‘The Kingston Chapter of the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration
Society'
Kingston's most significant, and
most photographed, symbol of its industrial past is the ex CPR locomotive No
‘1095' which was built in 1913 at the Canadian Locomotive Co Ltd. It was
rescued from the breakers by the Kingston JayCees in 1966, repainted in the
Canadian Locomotive Co Ltd shops and rolled out on the track to a section
behind the old Kingston & Pembroke Station in front of City Hall, a gift to
the City. Although not a railroad custom, No 1095 was named, ‘The Spirit of Sir
John A.' when it was handed over. Bob Fray, who was Mayor of Kingston at that
time, and a sign-writer by trade, painted the name on in gold heraldic script.
Over the 43 years since, the
locomotive has stood out in the open, with little maintenance beyond a coat of
paint and a fence being put around it. It has been vandalized, is now
dilapidated and badly rusted and had moss in the crevices and weeds sprouting up
through the wheels. This summer it was spruced up. The weeds were removed and
pebble ballast put over the track. The locomotive was pressure washed, repairs
made to the dangling handrail and the unsightly struts to the fence removed,
whereby it is no longer an eyesore. Its historic appearance is, nevertheless,
in dire need of restoration and of protection from the elements in the years to
come.
Three years ago a number of
concerned citizens constituted themselves as ‘The Spirit of 1095 Restoration
Group', under the auspices of the Kingston Division of the Canadian Railroad
Historical Association. The Group is working with Cultural Services of the City
to complete this restoration project by 2013, the 100th anniversary.
Plans have been made to move the
locomotive over to a new track, where, historically, there had been one. A
design for a protective shed with glazed panels which can be raised, has been
approved in principle. The long-term intent is to make the locomotive and it's
shed into a mini museum. A survey of the locomotive has been done, a list of
repair work items drawn up and cost estimates made.
Number ‘1095' represents the
locomotive industry, its importance to Kingston's economy for over 100 years,
but also, in supplying locomotives to the Canadian Railroads, to the
integration of Canada. Many more locomotives were exported to railways around
the world.
Recently the Group was
incorporated into the newly formed Kingston Chapter of the Southern Ontario
Locomotive Restoration Society, which is a charitable non profit organization.
They have experience in the ‘how' and ‘where' of locomotive restoration and can
issue tax receipts against donations deposited into the SOLRS account.
Although we have the engineers
who have worked in the locomotive industry and others who have managed
engineering projects, we do need more volunteer managers.
We also need financial support
for the No'1095' restoration project.
Cheques may be made payable to,
and sent to,
‘SOLRS Kingston Chapter' at: Box
1714, Kingston ON, K7L 5V6
Telephone /e-mail Bob Heintz at
Tel: 613 536 0491,engine1095@
hotmail.com
