the Paterson level crossing. debris was moved from the parking area in preparation for filling ruts and pot holes. Bill then measured the area were the concrete pad will be laid at the unloading area and started to remove the paving stones that are in the way in preparation for digging on Saturday. Bill then shopped for station food and four types of soft drink.

Wednesday July 23rd Bill had the day off and started the day drilling holes and installing more bolts in the lift table. He then filled 10 pails with the last of the 3/4 clean rock and loaded it on the train in case one of the areas needed additional fill.  He then supervised the unloading of 7 yards of top soil and a load of 3/4 down for road repair and steaming bay building. Richard arrived and removed the remaining 1/3 of the paving stones. Peter arrived and a level survey was conducted with Bill at the steaming bay and unloading area. A photographer from the Free Press arrived and took a picture of the three at the bridge with 3001. Two of William's sisters came with family members and Peter showed them the railway and gave several rides. Richard and Bill cleared up other stuff at the steaming bay area in preparation for Saturday. Len came over and a long discussion ensued about the west Charleswood tracks. Solution # 5 was discussed. Len and Richard left and David and Dwight arrived. Dwight made up switch parts while David, Bill and Peter made some elevation posts at the steaming bay area and then levelled the rock at the elevator spur using up half the pails of rock. We are now ready to lay track on this spur. Bill cut with Dwight's help the angle iron for the truss on the lift table.

Thursday July 24th, 2003.  Bill priced out the concrete for the unloading area pad. Costs $250.00 more to get it ready to go but saves hours of work and considering what needs to be done before the end of August the time by members might be better spent in other areas. Bill ordered the steel re-bar for the pad. At home Bill spent about three hours drilling and grinding and installing the truss on one side of the lift table. As some machining has been done the second side should take less time.

During the day on Friday Bill picked up the four Acme screws and bearings for the lift. He spent some time talking to machining companies about a price for turning the six foot long screws. He got a price to cut the eight bearing blocks but not the machining part.  Peter and David came in the evening and screwed down another 45 feet of Paterson Spur.

Saturday July 26, 2003. Bill cut down three big dead branches from the Ash tree in front of the station. He moved Paul's old car to an out of the way place in the upper parking area. The rental Bob Cat arrived and Bill started the excavation of the future steaming area where three 20 foot bays will be put. Richard arrived and took the shovel and spread or moved all the soil around the sides and around trees where the machine could not go. Bill and Richard also buried large items or got them ready for the garbage. Next the pit for the 14 foot by 22 foot concrete pad was excavated. Peter and David arrived and took 6109 to Paterson and completed the spur to the end. Dwight and Carmelina arrived and he spent the rest of the day working on switch points. Carmelina spent he time working with the track laying crew who completed the 32 feet of the elevator spur. During the afternoon two groups of visitors arrived and were given train rides on 3001.  Bill completed the excavation and while Richard caught up on the cleanup of the edges Bill used up most of the crushed rock repairing pot holes on the road with the machine. Once Richard had left for the day Bill placed rock on the new steaming area. Peter, David and Carmelina surveyed and placed six rods for elevation points for the concrete pad. Bill spread by rake all the rock on the area and placed two loads for the base of the pad. He then used up the remaining rock on the road and then spread half the topsoil in the upper parking area. While this was going on the survey crew levelled all the stone on the siding at Chapman. The whole gang went for supper at 9:30 pm. 

Sunday Peter and David arrived in the morning and spent most of the day laying out various ways to connect the new and old lines at the west end of Charleswood station. The problem is to allow the connection of the new line and old line using the same two tracks in front of the station and extend that double line about 70 feet to the west allowing for extra train storage on the old line for incoming or outgoing trains. Main problem is a tree that we are trying to preserve. Up to Sunday five solutions had been made and with Sunday's effort a sixth solution has now been found that not only preserves the tree but increases the incoming curve to 65' from 50' and allows for 70' of double line before the crossover from the new line and allows for the longest distance east of the diamond in front of the station. The solution # 6 also allows for a third track of about 50 feet to parallel the main lines to be used as storage which is needed in the area of the station. Robert Dirksen, our member from Arizona came by to see the progress. Bill arrived home from church at about 1:00 pm and finished up the Bob Cat work in the upper parking area until Len arrived and then Bill and Len built the framing for the concrete pad. The wood was cut to depth and length and many of the paving stones were lined up to get the correct alignment. Several groups of visitors arrived and were given rides. Peter and David finished off the afternoon by lifting a piece of track at lightning junction and removing a high spot in the sub-road-bed.

