Halton County Radial Railway

Sir Adam Beck Centre upgrades complete!

2011-04-04T11:29:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy winter, but a number of upgrades in the SAB building are now complete. A new centre walkway was installed, along with additional lighting. A viewing platform has been constructed, and offers a unique vantage point for photos. A number of cars have been rearranged to better display them, and there are new vehicles on display. The rear wall of the building waqs partially removed to integrate it into the existing display building allowing for a much broader viewing experience. The rapid transit cars are in the process of being readied for access by visitors - Stairs, platforms & lighting has been installed. Once we get power to the vehicles interior lights, this area will be opened to the public as well. Come out and see all the improvements!

Sir Adam Beck Centre Open!

2010-11-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

The building officially opened on September 11, 2010. While a lot of work remains to complete all of the little details, the building is open to the public, and fulfilling its intended function. With constrction complete, updates will be infrequent, but I'd like to encourage you to come out and see the building for yourself.

Official Opening

2010-09-09T11:49:00.001-04:00

Join us this Saturday, Sept. 11 at 1:00 p.m. for the official opening of the Sir Adam Beck Centre!

Master of Ceremonies:

Judi Cohen - Vice-President - Transportation, SNC Lavalin

Speakers include:

Mayor Gordon Krantz, Mayor of the Town of Milton
Michael Roschlau, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Urban Transit Association
Jan Mowbray, Milton Ward 3 Councillor
Tom Twigge-Molecey, General Manager of the Halton County Radial Railway
Jim Borland, President of the Ontario Electric Railway Historical Association

A slideshow of the construction, displays and light refreshments will also be available. Don't miss out!

Bonus Photos

2009-11-10T08:55:00.007-05:00

Looking South across the east slab.

Looking East along the North side of the barn.

Ballast Hopper and Trackmobile with X-Over switch in the foreground.

Looking West along the north roadway.

Completed tracks 41, 42 & 43.

Construction Update #75

2009-11-10T08:44:00.004-05:00

Track construction was substantially completed on Sunday. Track 42 and 43 had their gauge rail spiked, and track 41 had the line rail spiked, and the gauge rail installed and spiked. Balast was placed on all three tracks to help hold the line, and tracks 41 & 42 were lifted and tamped just east of the barn doors. Ballast was also placed on Track 46 using the backhoe, and track 45 was ballasted using the hopper car and the trackmobile. Concurrent with track construction, the forms were dismantled, and the majority of the wood was salvaged for re-use. Parts of track 37 were lifted and tamped using the air tampers, and the ballast was levelled on the track 46 switch. The area south of Barn 4 was partially graded, and fill was placed against the floor slab. Cobbles were placed between the curb and wall on the north side of the building, and granular A was placed on the roadway north of the curb. Flangeways were cut on track 46, and preparations continue to move cars into the building.

All in all it was a tremendous weekend, and the current phase of the project is substantially complete, 2 weeks ahead of the scheduled completion date published in the August 8 workplan. With the concrete work and track construction complete, we can concentrate on minor deficiencies and cleanup. My sincerest thanks to everyone who has assisted so far. While a lot of work remains to ballast, lift and tamp the yard, and complete the electrical work and parts shelving in the building, we have accomplished the goal of getting the building ready for cars this fall.

Construction Update #74

2009-11-10T08:29:00.003-05:00

The final concrete pour took place Saturday morning. The slabs adjacent to track 45 were poured, along with the slabs in front of the doors on the north side of the building. Unfortunately, the load of concrete was about half a meter short of finishing the last door slab so it will be completed with redi-mix. With the concrete pouring out of the way, attention turned to track construction. Track 45's north rail was spiked inside the building, and ties were laid out for tracks 41, 42 and 43 outside. The line and gauge rail were installed on track 42 and 43 before we ran out of light. The line rail was also set on track 41 in preparation for Sunday. Concurrent with the above, the track 46 and #7 switches had the ballast levelled off, and they were tapmed using the air tampers and a rented compressor.

Construction Update #73

2009-11-10T08:12:00.004-05:00

Friday was another productive day. The forms for the curb and ramp were removed and stockpiled for dismantling. The drainage pipe was installed along the north wall of the building, and the slabs for the north wall doors were formed. The area between the track 41/42 switch and the building was graded in preparation for track construction over the weekend, and the ballast roadway over tracks 44-46 was completed. The devilstrips between tracks 44 & 45, and 45 & 46 were ballasted, and the catchbasin frames were fabricated and installed in preparation for the final concrete pour.

Construction Update #72

2009-11-10T08:04:00.004-05:00

Thursday was another productive day. The curb form was completed first thing in the morning, as was the catchbasin frame for Track 45. The first concrete truck arrived at 0900, and the curb was poured. The second truck arrived at 1030, and the ramp into the parts area was poured, along with the pad between the rails on Track 45. Once the concrete set up, all of the curb forms were stripped to allow for finishing. As well as being a nice cosmetic detail, the curb performs an important stormwater management function - It retains the cobbles which break up the run-off from the roof, and directs the runoff into the drain pipe along the wall, which in turn carries the stormwater away.

Construction Update #71

2009-11-04T10:56:00.003-05:00

The face form for the north curb was constructed and installed last night. Remaining is the "Bullnose" form at the east end which is being built today. Arrangements have been made to have the track crew back this coming weekend, and the track will be completed by Sunday night. Work has been progressing at a feverish pace for the past 3 months solid, and the light at the end of the tunnel is blazing bright. Stay tuned for updates as we work through the last few parts of this phase of the project.

Construction Update #70

2009-11-02T10:28:00.001-05:00

We had another busy weekend, and the final pieces of the puzzle are falling into place. The forms on the north floor slab were stripped, and flipped over to form the back of the curf. Face forms for the curb will be borrowed from a curb contractor, and the curb will be poured in the next week or so. Track 45 was lifted and blocked through the doorway, and the slab forms were installed along with the track drain pipe. The ramp leading into the parts area was also formed, and is ready to pour. The balance of the slabs will be poured toward the end of this week.

