Pix of John Street Roundhouse Event

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RobertInOntario

Active Member
Mar 22, 2006
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Well, we made it down to the open house ("Open Doors Toronto") event at the John Street Roundhouse railway museum and had a great time.

I've posted some pics here of the various events. They had one large-gauge live steam model running outdoors and one "diesel", which you could ride on up and down on a stretch of track. The Roundhouse's diesel switcher was also on display, next to the turn-table.

You could also see the newly-restored turn-table and take rides up and down it on a small motorized rail car. You could walk around inside the roundhouse, which is now open to the public.

Also in-doors, there were several model railways set up -- these were mainly N and O scale. I've only included one pic of there -- the impressive O scale Bullet Nose Betty northern.

All in all, we had a great time. The only disappointing thing was that most of the rolling stock, both inside the Roundhouse and out-doors near the turn-table, was covered up in protective white plastic sheets. I'm sure this is needed at other times, but I was disappointed that you couldn't see and take pics of the Roundhouse's several diesels, coaches and other rolling stock. I'm sure there is a logical reason for this, but on an open house day, it would have been great to see their rolling stock, climb aboard some of the old coaches and take pics.

Oh, and the Steam Whistle Brewery was giving out its usual free beer samples -- trains and beer -- what more could you ask for? :mrgreen:

Here are the pics that I did take -- just some of the highlights. There is one pic of yours truly and my two sons standing inside the Roundhouse as well!

Rob
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NICE SHOTS Robert!:thumb: looks like you guys had a GREAT time:mrgreen: .
i really like that switcher, i swear it looks just like its a Whitcomb:eeki: , they were made not far from here in Rochelle Ill., any chance you seen the make on it?:confused:

:deano: -Deano
 
UP SD40-2 said:
NICE SHOTS Robert!:thumb: looks like you guys had a GREAT time:mrgreen: .
i really like that switcher, i swear it looks just like its a Whitcomb:eeki: , they were made not far from here in Rochelle Ill., any chance you seen the make on it?:confused:

:deano: -Deano
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Thanks, Deano. I believe it is a Whitcomb -- at least the TRHA (Toronto Railway Historical Association) refer to it as a Whitcomb. You might be able to find more info on their website Toronto Railway Historical Association).

Cheers, Rob
 
60103 said:
Deano: #1 is by Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, 1950. It's been owned by a number of quarries until it reached the preservation groups.
It could be based on an American model.
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Hmm, I seem to recall that there might be some debate as to whether it actually is a bona fide Whitcomb. At any rate, the TRHA usually refer to it as a Whitcomb in their emails. Rob
 
From the picture, it looks like the, "large-gauge live steam model running outdoors" was temporary? How extensive was the track?
 
60103 said:
Deano: #1 is by Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, 1950. It's been owned by a number of quarries until it reached the preservation groups.
It could be based on an American model.
Click to expand...
Robert, THANK YOU for the link:thumb: , seems 60103 is right, i read the link and it was made in Kingston, under licence from the Whitcomb engine Co. in Rochelle Ill.

**here are some pics i took in Rochelle of ONE of the MANY different models the Whitcomb Engine company in Rochelle Ill made. the first two pics i took of this engine were real dark, so i ran it through photoshop to brighten it up so you folks could see the truck detail better:thumb: .

:deano: -Deano
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TrainNut said:
From the picture, it looks like the, "large-gauge live steam model running outdoors" was temporary? How extensive was the track?
Click to expand...

Yes, this is temporary track that they set up for special events. The track was only in a straight line and was (I'm guessing) about 150-200 yards long.

There is a live steam club and permanent outdoor layout on some property about an hour north of Toronto -- I think this steam engine was from that club.

Rob
 
UP SD40-2 said:
Robert, THANK YOU for the link:thumb: , seems 60103 is right, i read the link and it was made in Kingston, under licence from the Whitcomb engine Co. in Rochelle Ill.

**here are some pics i took in Rochelle of ONE of the MANY different models the Whitcomb Engine company in Rochelle Ill made. the first two pics i took of this engine were real dark, so i ran it through photoshop to brighten it up so you folks could see the truck detail better:thumb: .
Click to expand...


Thanks for these pics, Deano! I can certainly see the similarities. They recently painted this Roundhouse switcher in the museum's logo colours which mimic the old Toronto, Hamilton & Buffalo scheme. Cheers, Rob
 
The "Toronto Heritage Railway Centre" Locomotive #1 was manufactured in Kingston by the Canadian Locomotive Company from components made by Whitcomb. CLC made these locomotives under licence from Whitcomb. Up until last year, the locomotive was sitting in Trenton, Ont on the last piece of track of the Prince Edward County Railroad, along with a small Burro crane and a couple of flatcars. The locomotive had been advertised for sale at around $7,500.

With a bit of work and some money, they might be able to get it back into operating condition. These small industrial locomotives are a real joy to work on if one has the facilities. Most of the parts for the prime movers are still commercially available. I believe the engines in this locomotive are Cummins diesels (one at each end) but I stand to be corrected.

Bob M.
 
railwaybob said:
The "Toronto Heritage Railway Centre" Locomotive #1 was manufactured in Kingston by the Canadian Locomotive Company from components made by Whitcomb. CLC made these locomotives under licence from Whitcomb. Up until last year, the locomotive was sitting in Trenton, Ont on the last piece of track of the Prince Edward County Railroad, along with a small Burro crane and a couple of flatcars. The locomotive had been advertised for sale at around $7,500.
With a bit of work and some money, they might be able to get it back into operating condition. These small industrial locomotives are a real joy to work on if one has the facilities. Most of the parts for the prime movers are still commercially available. I believe the engines in this locomotive are Cummins diesels (one at each end) but I stand to be corrected.
Bob M.
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Thanks, Bob. But (from the email updates I've been receiving) it IS up and running. I think they had trouble with one of the diesel engines but, as far as I know, but are working now and it's being used for shunting around the Roundhouse. Rob
 
Hi Rob. Yes it was up in York Durham before it came down to Trenton. The colours of the photo above that I took in Trenton are York-Durham colours.

The ownership of the locomotive wasn't all that clear as, for many years, the Canadian Trackside Guide showed it as being leased from Nelson? Aggregates.

Bob M.
 
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