Monday Bill made up 8" pins and secured the back of the form. He also spread the crushed rock and put rock around the outsides of the form. He raked all the new soil then spread grass seed and raked it in again. 

Tuesday Bill replaced the bent blade on the lawnmower that was damaged on a level crossing, he then cut the grass in the yard, in the upper parking and on the nature trails.

Wednesday Ed and Peter drilled out 21 lengths of rail. Bill picked up steel for the pad. In the evening, Peter, Dwight, David, Jim and Bill tried to resolve the problem of West Charleswood. The group is leaning towards solution #6 but can it be done before the Labour Day Meet? Bill cut up 100 wire ties and laid out the steel in the pit and tied about 80 joints. Richard came and readied 3001 for his daughters wedding on Saturday.

Thursday a truck load of 3/4 clean crushed rock was delivered to the AVR.

Friday Bill picked up a 16' 2 x 6 to be used to screed out the concrete. Peter came to check on the West Charleswood switch.

Saturday Aug. 2 nd., 2003.  A great day. Bill was in the station by 8:00 am and cut up some more wire ties and put another 26 ties on the steel. He then put stones under all the intersections to raise the steel. He then installed the second truss on the lift section. Gil and Peter arrived. Peter was hoping to fix the West Charleswood switch. Gill and Bill measured out where the three steaming tracks would go in relation to the pad and nine posts were marked. Bill went off to drill out and install eight nuts and bolts at the base of the lift frame for additional strength. Fred arrived and spent his time with Gil digging the holes for the sockets that will hold the pipes holding up the steaming tracks. Of all the jobs done this day, Gil and Fred worked the hardest. When the afternoon was spent the nine holes were dug and trenches made between all ready for concrete to be poured. Back at the station Peter, Ed and David did a level survey of the switch. 

Bill got out 6109 and made up a train in preparation for wedding guests who had attended Richard's daughters wedding. Bill took two groups of guests for a ride and Richard got out the wedding train with #3001 all decorated up with flowers. When the official wedding party arrived they all boarded the special train and set out on their trip with Richard as engineer. Bill turned 6109 over to David who followed the wedding train with more guests while Bill went on foot to take pictures of the special train in all the normal spots and some new ones where pictures can be taken. Bill took another 15 guests on a last trip with 3001. The wedding guests went to the front yard for more photo opportunities on the bridge. 

After the wedding party left for the reception Bill went back to work on the lift and wire brushed rust off the lift section in preparation for painting. Ed, Peter, David and Carmelina made up two track panels and straightened up the West Charleswood switch. A discussion took place about timing and it was decided that a "Y" switch will be built to tie in both station tracks to the old line but that there may not be time to do all at West Charleswood before the Labour Day Meet but that as much as can be done will be done. Dwight adjusted some switches and carried out some other track work. Some additional paving stones were removed in preparation for Wednesday's concrete work.

Sunday Peter and Ed came over to start on the "Y" switch that needs to be built to connect the north station switch to both old and new lines. The ties were lined up and calculations made. Peter also made up one tie panel. Gil came over and cut a series of support boards for the concrete form and then painted ten sign posts and a series of sign boards. Bill picked up a new wire wheel and cleaned off the remaining rust from the lift section and put a coat of primer on the whole thing. He then touched up the white paint on the poles and sign boards where they had been resting to dry.