Prep work for track construction was also done, and there is 270 feet left to construct. It is planned to complete this work this coming weekend.

Funds for track material are atill needed - please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #69

2009-10-29T10:53:00.003-04:00

The BIG POUR was undertaken today. 61 cubic meters of concrete were placed between 0800 and 1430, representing 8 truckloads. The trucks arrived every 45 minutes like clockwork, and each truck took 35-40 minutes to unload. The trucks were backed into the building, and the parts slab was poured from west to east. The concrete was leveled and finished continuously. We had a great turnout, and there were enough hands for all the tools. We completed finishing around 1645, and the initials of everyone who assisted with all the pours to date were carved in the floor at 1700. This completes the bulk of the concrete work with 116 cubic meters placed so far. My sincerest thanks to everyone who came out to help.

Construction Update #68

2009-10-29T10:50:00.002-04:00

Ballast was dumped on the #7 switch and the lead in preparation for more surfacing. In addition, the damaged concrete from last weeks pour was jackhammered out in preparation for re-finishing the two slabs on Track 41 & 42. Prep work for "The Big Pour" was also done. All the pieces are slowly falling into place!

Funds to complete 5the last 3 tracks are still needed - Please contribute if you can. Every $20 makes a difference.

MAJOR MILESTONE!

2009-10-29T10:46:00.004-04:00

At 1655 on Tuesday October 27, 2009, the first railcar entered the building on Track 45. Granted it was our CP parts storage boxcar, but the significance of the milestone should not be underestimated. After dumping ballast on the lead, the ballast hopper was placed inside on Track 44. Within the next 6 weeks, the building will be full of cars.

Construction Update #67

2009-10-27T11:42:00.002-04:00

Trackwork continued at a feverish pace, helped along by better weather. Track 46 was completed outside, and connected to the building. Shortly thereafter, track 45 was completed outside and connected to the building. Track 45 was also completed inside. The missing section of track 44 was also built and connected to the building. By the end of the day, tracks 44, 45 & 46 were completed. Due to the weather delays, tracks 41-43 have yet to be connected, but the missing sections on each track are 92 feet long - this represents another day of work to finish. Concurrently with the trackwork, the #46 switch was lifted and blocked, and the floor forms on the north wall were completed. If the weather co-operates, the concrete will be poured this coming week, and the trackwork will be completed shortly thereafter.

Construction Update #66

2009-10-27T11:37:00.001-04:00

Saturday was another good day for track construction. Track 46 was laid out outside, and the crossover switch was built. Unfortunately, rain delayed the work again, and production suffered somewhat. By the end of the day, one rail on track 46 was connected to the building - The building was connected to the mainline for the first time. The Ballast car was loaded with ballast for the lead & ladder switches, and material was also prepared for the balance of the trackwork.

Construction Update #65

2009-10-27T11:35:00.001-04:00

Trackwork Weekend #2 commenced Friday. Track 45 was laid out, and 2/3 built inside the building, and track 44 was gauged, spiked, and realigned outside. Unfortunately, heavy rain slowed production, but the work proceeded well under the circumstances. Once again, our hired "Professional Trackmen" did a great job.

Construction Update #64

2009-10-27T11:33:00.000-04:00

Concrete pour #3 was completed on Wednesday October 21. The east pad was poured between the rails on tracks 41-44 and 46. Concurrent with the pour, the drain was installed on track 46, and the catchbasin frames and risers were installed on Tracks 41-44 & 46. Unfortunately, the pour was hindered by the weather - the forecasted "Late afternoon showers" actually arrived as a monsoon as the concrete was being placed. As a result, some reqork will be required on tracks 41 & 42.

Construction Update #63

2009-10-14T19:21:00.002-04:00

Concrete work continues to progress. The forms were stripped from the south wall over the weekend, and are ready for re-installation on the north wall. The forms for the east slab on tracks 41-44 were completed, as was the slab south of track 46. The devilstrips between tracks 41 & 42, 42 & 43, 43 & 44 were poured today as well as the section south of track 46. The east slab is now about 50% done. The sections between the rails will be poured next (The need for access to finish the slab precluded pouring it all at once). Thanks to Dave B. and Chris F. for their assistance with the pour. Photos to come.

Construction Update #62

2009-10-11T20:25:00.002-04:00

The forms for the east slab are about half done, and the track drains are also about half complete. The floor slab forms were stripped from the south wall today, and are ready for re-use on the north wall. The East slab will be poured in sections over the next 2 weeks, and it is hoped to pour the north slab at the end of next week.

Funds for track material are still needed. Please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #61

2009-10-07T21:36:00.003-04:00

The first concrete pour was completed today. We poured the slab between track 46 and the south wall. Notwithstanding a minor "Glitch" with the formwork, the pour went well, and I am pleased with the results. Thanks to everyone who came out to assist - many hands made light work.

Funds are still needed to complete the track in the yard, which is required to get the cars into the barn. Please contribute if you can.

Bonus Photos

2009-09-30T21:35:00.009-04:00

Overview showing tracks 41-44 & 46.

Parts area ready for concrete.

Setting the gauge rail on track 46.

South Wall forms ready for concrete.

Hired Backhoe & operator cribbing ballast from the yard switches.

Construction Uodate #60

2009-09-30T21:32:00.002-04:00

Work on fine grading and packing the ballast & crusher run across the building continued. The area is now ready for forms & concrete.

Funds for track material are still required - Please contribute if you can - This project is now at the 95% complete stage - Lets get it finished!

