Regular trips are every Saturday, Sunday and Holiday Monday from May through September, and last almost four hours with one stop in the rural community of Grosse Isle. Special dinner excursions occur during the season, as well as the Howlin' Halloween Express Trains in October. Details of the operations can be found by reviewing the schedules.[1] Private Charters, School Programs and Engineer for a Day are also available.[2]
History
Initiated in 1970 by The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc., the first operations were in July, 1970. From 1970–1974, the train operated out of Charleswood on the now-abandoned Canadian National Cabot Subdivision. From 1975 to 1996 the train operated out of St. James, immediately west of Polo Park on a now abandoned Canadian National Railways line.
In 1999 the station, now a Federal Heritage Site, was moved to its present location at Inkster Junction in Rosser.[3] The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc. purchased the former Oak Point Subdivision from Canadian National Railways in 1999. Originally constructed between 1905 and 1910 by Mackenzie & Mann for the Canadian Northern Railway, it became part of the cross-Canada Canadian National Railways system in 1923.
The subdivision is connected to Canadian Pacific Railway’s east-west main line and the portion of the former subdivision used by the Prairie Dog Central extends to about 2 miles (3.2km) north of Warren. The remainder of the original line has now been abandoned.
Locomotives and rolling stock
Locomotive No. 3 is a 4-4-0 built in 1882 by Dübs and Company in Glasgow, Scotland, for the Canadian Pacific Railway, and later for the City of Winnipeg Hydro. From 2001 to 2009, it underwent a complete frame-off overhaul, including the manufacture of a new boiler. No. 3 is the oldest operating steam locomotive in Canada.
Locomotive 1685[4] is also an EMD GP9 diesel locomotive. It was built for the Midland Railway Company of Manitoba by General Motors at their Electromotive Division plant in London, Ontario. Completed in March 1957 with builders number A1091, it was sent directly to Winnipeg to replace Midland Railway Engine Number 1. 1685 served all of its time out of Winnipeg, and only went to the U.S. for heavy maintenance. Locally, 1685 switched in and around Winnipeg on the Midland trackage which served the fruit warehouses while they were serviced by rail. During the years that 1685 ventured beyond Winnipeg, it regularly traveled to Emerson on the daily freight until that was discontinued. At times it assisted with the former Great Northern passenger train which ran between Minneapolis and Winnipeg. As built, 1685 originally had a steam generator for that purpose. 1685 was not substantially modified over the years. Other than carrying the Burlington Northern paint scheme when BN took over the Midland, and then again when she became BNSF 1685 in 1999, the only major modification was the removal of the steam generator. According to motive power rosters, 1685 was the last GP-9 owned by BNSF.
A boiler used by the Prairie Dog Central Railway
Coach 103[5] was built in 1908 by the Pullman Company of Chicago, Illinois, for the Keweenaw Central Railway of Calumet, Michigan. Ceasing operations a few years later it was purchased by the Winnipeg Light and Power Co. in 1920. It has remained the property of that organization, its successor City of Winnipeg Hydro (now Manitoba Hydro) and is leased to The Vintage Locomotive Society for use with the Prairie Dog Central Railway.
A "Combination Coach" has an area intended for baggage and the remainder is equipped with passenger seats. The baggage area is used for the train crew, and to accommodate special equipment required for operation.
This coach is always located immediately behind the locomotive in the train because Canadian federal operating regulations require that there be a buffer between a steam engine/tender and passenger area. The baggage compartment area satisfies this regulation.
It has been completely restored to its original condition featuring oak paneling, opaque vent windows, pot bellied stove, and lavatory.
A coach of this type was often used in mixed trains along with boxcars serving the freight and transportation needs of prairie villages. Coach 103 has a maximum seating capacity of 36 passengers and has been named "Gordon Younger" in honor of a founding member of The Vintage Locomotive Society Inc.
This coach has been fully restored and features oak and mahogany panel interior, leaded windows, “pinch gas” light fixtures suspended from the ceiling, separate men's and women's lavatories, a coal stove and a smoking compartment.
Built in 1901 by the Barney and Smith Car Company of Dayton, Ohio, for the Canadian Northern Railway, Coach 105 is the oldest of the Prairie Dog Central Railway’s passenger equipment. It has been fully restored and features an arched interior clerestory roof, inlaid mahogany paneling, a distinctive smoking compartment, separate men's and women's lavatories, and a pot bellied coal stove.
Coach 106 was constructed in 1913 by the Canadian Pacific Railway at Angus Shops, Quebec. The Vintage Locomotive Society acquired it from the GWWD in 1969 and placed it into service in 1974. This wooden coach features mahogany paneling with oak accessories, a continuous brass rack above the seats, original stained glass in the vent windows and slider window blinds.
Built in 1911 by the Canadian Pacific Railway at Angus Shops, Quebec, Coach 107 was sold to the Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway (GWWD) in 1956, and became the property of the Vintage Locomotive Society Inc. in 1970 through an equipment trade with the GWWD and was placed in service in 1972.
Featuring mahogany and oak paneling, suspended “pinch gas” lamps, brass match striker plates at every seat, separate men's and women's lavatories and a pot bellied coal stove, it is always the last coach primarily because it has a full width enclosed vestibule with windows looking back on the track. This area is useful for the Conductor and Trainman when the train is being operated in reverse as it permits a vantage point for safe backward movement under their control and in communication with the Locomotive Engineer.