Monday was a holiday in our area so Bill was able to go straight to the station and begin the day on the hobby. He made up two of the pages on Railways we have visited and then repaired the wheelbarrow by making up a new front nose piece on the drill press and then installed it and tightened up all the nuts and bolts. The next project was to take the train to Paterson with the weed eater and clean up a whole bunch of long grass along the Paterson Spur and in other areas around the upper parking area. About then Gil came over to help move the steel for the three 20' long steaming tracks. 

First task was to carry the loading lift table and place it in the frame and it fit. Next we carried six channels to an area in the yard where some shade might be available. Bill cut up spacers to be welded on in two places on each unit. The other three supports will be angles that connect to the posts. Bill welded while Gil used the wire wheel to clean up the weld. After Gil left Bill cleaned all rust on one unit and painted it with primer. To have a break Bill went back to Paterson and cut down tall grass from there to mile post 26. Returned to the station area and started cleaning rust on the other two but it started to rain. A quick clean up of tools and putting trains away followed and as it was still early Bill retired to the station where 16 ten inch angles where cut for supports between channels and posts.

Barry came over to inspect lift and see if gear motor that Bill found would do the job. It was tested and looks like it will. It is 12 volt DC and will go in either direction and came out of a WW2 aircraft. It was determined that the steaming tracks will be 36 inches off the ground.

Tuesday Bill picked up the four drive sprockets for the lift and ordered the drive sprocket for the motor. He went to a metal supplier and picked up nine square sockets 18" long for the post holders. He went to a machine shop where they will cut the bearing and sprocket surfaces on the acme screws. At the AVR Bill placed in there respective holes the nine sockets using a string grid for locations. Bill ordered the nine posts and picked up the 2.75" x 2.75" x 1" steel plates for Barry to machine.

Wednesday Bill was in the station by 7:30 and worked on the web page. Then he started to install the footings for the track between the new pad and the nature trail. He also defined the elevations on the loading spur back to the main line and installed elevation markers along the way. It was decided to put up a retaining wall along the track from the pad to the nature trail. Bill moved a flat car load of concrete blocks to be used as a retaining wall. Ed and Peter came over and worked on the "Y" switch.

Gil made up a levelling template for the sockets. At 1:30 the concrete truck arrived and Gil and Bill moved and screeded the concrete making it more or less level. It was a problem getting it as smooth as we wanted. Bill filled the holes around the sockets while Gil levelled them up. It was about 6:30 when all was cleaned up. Bill carried the concrete blocks to the retaining wall and placed them. Len came over and together they brought in another load and completed the retaining wall. Barry came over with the eight bearing blocks all machined and ready to install.

Thursday Bill removed all the spilled concrete from the outside of the frame, removed all the shoring and proceeded to relay all the paving stones that had been removed on the north and east of the pad. He then loaded all the extra tools and supplies in the station onto a couple of gondolas and took them to the maintenance building. Last a quick sweep and garbage removal took place.

Friday Peter and Ed completed the slide plate and side angles on the "Y" switch. At 5:30 Bill dug a trench south of the new pad and buried a plastic conduit for the pole lamp that was disconnected. He covered the socket openings with masking tape and backfilled the entire steaming bay area right up to the pad. Bill then made a retaining wall for the first 16 feet of the loading spur and filled the cavity with crushed rock. It is now level and ready for track.

Saturday Bill got the trains out and greased certain areas of the track. He then mounted the west pedestal on the nature trail and loading spur. Len arrived and took the first four passengers at 9:30 am. The day was filled with little showers but the big rain stayed away. People came steadily until 5:00 pm. People running trains and helping for the day were, Bill, Len, Peter, Dwight, Richard, David, Fred and Carmelina. Dwight spent most of his day adding points and tuning up the "Y" switch that is now ready to creosote and plant.