Construction Update #59

2009-09-28T22:50:00.003-04:00

Sunday was another great day. Tracks 44 and 46 were completed, once again with the assistance of our professional crew. They will return in a month to complete track 45 and the balance of the yard once the concrete work is done. The north parts pad was completed, and track 46 was ballasted, and the south parts pad was graded, packed, and topped uo with crusher run. Ballast and crushed limestone were also placed on the concrete apron area at the east end of track 46, and between tracks 43 and 44.
Work on lifting, lining and tamping the switches continued, and the connecting rod and stand were installed on the #7 switch and the #46 switch.

All in all it was a great weekend, and we accomplished everything we set out to. Thanks to everyone for their hard work. The next step is to pour the concrete walkway and parts slab, as well as the concrete apron on the east end of the building. The light at the end of the tunnel for this project has officially been turned on!

Construction Update #58

2009-09-28T22:47:00.004-04:00

WOW! What a day! Working with our four man professional track crew, we completed tracks 42 and 43. Track 44's ties and plates were laid out, in preparation for spiking on Sunday. Concurrent with the track work, the granular for hte north parts pad was placed, trimmed and compacted. Track 41 was also ballasted, and the ballast pad was placed on Tracks 42 and 43 for the concrete apron. We are indebted to the Ottawa 696 group for all the assistance raking & packing the stone.

At the same time, installation of the switch stands continued, and the 44 switch was jacked and tamped. The pile of ties and rail is shrinking fast!

Construction Update #57

2009-09-28T22:42:00.004-04:00

Work on the track commenced as planned. Our four man professional crew was split up for the first half of the day. Half of the crew worked on the mainline with the hired backhoe, and they changed 57 ties in 4 hours. Impressive considering our previous record was 24 ties in an entire day with a considerably larger crew.

The other half of the crew worked to lay out the ties and rail for Track 41 and track 46. By the end of the day, Track 41 was complete, and the ties, plates and line rail were laid out for track 42. Concurrently, the hired backhoe "Cribbed" all the surplus ballast off the swicthes leading into the yard to enable them to be lifted and lined. All in all it was a great day, and we are on target to complete the planned work with time to spare on Sunday.

Construction Update #56

2009-09-23T22:18:00.002-04:00

A lot of groundwork was laid this week for "Track Weekend #1" which is coming up this weekend. The goal is to have 5 of the tracks completed inside the building. At the same time, we will change 60 ties on the mainline. Beyond the trackwork, the forms for the south floor slab are complete, and concrete can be poured as soon as track 46 is built. The pace of the project will soon reach a feverish pace.

Funds for track materials are still needed. Please contribute if you can. We're in the home stretch here, and every $20 helps.

Construction Update #55

2009-09-17T21:22:00.003-04:00

Today was another productive day. A rented PNR 10-ton was on site to sort & move our tie stockpile. There are over 750 ties on site, of which 550 had plates still installed. PNR's stellar operator, Dan, laid the ties in neat rows and they were methodically stripped. It is worth noting that over 500 of the ties had 8 spikes in them - Needless to say, a clawbar would have taken abour 3 months. To that end, I borrowed a hydraulic spike puller, and PNR generously loaned us a hydraulic power pack to run it - The result was that a spike could be pulled in about 3 seconds with minimal effort beyond the brute force required to carry the spike puller. The ties were all neatly stockpiled after stripping. All the spikes will be reused, and the plates were all sent back to PNR for a credit towards the days operation. Sincere thanks to Ian Smith and Chris Fox for their assistance, and to PNR for loaning us the hydraulic power pack.

Construction Update #54

2009-09-17T21:18:00.003-04:00

Wednesday saw a lot of progress and a couple of milestones. The ballast inside the barn(Which was placed last fall) was fine graded by a contracted dozer and operator. It is now perfectly level, and ready for track. The entire area north of the building was graded, trimmed, and 225 tons of grusher run was placed and graded. The ballast apron east of the building was also fine graded in preparation for track work. Installation of the forms on the south side of the building continued and they should be complete by the end of the week. An inordinate amount of work was accomplished in a single day by a few people, and the project is moving ahead on plan and on schedule.

Construction Update #53

2009-09-14T21:21:00.003-04:00

Momentum is building. Over the weekend, the stockpiled ballast was moved out of the way of track construction, and the subdrainage system was installed. The form material is all on site, and installation of the south floor form will start tomorrow. The ties have been moved into a central stockpile, and they will be sorted and stripped later this week. The contract dozer will be on site Wednesday to fine grade the preballast and the building envelope, and by the end of this week the area will be unrecognizable.

Funds for track materials are still needed - please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #52

2009-09-12T10:23:00.003-04:00

Cleanup of the site is nearly complete. A subdrainage system is being installed, and the stockpiled ballast is being relocated to make room for track construction. The material for the floor forms is on site and installation will commence next week. A contractor has been hired to fine grade the pre-ballast inside the barn as well as the building envelope next week. Track construction will commence on September 25, and will be complete by the end of October. Funds for track materials are still needed - please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #51

2009-08-30T09:00:00.002-04:00

Once again, the project is gaining momentum. Cleanup is ongoing, and difinitive progress will be obvious commencing next week. Cleanup will be complete by September 13, and construction will commence. A schedule and detailed workplan have been prepared and circulated. Funds are still required to complete the tracks - Please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #50

2009-08-06T18:40:00.002-04:00

Cleanup around the building perimeter is ongoing, and a plan is in place to construct all the track and get the floor slabs poured this fall. Construction work will start in September. Check for more frequent updates in the fall.

Funds are still needed to complete the track leading to the building. Please contribute if you can - we're almost at the finish line - every little bit helps.

Fundraising Update #4

2009-07-04T08:13:00.003-04:00

Great News!!!!! We were notified by the Town of Milton that our Grant application in the amount of $35,000 was approved. The funds will be spent on concrete and granular materials to complete the exterior walls down to grade, pour a 2900 SqFt concrete pad for the parts area, entrance slabs at the exterior doors, a walkway along the south side of the building, and a walkway along the east end of the building both inside and out. This work will commence in October.

