Annual Raffle
For information about the 2021 and future raffles, please go to our new website
2019
Another successful raffle. 708 of 800 tickets sold; profits went to the Willingdon Beach Trail insurance and the Forestry Museum operation
$2255 total revenue
Proceeds to the trail insurance and Forestry Museum staffing.
Winner Robert Deyo of Aggasiz, BC.
PRFHS Calendar
This legacy site still works and is useful for detailed information that has not been transferred to the new website, but it is not being updated.
For the latest information, try the new site: qathet.prfhs.org/whats-new
Meeting Minutes
This legacy site still works and is useful for detailed information that has not been transferred to the new website.
For the latest information, try the new site: qathet.prfhs.org
Minutes are in What's New
Minutes of the AGM held June 2020 (held electronically)
Minutes Sep 24, 2019 (back in the day when we met face to face..)
AGM April 9, 2019 Minutes and GOALS
Regular Meeting April 9, 2018 Minutes
2018 2nd meeting Sep 12, 7 pm ; historical museum admin bldg
Minutes of meeting Sep 12, 2018
Minutes of the April 10, 2018 Annual General Meeting
Steam Donkey Washington Iron Works #1619
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Washington Iron Works (WIW) Compound Geared Yarder No. 1619- built circa 1909
We are pleased to have this Donkey to restore and place as an exhibit in the Paradise Exhibition Park. One possible location is to site the donkey in the woods next to our train, to commemorate that yarders such as this were used to clear Paradise Valley of trees for its current agricultural use.
The Steam Donkey became available in 2012, and we'd like to restore and display it in 2020. It is currently stored 1 km north of the Farmers Market near McLeod Road.
The 6' x 12' metal frame would be installed on a sled formed by two 33' logs, and would be painted black. Width would be about 9', height 12'.
Siting One location could be as shown here; near the exit gate. Other locations in the park may be equally good or better.
Some Background
We re-attached the engine on March 12 photos here
Soon we'll build a sled for it, then do some welding repair, and move it to a new site yet to be selected.
see the detailed project planning sheet here
Read the background on the steam donkey here
The Donkey was moved in May next to the sled-logs location
Feb 2016: Tom Sparks made a template of a bracket to mount the detached engine back on the frame. photos here
We have the logs for the sled on the building site. WFP donated the logs for the sled; Marta Trucking moved them to the build site; we have the 4 bolts.
Julian Welp has been contacted and invited to lead the chainsaw group to make the sled.
check the video below
see the detailed project planning sheet here
Boiler/firebox cylinder is about 9 feet tall, 5 feet in diameter.
"Compound" has to do with the gearing of the drums; an extra gear to facilitate slower rotation for the main drum; permitting a large core (easier on the cables) with a fast rewind for the rewind drum.
more about compound gearing here
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from John: What is with the snazzy blue and silver paint job on #1619 anyway? df: Beats me, John - we're hoping for info on the yarder's history.
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Crosshead guide is about 24" long.
10 1/2" stroke x 10 1/4" piston head diameter.
Exterior dimensions of the engine cylinder 15" long, plus 1" end caps.
more Yarder No. 1619 photos here
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We have the missing engine, ready to weld back on.
PVR Work parties
2019
Got the shed mezzanine storage up, and the red trim on the shed ends on
Nov18; Dan, Davef, Geoff, bob, Rob
Friends and Sponsors
2019 "Thank You" Updates:
GHOST TRAIN Oct 25/26
Lois Lumber donated cedar planks for maintenance on the trail
T&R has kindly continued their support to PRFHS this year by deeply discounting the gravel and sand we use on the Railroad expansion project - a gold level contribution over many years.
- Special shout out to Cottage Creek Bakeshop. Since 2011 owner Janet Lyon has often donated delicious baked goods to volunteer train crews on Sundays at the farmers market.
See the full list of Friends and Sponsors below.
Trail Maintenance
We got lots of leaves off the trail and ditches cleared on Nov 2, 10 am to noon.2016 Railroad Operations
Santa Train Dec 9 & 10
Anderson Sawmill Repatriation
All items we are repatriating from Burnaby; (the Sawmill, Steam Donkey and Ross Lumber Carrier) have arrived in Powell River, and are stored at Catalyst Paper.
PRFHS is assisting the project lead, PR Historical Museum, in the next planning steps.
Some PRFHS and PRHMA members visited the stored equipment June 8; photos here
Stephen James share two links that help visualize presentation possiblities:
- https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9_wdRkxT7GI/maxresdefault.jpg picture
- http://www.climaxlocomotives.com/sawmills/ information
PVR Rolling Stock Improvements
2016 Locomotive Maintenance
- Re-installed the compressor, replaced the failed sensor switch and fixed some plumbing leaks.