Sunday Aug. 10th, 2003 marked the second say of our open house. Bill was interviewed by CJOB at 8:15 in the morning. Bill and Len arrived about 12:30 from church soon followed by Fred. The trains were gotten out and visitors began to arrive. We had 100 more visitors in three hours less time on Sunday. In the afternoon CKY TV came by and a news spot was aired in the evening and on Monday noon. They promoted the Aug. 31 st public run. The following members ran trains and manned the station. Bill, Peter, Len, Richard, David, Fred, Norm and Nance. After the public run the members of the club with other family members stayed for a BBQ. Other productive work was done by Richard and Bill who took a third work train out and brought back two loads of concrete pieces to build a retaining wall. Norm gave a hand placing the last load. After eating Fred took the kids for several rides. It was a good day. 

Monday Bill picked up the replacement saw table cable so we can fix the table saw. Bill also picked up the nine steaming bay posts and the four machined screws. In the evening he put the first coat of black on 10 sigh poles as well as some decoupage.

Tuesday Bill picked up 100- 1.25" bolts with nuts and washers to fasten the steaming bay tracks to the poles. He picked up the sprocket for the drive motor and the rods to make hangers for the idler sprockets. At the AVR he hauled in another two loads of concrete blocks and made more retaining wall. He then lifted the remaining track back to the main line and hauled 16 wheelbarrows of rock to raise the elevation. More will be needed. About 9:00 pm Bill set all nine posts into the sockets at the steaming bay and after getting provisions for the station he put on the second coat of black paint on ten sign posts and touched up the sign boards. 

Wednesday Len, Richard, Peter, Dwight and Bill arrived about noon. Len's principal job for the day was to install four bottom thrust bearing blocks on the bottom of the screws and install four upper guide bearings. The job was difficult as each had to be measured and drilled and tapped. By 10:00 pm the four bottoms were in but only two tops. 

 Bill took on the job of mounting the three 20 ft steaming bay tracks on the poles and drilling and installing all the bolts to level them off. By 9:30 both ends were installed with hangers but more are to be added for extra strength. He then cut up the steel for two unloading lift extensions to go to vehicles. 

Peter took on the job of replacing the loading spur track from the driveway to the nature trail and that was accomplished using a pre existing section that needed modification. 

Richard hauled rock for the fill on the loading spur and also placed additional concrete pieces brought in from the upper parking area along the embankment wall. Some dead trees were removed and he helped Bill carry the steam bay tracks.

Dwight completed the temp "Y" switch with points and then prepared supplies for the next "Y" that needs to be built. He measured the whole area again to determine the angles needed.

Thursday Bill ordered the chain for the lift. After work he removed the end lift channels for the lift table and Barry picked them up for drilling. Bill hauled another six loads of rock for the loading spur and filled up the large file between the retaining walls. When Barry came back with the lift pieces drilled he and Bill carried an old section of rail from Lightning Jct. and it looked like it would fit the missing rail on the loading spur. Bill cut up two six foot 2 x 6's for the lift bridge and commenced installing the track on the loading spur until 9:30 when the light failed and now needs about 30 minutes work to complete. Len came over and with our portable light mounted the remaining two top bearings on the lift section.

Friday Aug 15 Bill picked up key stock for the sprockets and 30 feet of chain. Len came over after work and replaced any missing ties on the loading spur and nailed the ties on to the lift out bridge section. It will now be possible to get equipment off the railway for the meet at Red River on Saturday.

Saturday Bill got the trailer down to the loading area. He deco paged one side of nine mile post signs and put cross bucks on one post. About six guests came from the meet at Red River and they were given a ride. Bill completed the work on the nature trail lift bridge and built a ten foot temporary bridge to go from the trailer to the loading spur. Richard with the help of Mathew brought in the last of the rock for the loading spur and added some steel bars to the embankment shoring. The repaired two sections where new sub-road-bed had settled. Richard also provided rides for three groups of casual riders. Norm re-routed the power line at the steaming bay and installed the boxes along with a switch box and a flood light box using outdoor receptacles, Bill hooked in the two duplex receptacles so we have a pair of circuits available at the steaming bay area. Gil drilled out four more centre brackets for the steaming bay tracks and bolted them in. Fred laboured with the steel cleaning wheel taking rust off the centre steaming bay so it is ready to paint. Dwight completed construction on the second "Y" switch. Carmelina did a clean up job in the station area in preparation for the meet. At about 3:15 several of the members assisted in loading 3001, the operators car, two gondolas and the caboose into the trailer for the trip to the Red River Live Steam Club. We ran trains there until after dark. About 15 members of the AVR attended the BBQ. A good time was had by all.

