New Station for Orangeville

[MasonJar]

The one-time TG&B/CPR facility in Orangeville gets a new station for the "Credit Valley Explorer", run by the Orangeville-BRampton Railway.

You have to join the group to see these pictures, but it's free and relatively painless

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/BruceRys/

Here's a news release from the Town of Orangeville (www.orangeville.org) that includes a sketch: http://www.orangeville.org/news_item.php?nid=909

More about the OBRY - http://www.obryrr.com/

The existing station (actually the third?) was moved downtown several years ago, and is now a restaurant. The last on-site building was the bunkhouse/restaurant that was built in the late 1940s. It burned down, and apparently some of the insurance money is going towards the new station.



Andrew

 

[RobertInOntario]

The one-time TG&B/CPR facility in Orangeville gets a new station for the "Credit Valley Explorer", run by the Orangeville-BRampton Railway.
You have to join the group to see these pictures, but it's free and relatively painless
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/BruceRys/
Here's a news release from the Town of Orangeville (www.orangeville.org) that includes a sketch: http://www.orangeville.org/news_item.php?nid=909
More about the OBRY - http://www.obryrr.com/
The existing station (actually the third?) was moved downtown several years ago, and is now a restaurant. The last on-site building was the bunkhouse/restaurant that was built in the late 1940s. It burned down, and apparently some of the insurance money is going towards the new station.
Andrew

This is interesting, Andrew. Do you know much about the Credit Valley Explorer and have you ridden on it before? I just learned about it this summer and was intrigued. I thought of riding it this fall but haven't got around to it. If they've got a new station, it sounds as if they're doing well and expanding?

I've taken the kids recently for rides on the York-Durham Heritage Railway and the South Simcoe Railway, not to mention the Street Car Museum. We like those but are always keen to try others!

Rob

 

[60103]

Rob, I haven't been on the explorer, but a lot of friends have. One sadi it was weird to drive an hour up to Orangeville just to take the train back to Brampton. There are a lot of variations on the trips - some just go to inglenook while others go almost into Brampton (some hitches with the crossings in town I hear). I think there's one every so often (or so rarely) that goes down to Streetsville.
They've expanded; they now have 3 coaches; not sure if the third one is operational yet.

 

[RobertInOntario]

Rob, I haven't been on the explorer, but a lot of friends have. One sadi it was weird to drive an hour up to Orangeville just to take the train back to Brampton. There are a lot of variations on the trips - some just go to inglenook while others go almost into Brampton (some hitches with the crossings in town I hear). I think there's one every so often (or so rarely) that goes down to Streetsville.
They've expanded; they now have 3 coaches; not sure if the third one is operational yet.

Thanks, David. I hope we'll get to go on the Explorer sometime. The route and scenery certainly sound great -- we often go hiking up in that area as well. Meanwhile, we're looking forward to riding on the Tottenham Christmas train this December -- it's become an annual tradition.

[BTW, that SDJR video is EXCELLENT -- I'm really enjoying it! Thanks again.]

Rob

 

[MasonJar]

Rob,

No I have not ridden it. My parents went in 2005 and said it was spectacular. I have yet to ride any tourist/excursion train...

I grew up in Orangeville, and I crossed the tracks on Townline every day on the way to and from school. I also lived next to the tracks on John Street for part of the time we were there. Of course, I never paid much attention to the trains then, and now it is too late...

We also used to hike the Bruce Trail in and around the Cataract and Forks of the Credit, and I once crossed the high trestle over the river (and this was while it was still an active CPR route...! ).

But I am glad to see that they are doing something to revive Orangeville's railway heritage. The Orangeville Citizen (www.citizen.on.ca) newspaper has a lot of interesting articles over the past few years about what's been happening.

I would love to ride the South Simcoe (Tottenham) train. Looks very impressive at the website, but I understand they are running a bit in the red...

'Course, now I am in Ottawa, I have to make do with the 500m run of the Shay at the Museum of Science and Tech, or fork out big $$$ to ride a Swedish steamer in the Gatineau Hills...

Andrew

 

[RobertInOntario]

Andrew,

Thanks for your info on the Explorer. I think our family and I will try to ride on it, probably in 2007 now. Yes, it is a very nice area, and we have often hiked the Bruce Trail around Devil's Pulpit & Forks of the Credit, etc. So I can imagine that the train ride would be great too.

My boys & I are looking forward to riding the Santa train at the South Simcoe Railway. I do hope they're not too far in the red, as it's a great steam railway. I do know that their train rides, especially their special events, are usually sold out. They certainly seem to be busy, attracting lots of riders. And one day we'll have to try the Swedish steamer in the Gatineau Hills.

Rob

 

[MasonJar]

Rob,

Should be easy to remember...

The South Simcoe Railway (Tottenham) is www.steamtrain.com, and the Wakefield Steam Train (the swedish loco) is www.steamtrain.ca ...!

Andrew

 

[MasonJar]

Interesting development...!

The Bruce Railways yahoo! group has posted a picture of an RDC being stored in Orangeville. Without reading too much into this maybe the OBRy is thinking about expanding the excursion fleet?

Andrew

 

[RobertInOntario]

Hi Andrew: I tried searching for that pic last night but couldn't find it. Could you please post the actual link/address? Sounds like it could be encouraging OBR news though! Thanks, Rob

 

[MasonJar]

Rob,

Here's the link to the Bruce Railways group:

http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/BruceRys/

I think you have to join yahoo! and then join the group in order to access the pictures, except the one of the foundation (their current front page).

If you are interested, Gauge member Will Annand is modelling the area around Orangeville and the Cataract/Forks in Nscale. His take on it is that the Credit Valley Line was not bought out by CPR, and is still operating circa 1900.

I have a track plan of the Cataract and Forks of the Credit, but Will has tons more stuff. You can probably get him by PM if you are interested.

The best Orangeville layout was done by Richard Wakefield (http://www.mcswiz.com/MyLayout/Homepage.asp) which was unfortunately dismantled for a move a few years ago. He is intending to resurrect it at his new home though...! He is a member of that yahoo! group.

Andrew