qathet Regional District, Powell River, BC
We welcome new crew members to help keep us going, for Fall Fair 2023 and our 2024 season.
Tasks: Be a track switcher, assistant stationmaster or assistant ticket seller and after some experience, learn to be a train engineer.
Commitment: an hour or more at our events. Learn on the job.
Can be a Family Activity: adults do the work, family members ride free.
Interested? *Ask any crew-member, or *email info@prfhs.org
or *call Dave at 604-413-1224 or *check out http://qathet.prfhs.org/whats-new/
Extra Train should reduce wait times from 2021.
Planning ahead? Mark calendars Santa Train 4 days this year! Dec 9, 10, 16 and 17
Up McLeod Road from Paradise Valley Road
Admission by Donation for Railroad equipment upgrades.
From previous years:
| PRFHS Projects | ||
| RAILROAD | ||
| Task | The Work | Status, next steps, |
| Top Priority | Organize the donkey skids, Electrical parts for the shed | Dan Dave |
| Operations – Events | Sundays 12:30 – 2:30, Apr 24 through Sep 25 Next work party: Tues April 26, 6:30 Fathers Day June 19 with Car Club; Fall Fair Sep 23-25 Ghost train Oct 29, 30; Santa train 2 weekends | On track for opening. Semi-handicap car, shed shelving, look at Controller Geoff leading June 19 event Market/car club supportive Fall Fair date decided Santa Dec 10, 11, 17, 18? |
| Top-priority Maintenance | Track: more test and level; adjust some switch springs Repair: Water wheel balance. Loco: Fix headlight wiring (erratic ground return), Tender: Install switch with led glow light to disconnect battery to avoid accidental discharge All car wheels: Inspect for status, repair or replace as needed (some can be smoothed on the lathe, some by machining/replacing the “Tire” Handicap car: consider larger wheels to improve stability Visible Numbers on the rolling stock | Loco oil was changed, drive puck ok, Dan replaced the Tender compressor switch RMI in Ventura CA has wheels frequent derails, particularly when not fully loaded House numbers on loco and cars |
| Donkey #1619 project | Build the sled, plan frame/sled integration, plan move, get siting approval, paint/restore as needed, arrange transport equipment, move/install it, make interpretive signs | Siting: FAI/PEPS have approved: site near track Sled: Dan contacting potential chainsaw crew (hoping either Russ Parsons or Julian Welp will lead |
| Shed; Electricity (lighting, wall plugs, eLoco charging) Wall shelves 3/4 ply;12” x 25’, white 12×16 L-brackets | From Juhli: FAI is bringing power to one plug in the shed. Our job: Ditch digging plus Interior shed work only. | Plan prepared. LED lights nearly $300; Flourescent half that. Which way? Shelving material on site |
| New semi-handicap car | Build frame and superstructure, install braking-trucks, extend the air-compressor lines, make Kiwanis recognition signs. | Next work: Tues April 26, 6:30 |
| Backup Locomotive: Interim – going electric, so shed electricity a priority Final – our own electric loco | borrowing Dan’s ride-on powered ride-car. Using 4qd Pro-D160 Controller Need two new big batteries – Need two powered trucks, then – Build an 8’ powered flatcar that can eventually become a steam-outline Climax locomotive. – Will use 4qd controller and batteries from the interim; then need a soundcard; and build superstructure | Controller Arrived April 18 https://www.4qd.co.uk/product/pro-160/ Pair of Interstates approx $400 RMI: TRUCK-486, Equalized Truck, 12″ Wheel Base, 5.7″ sprocket Wheels, 1 Hydraulic Motor 2x$1700= $3,400 |
| Add passenger car for when using two locos | Low priority – finish semi-handicap braking car and 2nd loco projects – would need to do Lean-to project | |
| More Plastic Ties for track repairs and later expansion | Order and have shipped to Blaine pickup point and then get volunteer to pick up and deliver to PR. | Have quote $995US for 864 ties from Allen Models of Nevada and $620US from www.edgelogisticsinc.com for shipping to Blaine. (pallet holds 9 @48 tie boxes per layer. Dan may buy part of order) |
| Solid surface in station to avoid gravel kicked onto rails. 30’ long’ 3’ between tracks, 12-18’ ouside tracks | Could be a pour, or patio stones, or patio pvc product Stones: 150 sq.ft. X $5/sqft = $750 | Discussed Arpil 12 decided too big a project to do it right; will await to when ties need replacing |
| Add to Model environment, eg water tower | Any models welcome to enhance visual aspect of our ride. | Leif planning to continue water tower development to make it functional. |
| Narrow Lean-to on the north side of the old shed, for a loco and cars. | New shed becoming full, and need more room when we have more rolling stock. Would connect to the hand-car track near the station. | Only when needed |
| Gutters for the Station, funnel the water into Leif’s water tower | Do a Plan, procure gutters, install | Nead a Lead |
| Extended track | The “Gisborne loop” – from our oldest loop over to near Myrtle Road, through the trees, then back through the grove to our oldest loop. | Low priority |
| Garden railroad for hobbyists and public to enjoy | Full project from scratch; Develop a plan; get permission to use proposed site (grove NW of the Banks shed); procure track, prepare the ground | Need a Lead. Should buy some track now for the diplays in the Quanset at Santa train |
| TRAIL | ||
| Task | The Work | Status, next steps, |
| Repair Donkey Sign | Restore the 3rd panel to the Donkey info. Assess damage, weld as needed, replace lexan?, install | Broken sign is at Dan Parson’s shop. Assess/plan. Need access to the trail (Sewer project) |
| Replace rotten deck boards on the Donkey | Measure, plan, Get 3” lumber and fasteners, install | |
| Repair a few interpretive signs. | Artifact signs only; leaving the nature ones for the city to take the lead | Have a list of the signs |
| Painting and sign repairs. | Choose an artifact and clean/paint it. Repair the worst of the artiifact signs | Need a lead for a painting project and Sign repair |
| DONE | ||
| Restore passenger car by Apr 24 | Get bearings, re-assemble trucks, move to park | Done April 12; moved back to park |
Christmas drive-by the lights Dec 11-12, 2020