Sunday Bill went to Red River after church and ran trains for their public. Several other members, Len, Richard and Rob of the AVR also came on the Sunday. Barry was there both days but he is a long time member of the Red River Valley Railway and acted as one of the hosts making sure that water was available for the steamers and that the loading and unloading process went well. Trains were loaded in the afternoon and once home Bill painted the steaming bay that Fred had sanded Saturday. Bill also connected the light switch and double light so we now have power and light at the steaming bay area. A visitor from B.C. came by and was given a tour of the AVR. 

Monday Aug 18th. Bill laid out the steel for the 45" lift extension and welded it together and ground down the end pickup points. Jim came over to get the box cab parts that need yellow paint and took them home to clean. Bill completed the evening by deco paging the remaining number signs.

Tuesday Aug 19th., Bill unloaded #3001, a riding car, two gondolas and the caboose from the trailer using the temp ramp to the new loading spur. The trailer had to be repositioned four times to line up with all four tracks. Bill hopes that in the future such unloading will be simplified with the new lift. Once the unloading was complete Rob and Jim came over. Jim took all rust off the last steaming bay track and painted it with primer. Rob attempted to run a wire through the conduit but will need a fish tape. He rearranged the train and put it away. Bill laid out the 18" extension for the lift and welded it together and used the power saw and side grinder to finish it off. 

Wednesday Aug 20th, 2003 was another hot day. Bill started the day when Jim arrived at 8:00 am to get ahead of the heat. They both worked on the steaming bay with Bill drilling out the last of the spacers and fastening them. Jim took the rust off the extension pieces and painted them and also painted the remaining extensions as they arrived. The "A" television news team came and were given an interview by Bill, Len and Jim. Bill took them on the train. Later trips were given by Richard to casual visitors. Rob took on the job of working on the steaming bay with Jim and together they installed all the remaining parts. Richard worked with Matthew and fixed some elevation problems at the west Charleswood switch and west of the new tunnel. Last job was to help Bill set up our big 20' x 10' tent for the meet. Peter and David worked on a switch and made a tie panel and started the siding at Chapman putting down 30 feet of track. Dwight checked out some switches and removed the batteries from 6109. Bill made up four idler brackets, four idler shafts and cut the steel for the battery holder. Len worked on the lift. He installed anti rotation devices on the four Acme nuts and installed the two main lift arms then had the lift table installed. He mounted the four chain gears and installed the four main idler brackets.

Thursday  Bill took the two batteries into Costco for warranty and exchanged them also picking up some food for the meet. In the evening Bill made up the idler bracket next to the motor and welded up the battery holder and ground down the welds. He then welded the main drive sprocket. Jim and Rob arrived and took the train and equipment to Chapman and put down another 30 feet of track. Peter came over to check on progress. Len arrived and he and Bill worked on the lift installing the chain and motor drive and hooked up a temporary wiring connection. Len adjusted the heights of all four screw nuts and Len sat on the lift as Bill ran the motor up and down. Bill then applied gear oil to both screws and chains and then Len ran Bill up the lift to the six foot mark. With satisfaction the two pushed the lift from the station back to the turn circle. Some fine tuning still needs to be done but the unit works. Len and Bill worked till midnight.

Friday Peter and Jim came to the AVR to finish laying the track at Chapman and completed the siding by afternoon. In the evening Len, Bill and Rob worked on the lift and wiring for the coach lamps. Len drilled out the holes for the lift extensions and cut a pin from material that Bill found. Rob and Bill pulled a wire through the conduit under the steaming bay.