In preparation, we need to get the tracks built, and funds are required. In addition to funds on hand, $10,000 is required to complete all the tracks inside the building. If we are successful in raising the money, all the tracks and concrete work will be complete by November, at which time we can move cars into the building and it will finally fulfill its purpose. Please contribute if you can.

We would be remiss if we didn't mention a $3,000 cash donation towards the project by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The donation was made as part of an employee matching program to match donations made by Tom Twigge and David Johns.

Fundraising Update #3

2009-05-26T09:50:00.003-04:00

Donations towards the project continue to come in, for which we are most grateful. Additional funds are still required - Please contribute if you can. The following donations have been received SINCE September 16, 2008.

SUPERINTENDENT - Over $25,000

NIL

TRAINMASTER - $5,000 to $24,999

NIL

CONDUCTOR - $1,000 to $4,999
Cooper, Ron
EnCana
Gingrich. J
Hunt, Jim
Johnson, J
Jones, Harold
Skillen, John
Toronto Transportation Society

ENGINEER - $500 to $999

Coleman, Brian
Franks, Glen
Franks, Justin
Heard, Ken
Hunt, Esme
Sandusky, R
Watson, Bill

TRAINMAN - $100 to $499

Alfonson, Ed
Anderson, Richard
Biglow, Barry
Burns, Ron
Dillon, G
Dunn, Juilian
Eckert, Harley
Folkard, Ian
Freyseng, J
Gregorasz, Michael
Herbert, Louis N
Knowles, Jack
Krehel Jr, John P
Members night BBQ
Smatlak, John
Smith, Howard
Steele, John
Stewart, Hazel
Thompson, William
Thomson, Keith
Warwick, Ken

TRAINEE - up to $99

Brown, Douglas
Crawford,Richard
McKernan, E
Thompson, Walter
Twigge-Molecey, Tom
Weare, Robert

Construction Update #49

2009-05-20T17:12:00.002-04:00

Cleanup work around the perimeter of the building continues. We have also submitted our grant application for the concrete walkways and ties. We should hear about the grant outcome by July.

Fundraising continues both to complete the interior, and help with the financing. All contributions are appreciated.

Construction Update #48

2009-04-20T19:59:00.002-04:00

Installation of the roll up doors is now complete. The blown out foam closures on the roof were all repaired, the missing doorjamb was installed, and the construction debris was all finally removed from the site. Cleanup of the area north on the barn is underway. The grant application for the track is nearly ready for submission, and we should know where we stand in July. Fundraising for ties continues - all contributions are welcomed.

Construction Update #47

2009-04-20T19:56:00.002-04:00

Installation of the doors is progressing well and should be complete on the 10th. Final cleanup and installation of the missing mandoor jamb is scheduled for next week.

Construction Update #46

2009-04-05T18:24:00.003-04:00

Fabrication of the roll up doors is now complete and installation is scheduled to start tomorrow. The work should be completed by April 10th. Fundraising for track construction is still ongoing. Please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #45

2009-03-28T18:02:00.002-04:00

Notwithstanding my infrequent updates, the project is still progressing. The purchase order for the track doors was issued a few weeks ago, and the doors are scheduled for installation by the end of next week. With their installation, the building will be substantially enclosed with the exception of the 18" gap between the ground and the bottom of the walls. We will be applying for funding from the Milton Community Fund in April for sufficient concrete to completely enclose the building, and pour slabs for the parts area and walkways.

Funds are still required to build track. As noted previously, 540 ties are needed at $20 each, as well as some machine rentals. Total funds required to build all the track is estimated at $15,800 of which over $2,500 has already been donated. Without money for track, the building cannot be used for its intended function. Please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #44

2009-01-26T13:45:00.003-05:00

As noted in previous posts, we applied for funding to install the track doors, build the tracks, and concrete the perimeter floor in the building. Our application was partially successful, and the Town of Milton Community Fund generously awarded us $20,000 towards the purchase of the overhead doors. The $7,000 for installation will be paid from the general fund. The cheque has been received from the Town, and a PO for the doors will be issued shortly. We are very grateful to the Milton Community Fund for their continued support.

We are now faced with additional fundraising to build track. The rail, plates and OTM are all on hand but we need ties. Relay ties cost $20 each including delivery, and a total of 540 are needed in the building. Unfortunately, without track, the building cannot fulfil its intended function - Please contribute if you can.

Construction Update #43

2008-11-25T08:33:00.003-05:00

But for some minor repairs, the contractor is now complete. The trim around the archives car door was installed as was the balance of the missing bracing along Line 1. Remaining, is one piece of door jamb around the mandoor on Line 9, and final cleanup. Overall, the work was completed 6 weeks late, due in large part to the permit & DC fiasco which delayed the start by nearly 4 weeks. But for the delay in receiving the Roxul for the firewall, they would have been complete 3 weeks ago.

With the third parts construction phase of the project now complete, the pace will change dramatically. In the short term I plan to bring in a small dozer to trim up the preballast and slab pads, and continue to stockpile track material. However, I do not anticipate any noticeable progress beyond that.

As noted previously, we have applied for grant money for the six track doors, the concrete slabs around the building, ties for the track, and concrete for walkways. The pace of completion of the project is entirely dependent on the level of support (if any) that we get through the grant. As always, we are cautiously optimistic, but we have been very fortunate to have many successful applications through the years, and there are a lot of other fiscal demands on the grant program.

Unrelated to the grant work, work has started on fabricated overhead bridges. The bridges open and close automatically, and permit overhead to be installed through an overhead door. We are grateful to the TTC for loaning us one to copy. In addition, we plan to fabricate trolley boards through the winter such that they are available for installation when we have the opportunity. Work is also underway on the electrical layout and design, although any further electrical installation is unlikely in the short term.

