Elgin County Railway Museum volunteers have spent years restoring the 107-year-old rail car

It’s “all aboard” once again for the London and Port Stanley Railway’s 107-year-old Motor Car No. 14.

Following a lengthy restoration by Elgin County Railway Museum volunteers, during which the venerable, self-propelled passenger coach was stripped to its frame and fully rebuilt, No. 14 will welcome the public for a look-see on Saturday at the Canada Southern railway station.

The electrically powered car ran for 40 years, starting in 1917, from its build by the Jewett Car Co. of Newark, Ohio, right up until the end of passenger service on the line.

But Saturday will be the first time the public has been allowed on board since the car arrived in 1999 at the railway museum. Stored outside at the Canadian Railway Museum in Quebec, where it had been donated by the London Rail Commission following the motor car’s retirement, No. 14 was in rough shape.

But not now.

“It was a very deluxe car,” volunteer Cliff Rier said, and today, No. 14 gleams once again.

“The interior was all mahogany with inlaid trim that you can see.”

And all now like new.

A hobby woodworker who began volunteering at the museum after he moved to St. Thomas from Chesley to be closer to family, Cliff, 84, has worked four years on the No. 14 restoration (and, indeed, is named a team lead, along with Dennis Biggs, by museum manager Rose Tysdale.)

The retired car dealer agrees there’s nothing like No. 14 running on the rails today.

“Everything is so deluxe. The mahogany. The fixtures were all cast brass; the edges of the seats were cast brass and polished.”

The windows even featured leaded glass panels.

“There was a lot of restoration. When it arrived here, it had been stored outside for many years. All the wood was rotted. There were rust holes in it.

“It has to be completely gutted. Panels welded on the outside. Over the years, there have been a lot of people working on it.”

No. 14 is to be on display from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Canada Southern station.

It is opening weekend for the railway museum, which is welcoming summertime visitors beginning Sunday after its annual off-season shutdown. There’s fun (including a bouncy castle for kids) and food – and admission is free.

Located in the historic Michigan Central Railway shops building off Wellington Street at Fifth Avenue, and filled with railway history, including the museum’s iconic steam locomotive No. 5700 and rolling stock, the Elgin County Railway Museum is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through to Labour Day.

Click ecrm.ca for more information.

“This one’s for Simon!”

And with that........

© Sarnia Observer