Saturday Bill made a chain for the pin so it could be fastened to the lift. He ground out some steel on the extensions to allow for flange clearance. To test the lift he put #202 on the centre track along with its riding car and took a picture of the event. Richard arrived and took on the job of cleaning up. Surplus wood was stored off the turn circle, the dining tables were taken out of the car barn and sent to the upper storage building. Bill welded one leg of a dining table that had broken. Matthew arrived and helped Richard for several hours. Richard filled the attic of the car barn with misc. materials to make room in the car barn for visiting equipment. The old ramp was stored away and a landing was made for the storage building door. Bill spent the afternoon working on the track water supply system and installed a 100' hose with winder and valves at Chapman and Paterson so locomotives can take on water. Bill replaced four other valves on the system. It was discovered that a nail had been driven through the pipe near the new diamond and this was repaired by Andrei. Fred and Peter spent the first part of the afternoon fixing track work around the cut off areas and on down the line to the north. Several groups of visitors arrived and were given rides. Jim spent several hours building five track panels to be used at Winch. Rob and Dwight installed the new batteries in 6109. Dwight installed the points in the switches at Chapman that can now be run using our reversing springs. He also re-installed the switch lever at West Charleswood.  He put one point in each of the switches for Winch. Peter and Rob finished the day by installing the south switch at Winch. Dwight completed his day by creosoting the switch for Charleswood. Bill demonstrated the new lift several times by first changing #202 to the west track and then putting it on the loading spur. The 18" extension was also tested. 

Sunday Peter, Norm and Nance and the two boys installed the second switch at Winch and laid about 50% of the siding. Len found a winch controller at Princess Auto and he and Bill installed it on the lift and more testing was done by hoisting #6109 to the centre bay where Bill adjusted the brakes and checked the traction motors on the loco.  

Monday Peter and Rob continued the siding at Winch adding about 20 feet to the north end. Bill replaced the coach lamp and wiring that had been moved when the pad was excavated. He installed a duplex box for additional power. He then put all three cross bucks together and the nine mile posts. ten posts were given Varathane coating while two posts are only half done.

Bill completed the cross bucks before going to work. During the day he picked up some chain. Peter and Rob completed the siding at Winch while Jim made up two more tie panels. In the evening Bill cut grass around the station, on the half mile nature trail and in the upper parking area. Rob installed chains on both ends of the lift and on each steaming bay to be used as car stops. 

Wednesday Bill did some weed eating around the station and cleaned out the pools. Dwight and Matthew came and planted the "Y" switch and tied it in to the new track. Bill dug up the leaky water pipe that a nail had been driven into. Len came and installed two guide plates to line up the lift to the loading spur. After he helped Dwight. Bill went out on the line with 3001 and planted the last nine mile posts and three crossing signs. Due to a big thunder storm we shut down operations early.

Thursday Bill picked up most of the food for the weekend meet. Back at the station the meat sauce for Sunday was prepared and refrigerated. Dwight came and cut and fitted all the rails for the tie in to the old line.

Friday Bill prepared the macaroni and tuna salad and a jelly mould plus prepared the cut up food for the BBQ. He went and picked up more beverages. Dwight completed the tie in to the old line and tested it. Rob fixed the water leak at west Charleswood. Bill completed the wiring at the loading spur to send power to the coach lamps. Peter with some help from Rob levelled the new siding at Winch. Dwight installed the points at Winch and all sidings were set to right hand running. On inspection it was found that the water line east of Creosote Crossing was leaking. Bill dug several exploratory holes and felt it was half way between the diamond and the level crossing but this was not a connection point. Norm arrived with the family and he dug to the connection under the diamond and ruled it out. Bill and Rob dug at the mid point first suspected and a crack was found. Rob and Norm repaired it while Peter went for more hose clamps. At six Bill started cooking food for the 16 people in attendance. Near dark we got 3001 and 202 out and set up the first double opposing operation on the new line with a meet set for Chapman, Winch then Chapman and back to the station. We all enjoyed it so much we had a meet at Amur Glen, Ash Grove, Amur Glen. After several minutes of conversation in the station we did a double run in the dark on both lines with a total of 7 meets including one at Charleswood. We look forward to having all the signals in so we can do multiple trains in opposite directions.

