Red River Valley Railway
History
M. G. Winslow submitted the following to The Miniature Locomotive magazine, Jan-Feb 1953 edition:
- Greetings to all Brother "Live Steamers".
- By the time these few words appear in print, our season will have drawn to a close and winter workshop programs will be in full swing.
- The past season has been a good one on the Red River Valley Railway with the usual good turnout when we ran our engines. As usual, our passengers were in greater numbers than "power" was on hand to handle. Of course, our tariff is still the same "No Charge" which probably accounts for the goodly numbers of small fry lining up for rides.
- We did one thing this season which might be an idea for all "Roads" operating like ours. We put up neat signs which stated that all passengers would ride at their own risk. Even though we make no charge, an accident resulting from an injury to a non-revenue passenger could prove embarrassing to the members as a whole.
- The highlight of the summer was our annual "Meet" which was held Saturday and Sunday, August 23rd and 24th (1952). The weather was good although a trifle too warm but which resulted in the Locomotives steaming with very little fire. We were also delighted to be hosts to visitors from Minneapolis and St. Paul. We welcomed Hugh Brakke and "Bill" Goesch and their wives who showed up on Friday, August 22nd. Hugh showed up with a 3 1/2" gauge Pacific while Bro. Goesch had for display a 2 1/2" gauge 4-4-0. This job is nearing completion and is a fine piece of work. Saturday the track was reserved for the visitors to use. Sunday, all members, their wives, offspring and friends joined with the visitors in having the "Meet". The turn-out was estimated at around 125 persons with additional visitors coming and going all day. We had on hand a number of engines for working purposes while our more recent members put up a display of work that was most interesting to all. Two chassis of Hudson in 3 1/2" gauge were on view as well as a completed 2 1/2" gauge "Northern" type. A beautiful chassis of 3 1/2" gauge 4-8-4 was also shown as well as a 5" gauge Diesel which is under construction.
- We arranged with one of our members to take movies which we hope will be good. These will add zest to our winter meetings.
- We all joined in having a basket picnic at the proper time which was enjoyed by all. The entire affair went off extremely well.
- In September we also had a visitor from Denver, Art Wegne, who showed up with his wife to see our "Road." We were able to give him some entertainment at the track and show him some of our Red River hospitality.
- Next season we feel it would be a good idea to have an International Meet in Winnipeg. What do you fellows think about that?
- We all appreciate our Magazine and certainly hope it keeps on roaring along on schedule.
- In closing we hope that in all your "Live Steam" activities, your lights be always "Green" with no dead ends anywhere
1953 IBLS Meet
by M.G. Winslow
Winnepeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Miniature Locomotive, November-December 1953
The Red River Valley Railway has had a good summer with the track being put to good use on holidays and weekends. We found it necessary to make a few repairs in the spring but as a general whole the track was and is in very good order.
Our genial president, Jack Kerr, myself, and T. Thompson, attended the International Live Steam "meet" held in Toronto, August 22 and 23. Jack and I motored down, taking our respective wives and also our locomotives. Brother Thompson went by train but left his engine at home. The Saturday and Sunday of the meet turned out to be good days and attendance was high. As this was the first get-together I had attended, I had quite an interesting time and thoroughly enjoyed meeting chaps with whom I had corresponded but had not met personally.
I should like to mention that Jack's Hudson and my own Northern performed without any trouble manifesting itself anywhere. Perhaps it would be in order to pass along to you that many favorable comments were made about our magazine.
We arrived back home in time to make suitable arrangements for our own annual "meet." This was held on the Labor Day weekend and we were favored with cool but bright days. Saturday was reserved for visitors to try out the track and Sunday was the occasion of the locals and visitors getting together for the use of the track and the sharing of a basket picnic.
Out of town visitors were Jack Hewitson of Montreal who brought along a 3/4 inch scale "Miss Ten to Eight." Quite a treat to hear 8 beats instead of the usual 4 when his engine ran. Readers of the Model Engineer will understand what I mean. Hugh Brakke, Bill Goesch and Cad Larsen from Minneapolis and St. Paul and Norman Mottshaw from Fort William. The "Brothers" brought along their respective engines and with the exception of Jack Hewitson, all brought their wives. The visitors seemed to enjoy themselves and in the case of Brother Larsen, who brought along a 3/4 inch scale "Juliet" had never an opportunity before to try his engine on a track, he was full of enthusiasm and certainly gave his engine a good workout. Sunday proved to be a very successful day with over 150 people in attendance. This meant that motive power was never idle in handling the eager passengers.
1954 Memorial Meet
by M. G. Winslow
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
The Miniature Locomotive, November-December 1954
The Labor Day week end was scheduled for our annual meet and this year it again became international in its scope. We had visitors from Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as from Chicago and from Fort William we again had Norman Mottshaw who brought along his 3/4 inch scale Hudson. The visitors arrived Friday night and, as in past practices, we reserved Saturday as their day exclusively for the track. The day dawned cloudy and somewhat threatening for rain but, fortunately, this did not materialize and some excellent running was put in by those who held "running rights" over our line for the day.
Our visitors are perhaps old friends to you but I shall list them as we recorded them in our records:
- Hugh Brakke of St. Paul and his wife who brought along his free lance 3/4 inch scale Pacific
- LeRoy Brakke of Chicago and his 3/4 inch scale "Sentinel"
- Cad Larsen of Minneapolis and his wife and his 3/4 inch scale "Juliet"
- Bill Goesh of Minneapolis and his wife and his 1/2 inch scale "Standard." Bill Junior accompanied his father and mother
- Fred Hamvey of Minneapolis and his wife and his 3/4 inch scale "Atlantic"
- Norm Mottshaw of Fort William and his wife and 3/4 inch scale N.Y.C. Hudson
To get back on the track, Saturday evening we held a dinner at the home of Jack Kerr, our genial president, for the visitors and members of the RRV as well as their wives. We had quite a crowd and one did not need his "pie card" to enjoy the goodies offered. The vening was spent in the showing of movies of our track meets, as well as other railway shots and of course in plenty of Live Steam conversation.
Sunday was a fine day and our meet was ahuge success. Cad Larsen brought along his coal crusher and this does a good job of breaking up coal to suit the "Pigs" who were working. The line was somewhat crowded at times as the motive power was more than ample to handle all the passengers. A fine job was done by all in organizing the running so that no accidents marred the meet.
No mention is being made here of members' engine that were working or of the engines under construction that were displayed as this bit of news essentially covers the Live Steam visitors, but it should be noted that Jim Hewitson had his "Dutchess of Athol" (3/4 inch scale Pacific) working. He had done a fine job of overhauling this engine and is a credit to his skill and patience. Thanks are due also to Bert and Roy Swain who covered the event by taking movies.
Our visitors left Monday for home with the avowed promise of coming again next year. We hope they do.