Our newsletter provides the latest news, behind the scenes stories and historic background on the Waterloo Central Railway as well as features of local historic interest. Watch for new editions as we continue restoration and maintenance of equipment and plan exciting new experiences aboard our heritage railway.
Current Issue: WCR 2024 Summer Restoration Report
This newsletter provides an update on the restoration of No. 9, former CPR No 1238 and a special feature on some of our youth volunteers.
This newsletter provides updates on restoration projects including No. 9, WCRX 1437 “Midway”, WCRX 2003, steam locomotive 1238, our 2023 Christmas Trains and a tribute to a very special volunteer, the late Robert Glenn Thomson.
This newsletter provides updates on restoration projects including No. 9, WCRX 1437 “Midway”, WCRX 2003, steam locomotive 1238, our 2023 Christmas Trains and a tribute to a very special volunteer, the late Robert Glenn Thomson.
This Edition of the WCR Press opens 2021 with the hope that wide distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine will allow us to resume passenger service by the end of this summer or early fall.
We have developed an opening plan and new schedule so that when circumstances permit, service may commence immediately.
As 2020 ends, and this is the Tenth Edition of the WCR Press, we hope this assists our volunteers, neighbours and partners to stay in touch during the temporary COVID-19 Pandemic shut down of our operations. We have been able for the most part to keep the St. Jacobs Restoration and Maintenance Facility open on a limited basis for some restoration projects to continue along with keeping our equipment operational and safe for when we may start operating passenger trains again in 2021.
We have also used this publication to showcase various initiatives planned for the WCR for when we can open again, and the vaccine is in wide distribution. We have enjoyed providing a history of our operating heritage rail collection as well as reminiscing about other railway operations that have served this area over the years.
This issue is dedicated to a very special announcement by the Waterloo Central Railway and the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society. Over the last several months we have been working toward preserving another significant part of Canadian railway history. In the mid-1950’s the advent of the Budd Rail Diesel Car, famously known as the RDC, or in Canada as the Dayliner or Railliner, changed rail passenger travel permitting a more economical way to provide rail passenger service on both main and branch lines throughout the country.
We are most fortunate to have acquired from VIA Rail RDC-1’s 6135, 6148 and RDC-2 6205, all three of which were stored serviceable several years ago. Along with these three RDC’s we have also acquired RDC-1’s 6111 and 6138 which although are in less favourable condition were worth saving from the scrappers torch. This issue will showcase our significant heritage acquisition along with the history of the RDC in North America. If you are not too keen on “Budd Cars”, this may not be the issue for you!
This is our Eighth Edition of the WCR Press. We started this publication in the spring of 2020 as a way to stay in touch with our volunteers, neighbours and partners during the temporary COVID-19 Pandemic shut down of our operations. We also took this opportunity to showcase the initiatives being undertaken that are required to keep the WCR safe and ready for the time we are able to commence our operations once again.
We have enjoyed providing a history of our operating heritage rail collection as well as reminiscing about other railway operations that have served this area over the years. The response to our publication has been heart warming and as a result we have decided to continue this as a regular publication of the Waterloo Central Railway and Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society.
This is our Seventh Edition of the WCR Press. Through this publication we hope to stay in touch with our volunteers, neighbours and partners during the temporary shut down of our operations and showcase the initiatives being undertaken that are required to keep the WCR safe and ready for the time we can commence our operations once again.
We enjoy providing a history of our operating heritage rail collection as well as reminiscing about other railway operations that have served this area over the years.
This is our Sixth Edition of the WCR Press. Through this publication we hope to stay in touch with our volunteers, neighbours and partners during the temporary shut down of our operations and showcase the initiatives being undertaken that are required to keep the WCR safe and ready for the time when we can commence our operations once again.
We enjoy providing a history of our operating heritage rail collection as well as reminiscing about other railway operations that have served this area over the years.
This is our Fifth Edition of the WCR Press. We have continued planning for when our trains begin to operate again by developing a plan to ensure our passengers and visitors feel safe travelling with us.
Through the WCR Press we hope to stay in touch with our volunteers, neighbours and partners during the temporary shut down and showcase the initiatives being undertaken that are required to keep the WCR operating in a safe fashion. We enjoy providing a history of our heritage operating rail collection as well as other railway operations that have served the area over the years.
We would be remiss if we did not thank those who have been so helpful to us during this unprecedented time by providing information and answers to our questions and concerns. They themselves are either in shutdown and working from home, on lay-off or with reduced staff but have continued to be there for us. Among them have been the Waterloo Region Tourism Marketing Corporation, The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce, the Village of St. Jacobs BIA, the Township of Woolwich, the City of Waterloo, Regional Municipality of Waterloo, MP Tim Louis, MPP Mike Harris and Transport Canada.
Welcome back to our Fourth Edition. Behind the scenes we are planning for not only when our trains can begin to operate again but to implement a plan where our passengers and visitors feel safe travelling with us.
Through the WCR Press we hope to stay in touch with our volunteers, neighbours and partners during the temporary shut down and showcase the initiatives being undertaken that are required to keep the WCR operating in a safe fashion. We enjoy providing a brief history of our heritage operating rail collection as well as other railway operations in the area over the years.
Welcome back to the continually evolving WCR Press. Behind the scenes we are planning for when our trains can begin to operate again but also implement a plan where our passengers and visitors feel safe travelling with us. Through the WCR Press we continue to showcase some of the initiatives being undertaken to achieve that goal and thank you for your patience until we reach that goal.
We continue to build on our image as a heritage passenger railway operation. In this issue along with our regular stories we will showcase some of the initiatives being undertaken to achieve that goal. Our first major step as illustrated in the First Edition of the WCR Press has been the development of a clean new look for our locomotives and fleet. Our goal is to present a consistent heritage image across our operation to our passengers when they arrive to take our trains. This edition will show the next steps in that process.
On behalf of the WCR management team, we would like to introduce you to the first issue of the WCR News. During this time of uncertainty, the WCR News is our effort to keep everyone informed on what is taking place behind the scenes as well as our preparations for this season. It will also provide information we hope is of interest to you relating to the Waterloo Central Railway currently, as well as to its history.
During our temporary shutdown, and to provide a single voice for the organization, this will come from the General Manager’s email address. Once the 2020 operating season gets underway, WCR News will continue periodically through an email blast to all volunteers. Although currently it is coming from the General Manager, it is a group effort of the WCR team with contributions from numerous volunteers and staff.
We have a great deal to share with you and will hopefully be doing this weekly until we get up and running again.
Waterloo Central Railway, like almost all heritage railways, relies heavily upon volunteers for restoration, train crews and operations, on-board crews and many other roles required to operate a railway.
We offer training and full qualification for operating positions. If you are interested in volunteering with us in any aspect of our restoration programs and train operations, please contact us at volunteer@waterloocentralrailway.com.