Saturday the members gathered for pancakes and sausage for breakfast then made up one very long train with both F-7's back to back and took it around the whole main line stopping at Paterson for a photo opportunity. We had lunch of soup and sandwich and then set out cars all over the railway. Ed made up a card order system and the members and guests spent most of the afternoon switching cars from area to area interspersed by a few passenger trains for visitors. The challenge of switching the various siding was great fun. Super was chicken fingers, fried rice, vegetables, tossed salad, macaroni and tuna salad, jellied salad, cookies and water melon. After supper the group ran several two directional trains using the sidings for meets then retired to the station for a slide show on the 8' by 8' screen of part of the trip to Train Mountain. After that another double trip was taken in the dark. During the fun Dwight spent time updating some switch points and Len cut carpet for new car rugs, put in three sets of guide lugs for the lift and a centring bolt.

Sunday a group of members met at the station at 9:00 am for bacon and eggs breakfast. Len and Bill went off to church returning at noon. Rob got the trains out while Bill made soup and put food out for lunch. The public open house started at 1:00 pm and we had a steady and enthusiastic group of visitors until 5:00 pm. Part of the time we needed three trains to keep up.  C.K.Y. TV came by and we made the evening news. At 5:00 pm the members started to make up the dinner train. We ran 3001 and 6109 with seating for eight on each train. It took three trains to feed all the attendees. Menu was spaghetti and meat sauce with grated cheese, macaroni and tuna salad, a large tossed salad, jellies salad, ice cream, blueberry and cherry pie plus beverages, win and beer. we stopped the train as it passed through the station to allow time for seconds. After supper cleanup a group did multiple opposing runs in the dark. Crowning trip was a triple meet on both lines.

Monday Labour Day a group of members met at the station at 10:00 am for breakfast and used up all the breakfast food with a feed of bacon, eggs, pancakes and sausage. Bill was kept busy with cooking and helping to determine what needed to be cleared at Old Fort. Len using his chain saw made short work of anything in the way and increased the size of the flat car load of logs. Dwight continued to install points on switches and working on the signal system. Peter levelled track, Carmelina cleaned up dishes. In the afternoon Richard and Carmelina carried rock and spread it on the siding at Old Fort. Peter supervised the operation. Len and Bill took 6109 to the steaming bay and  for the first time were able to do a minor overhaul of the trucks without stripping the whole top off the locomotive and turning it on its side. On the steaming bay the wheels were all tightened as Bill had detected some looseness the previous weekend. Bill had also detected a broken link on one of the brake pistons. Len fabricated a new one and it was installed without taking the truck off the locomotive but simply by lifting the frame about 6 inches off the truck. The whole operation was done in three hours where in the past it might take twelve hours. Peter surveyed the possable location for a long spur at Old Fort and all agreed with the location.

Wednesday Bill arrived about noon and repaired the table saw with a new drive cable and then cut up enough wood for three level crossings. Peter and Ed did a level survey of the sub-road-bed at Old Fort and the area east of the station. Jim helped Bill route out the screw slots for wood for two of the crossings. Jim and Bill took 3001 to Amur Glen to fetch old tie panels with double spaced ties to be re-built into standard track as we are now short of ties. Seventeen section with new ties and three sections with old ties. Peter and Ed started making new panels and later Jim helped and together they made up five sections. Bill went out and installed two level crossings at Paterson and at the crossing north of mile 25. Dwight worked on the signal system and studied the requirement for the spur switch at Old Fort. Bill routed out the wood for a third level crossing west of mile 21.

Thursday Bill talked with Cliff about the Pacific and it looks like the last two weeks in October for its arrival. Jim built four track panels. Bill started to install the level crossing at mile 21 and then did a two hour interview with CKY for a documentary on Manitoba views. 

