The Future Starts Now

 

Since the rededication of the 103 in May 2005 the restoration crew has made additional improvements to the engine: repairing the whistle and installing an air compressor and finishing off the Cab’s gauges. From here it turns into a continuing maintenance program, trying to hold the gains that have been made in the restoration.

 

When asked the guys on the crew almost all say the next big effort will have to be to tackle the 103’s tender in a serious way. The baffled water tank at the rear of the tender has suffered the most. The largest of the holes in the sides were patched in the initial registration but the metal was so thin in places that there was almost nothing to weld to. A few more years and these weak areas will begin to fail. The floor of the tank is as bad or worse, not to mention inaccessible. It’s going to be a big job and call for some heavy steel fabrication work. It looks like we’ve still got a lot of work ahead of us.

 

There are, of course, big plans for the future. The constraints of money and physical space are yet to be overcome but the willpower to see it happen is unwavering.

 

Westfield is seeking volunteers to join the restoration crew. As well as the tender our TH&B caboose #58 is in line for a serious retrofit. Enthusiasm is required as much as historic knowledge or metal working skill. Learning through experience is the greatest learning of all and what makes volunteering the rewarding choice it can be. Visit WestfieldHeritage.ca to see what we have to offer.