The 2011 schedule[6] lists three locomotives in use.[needs update]
The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (KWVR) is a 5-mile-long (8 km) heritage railway in the Worth Valley, West Yorkshire, England, which runs from Keighley to Oxenhope. It connects to the National Rail network at Keighley railway station.
Brake van and guard's van are terms used mainly in the UK, Ireland, Australia and India for a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake which can be applied by the guard. The equivalent North American term is caboose, but a British brake van and a caboose are very different in appearance, because the former usually has only four wheels, while the latter usually has bogies. German railways employed brakeman's cabins combined into other cars.
A passenger railroad car or passenger car, also called a passenger carriage, passenger coach, or passenger bogie is a railroad car that is designed to carry passengers. The term passenger car can also be associated with a sleeping car, a baggage car, a dining car, railway post office and prisoner transport cars.
The EMD GP9 is a four-axle diesel-electric locomotive built by General Motors' Electro-Motive Division between 1954 and 1959. The GP9 succeeded the GP7 as the second model of EMD's General Purpose (GP) line, incorporating a new sixteen-cylinder engine which generated 1,750 horsepower (1.30 MW). This locomotive type was offered both with and without control cabs; locomotives built without control cabs were called GP9B locomotives.
The Ghost Town & Calico Railway is a 3 ft narrow-gauge heritage railroad and amusement park attraction within Knott's Berry Farm, an amusement park located in Buena Park, California.
The York–Durham Heritage Railway was a heritage railway in both the York Region and the Durham Region of Ontario, Canada, north of Toronto.
The Clarkdale Arizona Central Railroad is an Arizona short-line railroad that operates from a connection with the BNSF Railway at Drake, Arizona. The AZCR runs 37.8 miles (60.8 km) from Drake to Clarkdale, Arizona. An excursion train also runs on the line through Verde Canyon and is operated by the same owners under the Verde Canyon Railroad. The AZCR is owned by David L. Durbano.
A steam generator is a type of boiler used to produce steam for climate control and potable water heating in railroad passenger cars. The output of a railroad steam generator is low pressure, saturated steam that is passed through a system of pipes and conduits throughout the length of the train.
The Railway Enthusiasts Society Incorporated is a New Zealand railway enthusiast society formed on 17 July 1958. RES formed the Glenbrook Vintage Railway (GVR) in 1968, with GVR now forming a separate charitable trust.
The Monticello Railway Museum is a non-profit railroad museum located in Monticello, Illinois, about 18 miles west of Champaign, IL. It is home to over 100 pieces of railroad equipment, including several restored diesel locomotives and cars.
The Central Manitoba Railway is a Canadian shortline railway operating in the province of Manitoba.
The Alberta Railway Museum (ARM) is a railway museum located in the north end of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It houses a collection of railway equipment and buildings and has locomotives from both the Canadian National Railways (CNR) and Northern Alberta Railways (NAR).
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line West Sussex and East Sussex in England.
Canadian Pacific 1293 is a class "G5d" 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in June 1948 by the Canadian Locomotive Company for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Built for passenger service, 1293 served an eight-year career until being replaced by diesel locomotives where it was then retired in 1959. Purchased in 1964 by F. Nelson Blount for use at his Steamtown site in Bellows Falls, Vermont, 1293 was easily restored to operation for hauling fan trips for the general public. 1293 was later sold to the Ohio Central Railroad in 1996 for tourist train service. Today, the locomotive is out on display at the Age of Steam Roundhouse in Sugarcreek, Ohio.
The Interessengemeinschaft 3-Seenbahn e.V. is a German heritage railway located in Schluchsee-Seebrugg in Black Forest. It was founded on 13 January 2008 to prevent the demolition of the former freight yard in Seebrugg. At certain dates all over the year the volunteers organize and operate vintage train rides on the Three Lakes Railway and on the Höllentalbahn
Canadian Pacific 1238 is a preserved G5c class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built by the Montreal Locomotive Works in 1946. It was purchased by George Hart, who used it for excursion service in the 1960s. It was later sold to Jack Showalter, who operated it on his Allegany Central Railroad from the 1970s to the mid-1990s. In late December 2023, No. 1238 was purchased by the Waterloo Central Railway, and they have plans to restore the locomotive to operating condition.
Canadian Pacific 1286 is a preserved G5d class 4-6-2 "Pacific" type steam locomotive built in 1948 by the Canadian Locomotive Company. It was sold to George Hart, who used it to pull excursion trains in the 1960s. It was eventually sold again to Jack Showalter, who operated it on his Allegany Central Railroad from the early 1970s to the late 1990s. As of 2023, No. 1286 is stored under private ownership at the Prairie Dog Central Railway.
Canadian Pacific 1201 is a 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive. Built by the Canadian Pacific Railway's Angus shops in Montreal, Quebec, in 1944, No. 1201 was used to pull passenger trains across Ontario and Quebec. After the Canadian Pacific removed the locomotive from service, the railway put the No. 1201 in storage at the Angus shops yard, and it was donated to the Canada Science and Technology Museum six years later. In 1973, No. 1201 was removed from the museum to be restored to operating condition. Subsequently, No. 1201 pulled a variety of excursion trains and participated in a variety of special events, such as the Canadian Pacific centennial of 1985 and the 1986 Steam Exposition. As of 2023, No. 1201 is stored out of service at the Canada Science and Technology Museum in Ottawa. It is the oldest survivor of the Canadian Pacific's G5 class locomotives, and the last remaining locomotive of two prototypes of the class to be preserved.
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