With this phase of the project complete, I'd like to express my sincere thanks to everyone who helped out along the way. Specifically, I'd like to thank Jim S. for taking a very active role in checking up on the property, and keeping the financial end of the project in line. Your assistance is very much appreciated.

Construction Update #42

2008-11-24T09:51:00.002-05:00

We're almost there. Installation of the liner panel on the firewall was completed over the weekend, as was installation of the last mandoor. Remaining is one frame member next to the mandoor, and re-installation of the frame braces on Line 1. The contractor should be substantially complete on Monday. We also installed six more overhead lights over the weekend. Unlike the first four, these are temporarily installed with extension cords, and are only in place to facilitate the track work through the winter. They will be relocated and permanently wired in the future. The rate of progress for the balance of the project depends entirely on the outcome of our grant application - roughly two weeks to go until we know where we stand.

Construction Update #41

2008-11-21T10:11:00.004-05:00

Work on the finishing touches is progressing well. The opening for the last mandoor was cut in the wall, and the door and frame will be installed on Friday. About 2/3 of the interior liner panel on the firewall was installed, and should be complete by Saturday.

Construction Update #40

2008-11-20T09:44:00.003-05:00

Work by the contractor resumed on November 15, when the two small roll-up doors were installed. The Roxul was delivered on Monday November 17, and installation was 90% complete by the end of Tuesday. Installation of the liner panel commenced yesterday, and the balance of the firewall and installation of the final mandoor is expected to be complete by the end of the week. There are a few deficiencies to correct, but the contract will be substantially complete in the next few days.

Construction Update #39

2008-11-20T09:41:00.004-05:00

The barn was preballasted as planned over the weekend of November 8-10. Unfortunately, the loader wasn't up to the task of fine grading, so I'm working on a small dozer and roller to trim it up. At the same time, 2,000' of 90lb rail was dragged up from the west field and neatly stockpiled just east of the barn. Tieplates and joint bars were also sorted, and brought up close to the building. We are eagerely awaiting word on our grant application which will dictate how the balance of the project moves forward.

Another Bonus Photo

2008-11-05T09:39:00.004-05:00

Plans are falling into place to get the building preballasted and stockpile all the rail inside in anticipation of track construction through the winter. The work should be complete by the end of the weekend. The contractor will be back on site the week of November 18 to complete the firewall and doors.

Construction Update #38

2008-10-31T07:31:00.002-04:00

There is no actual work to report this week, however things are going on behind the scenes. We received a request for copies of the overall project budget and construction plan for review in conjunction with our grant application. This level of interest leads me to believe that they are seriously considering our application. As noted previously, we should find out one way or another the first week of December.

Construction Update #37

2008-10-28T07:36:00.003-04:00

The crew is offsite for a while until the firewall insulation and doors are delivered. Nothing much will happen for the next week or two until the required material comes in. The plan is to preballast the barn in the next few weeks in anticipation of building track through the winter. Both activities are subject to funding, But I'm hopeful that someone will underwrite the cost of the loader rental for the ballasting work. We are eagerly awaiting word on our request for funding to do the track, doors and floor - We'll know one way or another in another 6 weeks.

Bonus Photo

2008-10-23T15:01:00.003-04:00

The view from the entrance to the yard east of the new building. The three tracks on the right are built to within 100 feet of the building. The three tracks on the left are about 200 feet from the building.

Construction Update #36

2008-10-23T08:00:00.002-04:00

Installation of the cladding is now complete. The west wall (Line 9) was closed in yesterday as planned. Remaining, is installation of closures and trim at the North-West corner and trim around the door into the archives. There is also still one mandoor missing on Line K for which the erector is waiting for the frame to come in.

Construction Update #35

2008-10-22T07:11:00.002-04:00

The majority of the soffit trim and steel closures were installed on Line K. Installation of the cladding on Line 9 continued. I was advised that the cladding will be complete by Wednesday - we'll see. The delivery of the firewall material has been delayed until November 14.

Construction Update #34

2008-10-21T09:00:00.002-04:00

After a few days off, the boys were back at it again yesterday. The soffit closures were installed on Line A, as was the mandoor at the east end of Barn 3. The mandoor was also installed on Line 1 (East End). Installation of the soffitt trim & closures on Line K is underway, and they appear to be saving the installation of the cladding on Line 9 next to the boxcar for last. Please excuse the less frequent updates, but progress is going to be hit & miss for the next couple of weeks until installation of the fire wall can commence.

Construction Update #33

2008-10-17T17:53:00.003-04:00

After a two day hiatus, the boys were back at it today. The soffit trim and closures were installed on Line 1, and the first mandoor was installed on Line K. Installation of the flashing between the new and old roofs was installed, as was half of the cladding on Line 9. About 2 days of work remains to complete the cladding, trim and doors.

Milton Champion Article

2008-10-16T10:00:00.003-04:00

The above article was published in the Milton Champion last week.

Construction Update #32

2008-10-15T09:45:00.003-04:00

The East wall cladding is now substantially complete. Remaining on the East wall (Line 1) is installation of the mandoor, and soffitt closures and trim. Attention will now turn to installation of the west wall (Line 9).

Construction Update #31

2008-10-14T10:12:00.002-04:00

Not much to report today. The crew took an extended Thanksgiving weekend, and the cladding work on Line 1 never got completed last week. The mandoor frame on the end of the archives car adjoining the building was completed over the weekend however. Once the cladding is on line 9, the opening will permit passage from the car into the barn.

The firewall insulation is on backorder, and delivery is expected on or about October 27. Once the cladding on Line 1 and 9 is complete, I expect the crew will demobilize until the insulation arrives. When they come back, new piers will be poured for the roll up door on Line K, and the two roll-up doors for the parts area, and the four mandoors will be installed.

