| Waterloo Central Railway | |
|---|---|
| Waterloo Central Railway equipment parked at the station. | |
| Locale | Ontario |
| Terminus | Waterloo St. Jacobs |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Canadian National Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Track owned by the Region of Waterloo |
| Operated by | Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | (?) |
| Closed | 1997 (?) |
| Preservation history | |
| 1997 | Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway commenced operation |
| 1999 | Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway ends operation |
| 2007 | Waterloo Central Railway commenced operation |
| Headquarters | Waterloo |
The Waterloo Central Railway (WCR) is a non-profit organization that is owned and operated by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS). In May 2007, SOLRS received approval from the City of Waterloo to run trains from Waterloo to St Jacobs. The train runs three times a day on Tuesdays (June to August), Thursdays (May to October) and Saturday (April to October).
Contents |
The WCR operates on the former Canadian National Waterloo Spur now owned by the Region of Waterloo, which connects Elmira, Ontario, St. Jacobs and Waterloo to Kitchener, Ontario by rail. Through an agreement with the Region of Waterloo, the WCR operates passenger service in daytime hours, and the Goderich–Exeter Railway operates freight service in evening hours. The WCR also leases space in the City of Waterloo Visitor and Heritage Information Centre which was formerly owned by the Waterloo-St. Jacobs Railway
From June 2007 to December 2007 the train operated three times a day on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday.
The 2007 season operated Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays beginning in Waterloo at the station at 10 Father David Bauer Drive departing at 10am, noon and 2pm with stops at the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market (at the back beside the stockyards) and the Village of St. Jacobs (the corner of Cedar and Isabella Street).
The 2008 season began April 5, 2008 with service extended to Elmira for the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. Regular operations resumed with Saturday service April 19. Tuesday and Thursday service ran from May to September.
The 2009 season began with service to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. Saturday service to St. Jacobs and the St. Jacobs Market District began April 11. Thursday service began May 7. Tuesday service begins June 16.
The completion of the restoration and service shop allowed for the reactivation of the restoration programme. Ex. ETR #9 was moved under cover for the first time since it arrived from St. Thomas. Ex. CN 79482 caboose is under active restoration. Ex. CNR 50845 Burro Crane and steam locomotive #124 are also in St. Jacobs. Other rolling stock will be returned to service as time, money and resources become available.
The Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS) is the parent organization that operates the Waterloo Central Railway. SOLRS became a registered Canadian charity in 1988 and maintains that status today. The mandate of SOLRS is to preserve, to restore and to operate vintage railway equipment for the education and enjoyment of the public and to present the cultural heritage in a new and more meaningful way to generations past, present and future.
SOLRS operates one active engine #1556, a GE 70 ton locomotive built in 1950 for the PGE as 556. After a complete restoration, SOLRS operated former Essex Terminal Railway steam locomotive Number 9, a 0-6-0 switcher built in 1923 at MLW. Number 9 is currently out of service for a full boiler inspection and bearing work. SOLRS acquired #1518, a GE 95 ton locomotive built in 1956. The engine was donated by Praxair Inc. of Tonawanda, New York. It is undergoing preventative maintenance and awaiting a full restoration.
SOLRS has a variety of heritage cars in active service and others that await restoration. When SOLRS takes extended tours, they also bring a baggage car, two air-dump hopper cars, two boxcars and tanker with them.
In 2008 SOLRS made public plans erect a restoration shop in the Village of St. Jacobs. The foundation was poured in July 2009 and construction was completed in mid 2010.
|
||||||||