- Returned the locomotive to the park
on April 5, Dan, Mike and Dave brought the locomotive to Dan's shop.
- The cone "hockey puck" rubber drive was replaced
- The oil was checked, but was surprprisingly clean so was not changed
- The compressor system was checked and a faulty pressure switch discovered; will be replaced April 12
Forestry Museum News
In April 2016, while landscaping the improved logger sports site next to the Forestry Museum, the Logger Sports volunteers unearthed a railroad tie plate. About 15" long, it was probably used in a railroad track switch. It features a 7" wear plate for the switch points, pressed or hammered out from the flat iron stock (this was way before welding). It held very light rail: only 3 1/2" at the base, indicating about 50 lb/yard rail.
It could have come from the nearby Michigan Landing railroad log dump that operated from 1910 to 1918, or from some other local location when fill was brought in to build the original logger sports site.
The artifact will be turned over to the Forestry Museum.
Clearly we haven't found "the last spike" as surmised here. We found one while digging culverts in late March.
Logger Sports
After an 11 year absence, Logger Sports are happening again July 16-17, 2016
Their facebook page has the latest information (click)
view our logger sports photos here
The amphitheatre seats will be a wonderful legacy from Logger Sports 2016. It will reverse the viewing angle from previous events by 180 degrees; the ocean will now be the backdrop.
PRFHS Newsletter
| We started an annual newsletter in 2011.
Readers are welcome to read the newsletter online, or download and print it for free. We issue a free printed version of each newsletter to Silver-level and higher level sponsors, and to our active members donating more than 15 hours per year of their time to the PRFMS. To help support issuing printed versions, Interested readers may like to donate $5 or more to the PRFMS. Issue 5 December 2015 8 page .pdf Issue 4 December 2014 8 page .pdf Issue 3 October 2013 8 page .pdf Issue 2 November 2012 8 page .pdf Issue 1 November 2011 8 page .pdf Versions suitable for printing on 11x17 paper (booklet format) are available by email request. |
Santa Train
As an extension to our summer afternoon “Train Rides Sunday” program, the Forestry Heritage Society volunteers decided to follow the lead of many other miniature ride-on train clubs with a Christmas-theme event held in the dark. Co-ordinator Hans Maurer selected two evenings, December 11 and 12; and set the times at 5 to 8 pm.
We wanted this event to be entirely a charity-benefit, so we partnered with the Salvation Army; and set the all-evening ride fee as non-perishable food items or unwrapped toys. A Salvation Army kettle was also on hand.
Held in the dark, the Christmas lights guiding the route provided a very different experience compared to the regular afternoon summer program. Many people parked on-site, but others walked from McLeod Road. Floodlights were up to aid parking, all run by generators donated by local rental outlets and volunteers.
2015 Railroad Operations
Our first Santa Train was a big hit - undoubtably an annual event.
Sep 19/20 we had a great a Fall afFair noon to 3 pm Saturday and Sunday (reduced progam this year)
- Rider appreciation day - FREE Rides for everyone
PVR Administration
We are delighted when the local media provides coverage. Many thanks to John Mackenzie at Shaw Cable for this three minute backgrounder on the railroad. Click the youtube button to watch it full size on your screen See other Shaw Powell River videos here
Trail Artifact Painting
Spring Painting projects
Mike Lister and Hans Maurer powerwashed the boomboat, logging arch, trestle surface and steam donkey surface; and did other work on the trail in May. Thanks to A&W Retaurant for the loan of the power washer.
Powell River Scouts painted the boomboat (thanks to Tina, Donna, Daniele,Zack, Ben and Darrell.)
Members Dave Florence, Geoff Stubbs, Leif BJornson and Doug Lott worked with them.
Arts Alive in the Park
We enjoyed Arts Alive in the Park, Willingdon Beach Aug 15/16, 2015: a demonstration of use of the cedar tree by Betty Wilson, a Tla’amin Nation elder and cedar root weaver at 1:30 Sunday, along with Ron Hunter carving axes for the kids.
Ferns and Fallers
the 2015 edition of ferns and fallers is out
Congratulations to PRLiving for this excellent insert.
read more below abt the 2014 edition which featured the forestry museum on page 43
Other Railroads of interest to PVR
Garden Railway of member Geoff Stubbs
Check out this garden railway video .
We hope to provide a garden scale track as part of our Paradise Valley Railroad display and invite G-Scale hobbyists such a Geoff to bring their trains to run on i.
Click for Sponsors' website
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email: info@prfhs.org
Postal: PRFHS
PO Box 186
Powell River BC V8A 4Z6
(2-4 per month)
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