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Lacombe County
Back
yard model railway
track okayed
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Paul Cowley) August 10, 2012
Ernie Beskowiney's dream of building a model steam engine railroad
in his rural backyard near Eckville keeps chugging right along.
Lacombe County's municipal planning commission has conditionally
approved a development permit to allow Beskowiney to go ahead with
his plan to build a one-eighth scale model railway track, complete
with a working steam-powered miniature locomotive.
Beskowiney has spent years making the engine, a replica of the 6060
series U1F Mountain Type 4-8-2 locomotive that is one of the engines
used by Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions out of Stettler.
The plan is to lay out 1,500 metres of track and to give the public
rides on the miniature train similar to those found in amusement
parks. Two big fundraising events are planned each year to benefit
Alberta's two children's hospitals. Outside those events, the site
will be open to the public on a drop-in basis and for educational
purposes.
Beskowiney estimates he is still at least two or three years away
from having his miniature railway up and going.
"There's a tremendous amount of work to be done," he said. "I have
no cars yet. I'm still working on the engines."
Beskowiney has invested thousands of hours over the last five or six
years painstakingly creating the components for his diesel-powered
steam engines and assembling them into amazingly accurate replicas
of their giant inspirations.
He already has the rails and the ties he will need. He will start
working on the layout for the tracks when the crop comes off in the
fall.
When fully developed, the site will be landscaped and feature model
buildings. There will also be barns for the rolling stock, a station
and a covered area for guests.
The province's children's hospitals have already expressed their
enthusiasm for the idea of taking part in twice yearly two-day
fundraising events.
News article: Relic caboose gets new home
(Red Deer Advocate May 2013)
News article: Big Valley station banks on
restored roof
(Stettler Independent Apr.2013)
News
article: Trains still roll for some
(Red Deer Advocate Nov.2012)
Blog: Big Valley Canadian Northern Station
Celebrates 100 Years
(RETROactive Sept.2012)
Feature article: 6060 turns 66
(Red Deer Express Sept.2010)
News article: A work in two golden ages: Ernie
Beskowiney
(Red Deer Advocate July 2010)
News article: New exhibits call Historical
Village home
(Innisfail Province May 2010)
News article: 'Sleeper' village grand
opening set
(Red Deer Advocate May 2010)
News article: Stettler group wants to convert
grain elevator into museum
(Red Deer Advocate May 2010)
Canadian Northern Railway in Central Alberta
(CNR)
- Camrose to Drumheller
Canadian Northern Western Railway Brazeau sub (CNR)
- Mirror to Red Deer and
Nordegg
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