Fundraising continues. Please keep those contributions coming. We are currently investigating the feasibility of monthly debits by the bank to allow for regular planned contributions - Details to follow. The project also got some good press in the Milton Champion last week. I'll publish the article once I get it scanned.

Construction Update #30

2008-10-10T10:16:00.003-04:00

Work on the cladding and trim continues. The East end (Line 1) is now 3/4" closed in, and will be completed by the end of the week.

Construction Update #29

2008-10-09T08:14:00.002-04:00

Work on the cladding on Line 1 commenced with the installation of braces, and trim. Work ground to a halt with the onset of heavy rain mid-morning. Work will resume on Thursday.

Construction Update #28

2008-10-08T07:34:00.002-04:00

The cladding on the north wall (Line K) is now basically complete. Remaining to be installed is the soffit trim, and the trim and framing for the two mandoors. Installation of the the light panel is also compete.

Construction Update #27

2008-10-08T07:28:00.002-04:00

Work on the cladding on Line K continued. The grabirons were also cut off the east end of the Archives car next to the barn to facilitate installation of the cladding on Line 9.

Construction Update #26

2008-10-06T08:04:00.002-04:00

Framing work on Line K continued, and installation of the cladding commenced. The cladding as about 50% installed on the lower portion of Line K. A 3' light panel will be installed above it, with another 3' of steel up to the roof. The light panel should reduce the need for lighting during the day. Fundraising continues, and just under $5,000 was raised over the weekend. Thanks to all contributors. Please keep the donations coming, regardless of the amount - every $20 helps.

Construction Update #25

2008-10-03T12:25:00.002-04:00

Things are starting to come together. The ridge cap was installed on the roof, and but for some missing screws, the roof sheeting is now complete. The grade girt was installed on Line K, as was the door frame for the roll-up door. The framing was installed on Line 9 next to the archives cars with a corresponding door frame. The framing was completed on Line 1 except for the mandoor on the south side. Installation of cladding on the East and North walls will commence shortly.

Construction Update #24

2008-10-02T09:55:00.002-04:00

Work on the East wall (Line 1) framing is progressing well, and should be completed in another day or so. Work on the roof had to be suspended due to continued wet weather. High Bay lighting was installed by museum forces in the middle of the building, which will enable work to continue inside once the walls are fully closed in.

Construction Update #23

2008-10-01T07:57:00.002-04:00

Work on the roof continued, but had to be put on hold due to heavy rain. Attention then turned to the end framing on Line 1. The door frame for the parts area roll-up door is in, and work is underway on the track door frames.

Construction Update #22

2008-09-30T14:23:00.004-04:00

The boys had a busy day as they installed the balance of the roof sheeting on the north half of the roof. All roof sheeting is now installed. Remaining, is installation of the ridge cap, and soffit trim & closures. A detailed inspection revealed that only minimal screws have been installed thus far, and it would appear that a second pass over the whole roof is required to complete the installation.

Construction Update #21

2008-09-29T08:09:00.003-04:00

Work on the roof continues to progress well. About 40% of the roof on the north half of the building has now been installed. Between installing the balance of the sheeting and the ridge panel, there are about two days work to be done to complete the roof. So far, the weather has been excellent throughout construction, but with fall slowly arriving, rain days will become more frequent. The plan is to continue with cladding and framing as the weather permits, and install the firewall on rain days. Donations are still coming in, but your continued support is still needed. We submitted our grant application for the walkway slabs, end doors and ties today. We expect to hear whether our application was successful or not by mid-December.

Construction Update #20

2008-09-26T08:22:00.002-04:00

The south half of the roof is now virtually complete. The concrete for the missing door piers was poured yesterday, and the concrete work is now complete. New anchor bolts were installed on line K to account for a layout error, and the building is now fully secured to the foundations. With the piers complete, the endwall framing on lines 1 (east wall) and K (north wall) can now be completed.

Construction Update #19

2008-09-25T08:48:00.003-04:00

Work on the roof is progressing well, with the south half approximately 60% installed. The piers for the door posts were excavated, and forms installed. Concrete will be poured Thursday or Friday. Overall the project is progressing on time and on budget.

Construction Update #18

2008-09-24T09:28:00.003-04:00

Installation of the roof sheeting is underway on the south half of the building. The contractor is installing the eave trim and closures as they progress westwards. At the current pace, installation of the roof will take another 7 days.

Construction Update #17

2008-09-23T07:24:00.002-04:00

Installation of the exterior cladding & ceramic firestop on line A is complete except for trimming. Attention will now turn to installing the roof sheeting on the south half of the building. This will facilitate installation of the fire rates interior wall during inclement weather if required.

We plan to apply for a grant to install track doors, install concrete walkways around the perimeter of the building (on the inside), and purchase ties to construct the 1080 feet of track inside the barn this coming winter. I have finished assembling all the various quotations, and we'll keep our fingers crossed that the application is successful.

Construction Update #16

2008-09-22T08:47:00.002-04:00

The grade girt on Line A was installed, and installation of the exterior cladding has started. While the building is not insulated, the wall on Line A has to be fire rated due to its proximity to the south property line. The wall will consist of cladding both on the exterior and interior, and the cavity will be filled with Roxul insulation. This expensive precaution is required to protect any future structure on the neighbours property in the event of a fire in the barn.

Construction Update #15

2008-09-18T09:03:00.004-04:00

Work on the small details is underway. The cladding strips along lines A and K were installed, as were the drip strips for the light panel on Line K. Work on trim and flashing will continue and installation of the cladding will commence shortly.