Friday Bill completed the building of the level crossing west of mile 21. Jim cut or found the needed ties for the left hand #6 switch at Old Fort.

Saturday Bill went shopping for supplies and purchased the following. A role of 3/4" poly pipe, an assortment of hose fittings, 250' of electrical wire and seven 2 x 4's. Back at the AVR he dismantled our third picnic table and cut up wood for two lets of new legs and one new seat. Gil took the task of repairing table #2 that needed its legs widened to make it more stable. Bill cut two new base plates for the legs. Gil re-assembled the table and Bill re-built the third table and wire brushed it for painting. Richard dug a trench from the nearest track with water too the steaming bay area and he teed in the line and brought water to the steaming bay area. Once tested the trench was backfilled and a hose was set up at the area. Fred took all the old tie panels apart and then helped Peter do some realigned the curvature at Old Fort. Dwight  built the spur switch for Old Fort. Carmelina cleaned up the station. At 3:00 pm John Hugie arrived with his second Alan 10 wheeler and unloaded using the new lift and steamed it up. Jim our steam officer came over to inspect the locomotive. After some adjusting John took it out for its maiden trip. More adjusting was done and Bill took it out for the first lap on the new track. Later John's son took it and John's friend Lloyd from Tisdale. Needless to say once the steamer arrived other work on the AVR slowed down. 

Sunday John arrived at 8:30 am and the locomotive was fired up. Bill took the first trip on the line followed by Jim and other members. At 1:00 pm the loco was re-loaded and departed for the trip back to Tisdale.

Monday Bill painted one complete picnic table, touched up the table that Gil repaired and painted the top of two benches. William and Peter dropped by. Whit will be coming this Saturday with his steamer. Bill started printing Nutty Reports.

Wednesday Bill repaired eight trail lights. He laid out 250 feet of track side power line for the signal system and Christmas lights. Richard came and helped Bill locate and repair a water leak in front of Charleswood station. They then put out another 200 feet of power line all the way to the west diamond. Richard and Bill re-tied a leaning tree at Ghosty Hollow. Peter got out the train and the three took out all tie panels to Old Fort and laid them out. As the rain had started all equipment was put away. Bill continued to print current Nutty Reports and then printed one copy of all previous issues to be put in a ring binder for the station. Dwight came after work and continued to work on the Old Fort spur switch. Bill mailed some of the Nutty Reports. The balance will be available in the station for members.

Thursday Bill repaired 7 trail lights behind the station. He also replaced a defective transformer and got three additional lights working by running the wires to them. He re-lamped the coach lamps down the road and purchased the groceries for the Saturday night member's BBQ.

Saturday Sept. 13, 2003 sets new milestone on the AVR as we where visited by a great Pacific # 2856 which became the first visiting steam engine to use our new lift and steaming bay facility. The Pacific was from Iowa and with it came Whit Johnson, Jack Anderson, JJ Anderson and Dick Johnson. The Pacific also became the first steam engine to participate in a public open house on the AVR and was well received by the 371 visitor rides that were given. After the run the members and guests gathered for a BBQ followed by two directional running on the whole railway. First 2856 and 3001 had meets at all the sidings and later where joined by 202 and 6109 with four trains running in opposite directions. Alas at 11:00 pm the need to re-load and head home stopped the night runs. While 2856 and cars were re-loaded all other equipment was put away. We look forward to a future visit from 2856 when she will be joined by our own 2336 and others.

In the morning 6109 developed a grinding noise in its #2 traction motor and derailed when it seized up. Later in the day Bill and Len had 202 take 6109 to a steaming bay and the traction motor was dropped out and found that the main pinion gear had stripped and the holding bearing had seized. A new traction motor and gear box was installed and the locomotive returned to active duty. The hanger bearing was repaired but the gear box will need a new pinion and main gear before becoming a spare assembly. Again the steaming bay saved hours of work for