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CONGRATULATIONS RAILFANS! The TRHA has purchased LRC locomotive number 6917 from VIA Rail Canada. This unique piece of Canadian railway history has been saved. A special thanks to everyone who donated as we could not have done it without you! Now the fun really begins...
LATEST UPDATE: 11 AUGUST 2010
Click on a link below to learn more:
What is the LRC?
The LRC (Light, Rapid, Comfortable) was built by Bombardier (MLW), Alcan and Dofasco in co-operation with CN and later VIA Rail Canada as a higher speed rail option for the busy Quebec City - Windsor Corridor. The locomotives were capable of travel up to 125 MPH (limited to 100 MPH in service) and powered VIA's Metropolis express train between Toronto and Montreal. These locomotives were a common sight throughout the Corridor from their introduction in 1981 until their retirement in 2001.
The LRC coaches are still the mainstay of VIA's fleet in the Corridor, and are currently being rebuilt for another 20 years of reliable service. The LRC perfectly straddles past and present. The engine was the last locomotive in North America built with an Alco 251 prime mover, and the LRC concept was the grandfather of Bombardier's high speed train program. Building upon ideas tested in the LRC, Bombardier has become one of the world leaders in high speed passenger rail equipment.
Dan Garcia, John Scalena (from VIA), Jason Shron, Michael Guy and Rob Doucet (from Western Mechanical) inspect the trucks of 6917 in the pouring rain, November 2009. Dan is wearing his invisible forcefield and as such is not affected by the rain.
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Now that we have saved the LRC, what next?
Our ultimate goal is to move the LRC to the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre at the John Street Roundhouse in downtown Toronto. However, because we are not connected to the main line, the move must be made by truck. That will be a very expensive move.
VIA starts charging us storage fees in September 2010, and we have until September 2011 to move the LRC from their property. So we were faced with the question: what do we do in the interim?
A local railway to the rescue!
A local short line has been in touch with us about the LRC. One of their top people is very enthusiastic about our efforts to save the LRC, and has offered their yard as a location to store the locomotive while we raise the funds for the move to the museum. The price is hard to beat: storage is free!
Until final approval comes in from head office, we have to keep the name of the short line quiet. But I can tell you it is within a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto and is easily accessible to all fans of the LRC.
The short line has also offered to help us with our restoration efforts. Provided that the locomotive can meet current Transport Canada safety regulations, the TRHA will be able to offer cab rides in the LRC as a fundraiser! Imagine seeing 6917 in operation on a railroad once again... and then imagine taking a cab ride! What a fantastic opportunity!
We are currently in negotiations with some large donors to move the LRC to the roundhouse as soon as possible. If we are unable to secure enough funds for the move before the winter, we will take the short line up on its offer and move 6917 to their yard. We then have time to raise the necessary funds to move 6917 to the Toronto Railway Heritage Centre, while we have a space to start restoration work and get this baby running. Either way, it is a win-win situation for the TRHA.
What is our fundraising goal?
Now that we have purchased the LRC from VIA, there are still plenty of things to do. We have enough funds to get the necessary insurance and to get the LRC certified to move by rail to the short line. But now we need to raise the funds for the move.
Stage 2 Fundraising Goal: The First Move - $6500
The move to the short line by rail is estimated at $4500 including switching moves. We are currently waiting for a firm rate quote. Before the move, we need $2000 to have custom, removable aluminum covers made to cover the windows from vandals and to cover the VIA logo, which for liability reasons can't be exposed until 6917 is at the museum.
Stage 3 Fundraising Goal: Make it Shine - $8,000
A cosmetic restoration of the locomotive, including automotive-grade paint professionally applied, will cost about $8,000, and we want to get that started in the spring. We will need volunteers to come help us sand down the exterior and fill any blemishes with body filler before the painters start their work.
Stage 4 Fundraising Goal: Make it Run - $TBA
The cost of the restoration to operating condition will depend on a detailed inspection by our locomotive mechanics. Keep an eye on this space for more updates as we get them.
Stage 5 Fundraising Goal: Bring it Home - $80,000
Finally, the move to the museum is estimated at approximately $80,000.
So our long-term fundraising goal is approximately an additional $110,000. Seeing as we raised over $40,000 in a few short months entirely from individual railfans and enthusiasts, this goal is 100% achievable. We hope you are as excited as we are to be saving this unique piece of history.
So we still need your help to complete this move and ensure that future generations of railfans and historians will be able to learn about and appreciate the LRC and its role in Canadian railway history. Please donate today!
Thank you gifts for your donation
Your contribution is vital to our success. Here is what we can offer as a way of saying "thanks." Beside each donation amount below is a description of the accompanying gift.
- $100: An exclusive LRC pin1
- $250: An exclusive LRC baseball cap and pin1
- $500: A $100 VIA Rail Canada gift card2
- $1000: A $100 VIA Rail Canada gift card2 and two exclusive Rapido Trains Inc. LRC coach models (a $140 value)3
- $2000: A $200 VIA Rail Canada gift card2 and a free Rapido Trains Inc. model of 6917 (a $400 value)4
The TRHA is a federally registered charitable organization. All donations of $25 or more are tax receiptable. All donations of $500 or more will also receive the LRC pin and cap.
All donors of $1000 or more will have their names inscribed on a plaque mounted inside the cab of 6917. Railway employees who do not require VIA gift cards can opt to receive additional complimentary LRC coach models instead.
This exclusive HO scale model of LRC locomotive #6917 can be yours, only from the TRHA!
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Buy an exclusive model of 6917!
If you can't afford a $2000 donation but you would still like to purchase an exclusive HO scale Rapido Trains Inc. model of 6917, please click on the link below to complete your purchase from the TRHA. The price is $400 plus taxes. Shipping (via Canada Post surface mail) is included. Your credit card will be charged immediately, and your model will be shipped to you when it is ready in 2011. You won't get a tax receipt for this purchase, but rest assured your contribution will go towards the TRHA purchase of the LRC.
Model Features:
- DC/DCC with original LRC sounds
- Newly-designed motor and gears for super slow-speed performance
- Operating headlights, ditch lights, class lights and back-up light
- Operating radiator fan
- Numerous extra detail parts, factory-installed
- Separate metal grab irons and grills, factory-installed
- Operating rubber diaphragm
- Macdonald-Cartier metal couplers
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