Construction Update #14

2008-09-18T09:03:00.003-04:00

The erection of the structural steel is nearly complete. The wall structure against Barn 3 was installed, as were the balance of the gussets and braces. The roof cladding bundles were set on the roof, and installation of the wall cladding will commence on the south wall in the next couple of days. The missing piers for the door frames should be poured by early next week.

Construction Update #13

2008-09-17T07:45:00.002-04:00

Progress continues to be made on the structure as all of the miscellaneous braces, brackets and cable guys are installed and adjusted. The contractor neglected to pour piers for the door posts on line 1, and around the roll-up door on line K so these need to be installed before they can complete the structural steel.

Fundraising Update #2

2008-09-16T08:03:00.005-04:00

Fundraising is ongoing, and we are extremely grateful for all your generous contributions. Since July 1, just under $50,000 has been donated. This is a tremendous achievement, but we are still well short of our goal. The building fund will be "In the Red" very shortly, and every single dollar donated is a dollar less we have to finance and waste money paying interest on. Please keep your contributions coming.

RECENT DONATIONS - THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
SUPERINTENDENT - Over $25,000
NIL

TRAINMASTER - $5,000 to $24,999
Anonymous
Beer, Sandra
Johns, David & Sherri

CONDUCTOR - $1,000 to $4,999
Gingrich, Jack
Reed, Alex
Twigge-Molecey, Tom

ENGINEER - $500 to $999
Barrett, Dave
Green, Dorothy M
Skillen, John
Watson, William

TRAINMAN - $100 to $499
Bernard, Julian
Seaton, William
Sorensen, Jim
Roebuck, Al
Steele, John
Lubinski, Robert & Tiffany
Anonymous
Anonymous
Jordan, Lionel
Owen, Rick
Smith, Howard
Twigge-Molecey, Chris
Waltenbery, Duane
Wright, Earl
Zeijlstra, Pauline & Ozwald

TRAINEE - Up to $99
Anderson, Burns & Lovonne
Barker, Kevin
Bolce, Paul
James, W.A.
Kelley, John
Ogilvie, John
Stoller, Allan
Keigher, William
Mallion, Godfrey

Construction Update #12

2008-09-15T21:26:00.002-04:00

The erection of the superstructure is progressing well. All of the main frames and roof purlins have been installed, and attention has turned to the small details. The grade girt is being installed, as is the cross bracing & small stiffeners. I met with the erector today to fine tune door locations, etc. and he feels that he will be finished with the structural steel & be ready to commence cladding in the next couple of days. Funds are still needed - Please keep those donations coming.

Feedback Requested

2008-09-14T14:39:00.002-04:00

Thus far, I have received no questions and very few comments in this forum. I'd like your feedback - Does the content provide sufficient detail? Are updates frequent enough? Is there other content which you would like to see posted? Are there other aspects of the project which deserve more attention? Your input is appreciated. Simply click on the "Comment" button below.

Construction Update #11

2008-09-13T16:54:00.002-04:00

Erection of the superstructure continues to progress well. With any luck, this phase of the project will be complete by the middle of next week, and work on the roof and wall cladding will commence. Thanks to J.S. for the photos.

Construction Update #10

2008-09-11T10:21:00.002-04:00

Erection of the structural steel is progressing well. As of the end of yesterday, the walls were up on Lines A and K, the endwall framing was up on Line 1, and the rafters were half set on lines 7 and 8. Funds are still needed for the project. I will provide a fundraising update in the next few days, but in ther interim, please keep those contributions coming. Every little bit helps.

Construction Update #9

2008-09-10T11:04:00.003-04:00

Erection of the structural steel commenced on Tuesday, with the installation of columns and girts along Line A. By the end of the day all of the columns were up on Line K. Progress is going to appear very rapid from this point on.

Construction Update #8

2008-09-08T22:11:00.002-04:00

Work on the steel superstructure started today as planned. The steel was inventoried & distributed around the site in preparation for erection. If the weather co-operates, the first columns will be standing tomorrow.

Construction Update #7

2008-09-08T08:17:00.002-04:00

Well, the dirt work is finally finished. All of the footings & piers were backfilled between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening. Two rented skid-steers did most of the work, and a makeshift screen was fabricated to separate the big rocks from the fill material around the piers. Thanks to everyone who assisted with this labour intensive endeavour. The steel will be distributed around the site, and with any luck, it will start going up today.

Construction Update #6

2008-09-04T21:48:00.004-04:00

The foundations for the building are now compete. The balance of the piers were formed and poured this afternoon. They will be stripped and backfilled over the weekend as noted previously. With the concrete work now complete, the risks to the project as a result of poor weather are significantly reduced. Starting Monday, the daily progress will be obvious as the steel goes up.

Construction Update #5

2008-09-04T08:55:00.002-04:00

The footings on Lines F and K were formed and poured. The piers on Lines A and C were stripped, and will be set on Lines F and K today. The plan is to pour the balance of the piers today, strip on Saturday and backfill all weekend. Erection of the superstructure for the south half of the building is scheduled to start next Monday.

Construction Update #4

2008-09-04T08:46:00.004-04:00

The building superstructure and cladding was delivered on Tuesday as planned. Thanks to Jim S. for looking after delivery. Work on the footings for Lines F and K continued.

Construction Update #3

2008-09-02T08:35:00.002-04:00

The project continues to progress. The footings on Line A and C are complete, as are the piers. These two lines are ready for backfilling. Formwork and reinforcing steel for the balance of the footings are underway, and will be complete by the end of this week. The excavations will be backfilled this coming week, and then we sit back and watch the building rise. The superstructure is scheduled for delivery today.

