Norman Mottshaw
Pete Deachman posted on Facebook:
- Here is a picture of my grandfather, Norman Mottshaw. He built the train in Port Arthur Ontario. It was sold to The Museum Of Science and Technology in Ottawa after my grandfather passed away in 1969.
Norman Mottshaw, with his NYC 5200, 1953. Photo provided by Pete Deachman
Norman Mottshaw's Josslin 5200. Photo provided by Pete Deachman.
Norman Mottshaw's Josslin 5200 at a track located at 41 Pine Street, Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada. Norman and his grandson, Pete Deachman, are the last two passengers on the train. Photo provided by Pete Deachman.
Norman Mottshaw's NYC Josslin 5200 in 3/4 inch scale. Note the Groovy Track using flat steel rails and slotted wood ties. Left to right: Helen Deachman, Jimmy Deachman, Norman Mottshaw. Photo provided by Pete Deachman.
Norman Mottshaw's NYC J-1B (Josslin) Hudson locomotive at TSME Acres (Toronto Society of Model Engineers), circa 1950's.
Norman Mottshaw and his Josslin-designed NYC Hudson 5200 in 3/4 inch scale. Photo provided by Steve Bratina.
Pacific
- Norman Mottshaw also built a Canadian Pacific 4-6-2. Oddly enough, there was a blue tint to it. I have the photograph somewhere. I am not sure if he was originally from British Columbia and then moved to Ontario. I think he was member of the Peteborough Society of Model Engineers.
Sale to Museum
The Hudson locomotive was sold to the National Museum of Science and Technology after Mr. Mottshaw's death. For several years it was brought out each Christmas to give rides to children, as described in the following newspaper article.
- A day in the past
- Science museum's special displays provide an intriguing history lesson
- The Ottowa Journal
- Monday, 30 December 1974, Page 3
- By Kit Irving, Journal Reporter
- In a hiss of steam, its whistle screaming, the little model train engine with its 12 young passengers went chugging and clicking down the long miniature track in the National Museum of Science and Technology.
- Operated every Christmas season by members of the Bytown Railway Society, the tiny engine, about nine inches high, was built by Watchmaker Norman Mottshaw of Thunder Bay between 1946 and 1948.
- Mr. Mottshaw, who shaped each part by hand, made the engine a working model of the 1927 New York Central Hudson, said Arthur Sharman, a former CP Rail fireman, whose hand was on the throttle Saturday.
- Duncan H. duFresne, another former CP fireman in the railway society, was chalking the track to keep it clean. He recalled that Mr. Mottshaw's widow had first seen the train in operation when she visited the museum tow years ago.
- She had stood for a time, her face lighting up with a smile, he remembered, as she watched the sturdy engine pull its freight of cheerful noisy children.
- Mr. duFresne had told her the technicians found the engine th easiest to operate of any in the museum, and that it received loving care from Jack Hewitson, a builder of 40 model steam engines. One of Mr. Hewitson's model locomotives was back-up engine in the show.
Song
Learn more about Norman Mottshaw's live steam activities by reading the lyrics to a song written by his grandson, Pete Deachman:
Obituary
The following appeared in Live Steam Magazine, September 1968:
- Norman Mottshaw of Port Arthur, Ontario, passed away on August 3rd, 1968, at the age of 65 years.
- Norman was a meticulous craftsman and his work on his Live Steam models of English and New York Central locomotives brought praise from all who saw them.
- He was born in England but had lived in Port Arthur for the past 54 years where he served the Public Utilities Commission for 28 years. He was bandmaster of HMCS Griffon Band, active in model railroad clubs and was a member of the AF and MF Lodge.
- The condolences of all who shared Norman's interest go to his wife, Flora, and his son and daughter.