Many volunteers from model engineering and miniature railway clubs in southern Ontario were involved in the development of our miniature railway in Roundhouse Park.  This community of miniature railway enthusiasts is not large so we tend to know each other quite well.

For many years, The Frontenac Society of Model Engineers in the Kingston, Ontario, Canada area had a very modest 3 ½” gauge miniature railway at the Pump House Steam Museum in Kingston, Ontario.  Closure of that museum a number of years ago left them homeless. The Pump House museum has since reopened.

However,  the closure was an opportunity for the small club to ambitiously build a much larger track in a municipal park in Battersea, Ontario which is 40 minutes north of Kingston.  They first installed a raised 3 ½” gauge track which has been operational for a few years now.

This year on September 21st, 2014, they held a Golden Spike ceremony to commemorate the completion of their ground level 7 ¼” gauge track. We were invited to join them and even bring something to operate!

We rose to the challenge and Michael Guy brought our mini-Whitcomb locomotive plus two of our riding cars to help celebrate the event.  Michael documented all in the video above. Below we show some of the still photos from the video as well, especially the shot of one of their steam engines about to break through the Golden Spike banner and then our Whitcomb following right behind it.

Posting by Russ Milland; Video and photos by Michael Guy

Click on each image for a closer look!

Breaking the banner!

Mini-Whit follows suit!

Michael and their steam loco

Michael and our Whitcomb

Posing for the camera!