Canada’s oldest operating steam locomotive in desperate need of repairs
Posted July 19, 2024 4:00 pm.
Last Updated July 20, 2024 10:53 am.
While you normally can’t stand on the tracks in front of a train, steam locomotive number 3, which was built in 1882 has been halted due to a need for major repairs, with Prairie Dog Central reaching out for help to get this significant piece of history back on the tracks.
The railway currently runs summer rides between Rosser and Grosse Isle and was first built in Scotland in 1882.
It was then transferred to the Canadian Pacific Railway service in Ontario and British Columbia, and before a few more stops, it made its way into the hands of the Prairie Dog Central.
“The first trip we made was July 1st, 1970, with then Prime Minster Pierre Elliot Trudeau and members of Manitoba Legislature to lower Fort Garry as part of the Manitoba Centennial,” explained Paul Newsome, the general manager of the Vintage Locomotive Society.
“This is a piece of Canadian history right here in Winnipeg.”
The society says No.3 is the oldest operating steam locomotive in Canada, and was active in what’s now known as the Forks. Photos show three crew members including Paul working to prepare the train for an excursion with what now is the CityTV building behind them.
“We’d be down there every Saturday, cleaning windows, washing floors, loading coal, whipping the engine,” said Newsome.
But now this piece of history needs the community to step up and help get this train back on its tracks.
A routine inspection found it could need up to $250,000 in repairs in order to be running by next summer. The society says the pandemic led to significant financial loss already, from shutting down for two years.
“We lost all the revenue that would come from operating the train and it also impacted our freight division Prairie Rail Solutions, which quite frankly normally carries the weight and the burden of all the track maintenance, the locomotive maintenance, the diesel engines,” said George Kurowski, a supervisor at Steam Locomotive Maintenance.
The organization is trying to raise funds through a raffle and GoFundMe page and is hoping for a helping hand, as if they don’t reach their goal, the repairs will risk not meeting expectations and safety standards. For now, the railway will continue using a vintage diesel engine to keep weekly excursions on schedule.