Construction Update #2

2008-08-28T08:12:00.002-04:00

Work on the foundations is progressing well. The Building inspector was on site on Tuesday and approved the excavations. Wooden forms and reinforcing steel mats were installed yesterday on Lines A and C (South wall and South row of interior piers) and the concrete is being poured today. The piers on Line A and C will be poured tomorrow, and the process will repeat early next week on Line F and K (North row of interior piers, and North wall). The excavations will be backfilled the weekend of September 6 & 7, and erection of the superstructure will commence on September 8th.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE #1

2008-08-25T14:06:00.004-04:00

Well, it's been over 20 years in the making, but construction has started. Final site cleanup took place on Friday and Saturday, and excavation of the foundations started Saturday night. By Sunday night the excavation was completed, and everything is ready for foundations. Thanks to Gord B., Doug M., Brian M., Chris F., John J., John M., Ian C., Ian S., Dave A., John S. for all their hard work slinging boulders and trimming the excavations.

CONSTRUCTION STARTS!!!

2008-08-22T06:48:00.003-04:00

Foundation layout is happening this morning, and foundation excavation will commence this afternoon! Things are going to start happening fast, so check back frequently for updates. After 25 years of waiting, it's finally happening!!!

Pre-Construction Update #4

2008-08-19T16:50:00.002-04:00

Well, we're finally in the home stretch. After what can only be described as a mind-numbingly painful week full of unnecessary complications and unforseen obstacles, we received our Building Permit on Friday August 15th. We must offer our sincere thanks to the Town of Milton Building Department for all of their hard work to get everything approved in time to avoid the Development Charge increase on August 18th.

With the permit issued, the "Pre-construction" phase of the project is now over - posts from here forward will be "Construction Updates". Even the titles make progress. The current plan is do have the foundations laid out by Friday August 22, and complete excavation of the foundations by Monday August 25. Foundation work will commence shortly thereafter. The building superstructure is scheduled for deliver on August 27th.

Fundraising is ongoing, so please keep those contributions coming! Every $20 makes a difference.

Pre-Construction Update #3

2008-08-08T14:45:00.003-04:00

Things are finally rolling along! I received word yesterday that the Building Permit is approved and ready to pick-up. Next week, we'll finalize the development charges with the Town, and get the permit issued. Foundation layout will take place the week of August 18th, and the foundations will be excavated between August 22 and 24. I expect that the foundations will be completed by the end of the first week of September, and erection of the red iron will commence shortly thereafter. Donations continue to be received, and we are getting closer and closer to our goal. Please keep those contributions coming!

Fundraising Update #1

2008-07-29T12:04:00.004-04:00

Exciting News! On July 27th we received a $10,000 donation towards the project in memory of Bob and Joan Johns. Our sinceres thanks to David Johns for his generosity. This is in addition to nearly $1,000 in smaller donations received in the past week, and a commitment from a member for another $10,000. With $21,000 donated or committed, we are already 28% of the way to our goal! Please keep those contributions coming!

Pre-Construction Update #2

2008-07-24T11:05:00.002-04:00

We received the foundation drawings yesterday. They were submitted to the Town Building Department along with the structural drawings. They are being treated as a "Design change" which means that it is simply an amendment to our existing permit application. This saves us the hassle of filing a new application which would have an additional cost of up to $10K. The Building department advised that they would do their best to review the drawings quickly, and get the permit approved prior to the DC increase on August 18th. Needless to say, I will be in regular contact with the reviewing officer to keep things moving.

Pre-Construction Update #1

2008-07-22T11:48:00.003-04:00

Things are rolling. The structural design is complete, as is the foundation design. Once we receive the final stamped drawings (which I anticipate in the next day or two) I'll take them into the Town Building department to update our permit application.

At this point, we anticipate that the Town will require 3 weeks for review & signoff, which means the permit will be ready on or about August 15. This is a critical date, as permits issued after the 18th of August are subject to increased regional development charges, the implication of which is a cost increase to us of over $30,000. Needless to say we will be pushing for permit approval prior to the 18th.

Foundation excavation will commence as soon as the permit is issued, and foundation installation should commence within a week of excavation.

We have also launched our "Raising the Barn" campaign. We are counting on the continued support of our members, members of the public, and the private sector to help us reach our financial goal. In addition to construction updates, we will also use this forum to promote donations and provide updates on the state of the campaign.

Once things get moving, I will post more regular updates, so check back here frequently to keep up with our progress.

We're Committed...

2008-07-10T21:34:00.002-04:00

On June 18 a draft Purchase order was issued to the building supplier. The final Purchase Order was issued on June 23, and a eposit has been sent. Things are rolling! Cleanup of the building site is nearly complete, thanks to the tireless efforts of several of our members. Design work is ongoing, and I expect to have the Permit Drawings ready to submit within the next week or so. Once the permit drawings are in, it's a waiting game until we receive approval.

Fundraising is an ongoing theme, and we are in the process of launching a new campaign. Members should watch their mailboxes for the special appeal. We are developing a corporate fundraising strategy which will be put into action in the coming weeks.

BARN 4 STARTS!

2008-06-17T13:50:00.001-04:00

BIG NEWS! On June 10, 2008 the OERHA Board of Directors approved construction of car barn 4. A purchase order will be issued by June 19, and construction will commence in July.

The need for a new carbarn was identified in the early eighties even as car barn 3 was being built. It will ensure that all equipment that is currently outside, can be stored indoors. It will also provide a home for the equipment in Barn 1, which is slated for partial demolition next year.

While it would seem that nothing much has happened over the last few years, the reality is quite different. All of the groundwork for the project has already been laid. The site was graded, and a granular base was placed in December 2003. During 2004, the lead track and ladder, and a portion of the yard tracks feeding the building were built. Since then, materials have been gathered up including lights, fixtures, overhead and track components, and granulars. The past few months have been incredibly busy with negotiations with the Town of Milton, and our building contractor.

I am currently writing up the purchase order for the building, including technical requirements and terms & conditions. With any luck we will have engineering drawings in to the town by early July.

I will attempt to provide frequent updates and photos of progress. Much work has yet to be done, but we are finally underway.