During Doors Open 2007, the TRHA hosted almost 600 visitors for tours of Union Station on Saturday and Sunday. As well, there were hundreds of people who spent time enjoying the archival photographic display in the Great Hall.

Many thanks to the volunteers who made this happen, both tour leaders and those who helped out in other ways. Thanks also to the Union Station security staff and members of the Toronto & York Division of the Canadian Railroad Historical Association who helped set up and take down the displays.

It was another well executed and received event and I'm always surprised by just how much Torontonians care about this building. I think that we can all be proud of the role we played in helping them appreciate Union Station even more.

For the past several months, the City of Toronto has been restoring the glass corridor inside the thermal windows on the west end of the Great Hall. Happily, this was completed in time for this weekend. They've done a beautiful job on this. Even more stunning is the restoration of the skylight over the former Waiting Room. Those on the tours were able to appreciate a clear view of the skylight from inside the glass corridor overlooking the light well.

By Derek Boles

The Toronto Railway Heritage Centres antique Elwell-Parker mobile crane left its home of nearly twenty years today for an outing in Roundhouse Park. TRHA board members Dan Garcia and Michael Guy required lifting equipment for preparation work relating to Doors Open on May 26th and 27th and took the opportunity presented by a sunny day to drive the crane from stall 32 over to the east side of Roundhouse Park. Aside from getting stuck in some soft ground (hardly Elwell's fault!), the crane worked flawlessly. Thanks go to Cam Heaps of Steam Whistle Brewing for a tow back to solid ground. A short video of the exit from stall 32 is here.



Photo and video courtesy Dan Garcia.

This past week, Steam Whistle Brewing continued work in their stalls 12 to 14 expansion space. The drainage work is complete and new concrete has been poured to complete the floor reconstruction. New photographs have been posted here: http://garrattguy.googlepages.com/swexpansionwork
and here: http://garrattguy.googlepages.com/newdoor
Work still remaining is to lay the finish floor and complete the process pipe work after which the first new beer tanks will be brought in.

Michael Guy, VP - TRHA

On Sunday April 29, the TRHA was pleased to host 22 members of the Guelph Historical Railway Association
(http://www.ghra.ca/about.html) and the Cambridge Railway Heritage Group (http://www.crhg.ca.)
Many of the members arrived in Toronto on VIA Train 84 and were welcomed at Union Station by TRHA Historian Derek Boles. The group then went on a tour of the Railway Lands, which began with a stroll around the Air Canada Centre and the little known stone carvings depicting the history of transportation and communications in Canada.
At Roundhouse Park, the group was met by TRHA Vice President Michael Guy for a tour of the Roundhouse interior. In the picture, Michael Guy explains the workings of the Elwell crane in Bay 32 of the Roundhouse to our visitors.
After lunch, Derek led the group on a tour of Union Station, which ended shortly after 5. The members who had arrived by train returned on VIA 87.

The TRHA is looking for volunteers for Doors Open 2007 on May 26th and 27th. We will be hosting events at both Union Station and the Roundhouse. This is a solicitation for general volunteers, TRHA members or otherwise, who just want to help out on one or both days. If you are interested in doing so, we would like to hear from you. You are welcome to split your time between Union Station and the Roundhouse, if you so desire.

Volunteers at the Roundhouse generally guide visitors around and answer questions about the facility and the equipment inside. We will provide briefing notes a week ahead of time. You would also be responsible for making sure that visitors (and their children) don't do stupid things like climb on the equipment, take souvenirs, or fall into the turntable pit. Volunteers would be both inside and outside.

Volunteers at Union Station will be stationed at a table in the Great Hall and also greeting people and answering questions. We have a need for those willing to lead 45-minute tours and we provide a script and a security officer to accompany the tour. For those not comfortable leading a tour, we also have a need for shepherds: making sure the tour groups stay together, assisting visitors with mobility issues, etc. Volunteers would be mostly inside.

Please copy the form below into an email, fill it out and send it to both Michael Guy (mguy@ca.inter.net) and Derek Boles (derekboles@rogers.com).

DOORS OPEN 2007 VOLUNTEER SURVEY

Under each date, indicate:

1. Your venue preference, the Roundhouse or Union Station.
2. The hours you want to volunteer.
3. What you are willing to do.

SATURDAY, MAY 26, 10 AM - 4 PM



SUNDAY, MAY 27, 10 AM - 4 PM


Derek Boles, TRHA