Built in 1942 by the Montreal Locomotive Works, CNR 6218 faithfully served the Canadian National Railway in fast freight and heavy passenger service until her initial retirement in 1959.
An example of the the very popular Northern class 6200 series, the 6218's retirement lasted only 5 years when she was restored and returned to the rails pulling popular excursion trips throughout southern Ontario between 1964-1971. After her second retirement the Canadian National Railway donated the locomotive to the Town of Fort Erie-ON to honour the region's railway heritage and large railway yard.
The town agreed the locomotive would be kept in a clean and attractive condition at all times, that adequate protection would be provided to minimize vandalism and that a suitable roof would be erected to provide overhead protection. CNR 6218 has been on display at the Fort Erie Railway Museum since 1974, but unfortunately, erecting a roof or shelter over the locomotive has never been economically viabile.
As reported in Niagara This Week, four decades of exposure to the elements have taken their toll on the 6218. The locomotive has accumulated a great deal of surface rust and is, in fact, rusted through in several places. The Town of Fort Erie is now faced with an important question....what to do with CNR 6218?
There are several options being discussed, but the Niagara Railway Museum feels the best way to preserve this important historical artifact is to move it to our facility located inside the former Canadian Nation Railway yard shops in Fort Erie-ON. Our museum is located only a short distance from the Fort Erie Railway Museum, but offers a physical building in which CNR 6218 can be protected from the weather and cosmetically restored.
The Niagara Railway Museum has been preserving and displaying railway artifacts with historical relevance to he Niagara Region for 20 years. We would be honoured to help the Town of Fort Erie preserve this important piece of its history and share it with future generations.
By signing this petition, you are voicing your support of the Niagara Railway Museum's proposal to have the CNR 6218 moved to our location in Fort Erie-ON for indoor storage and cosmetic restoration.
We also encourage you to contact Mayor Wayne Redekop and Ward 1 Councilman George McDemott to share your support of our preservation efforts
Updates
October 20, 2017
The momentum is undeniable now. People clearly want this piece of history saved.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
88 Comments
This is long overdue. I have a picture of myself taken in 1989 with the engine….and it was rough then. The City of Fort Erie should be embarrassed for how they have let this fall into such disrepair….and the NRM is the best option for a new home that will properly care for it.
It makes a lot more sense to put the locomotive at the railway museum where it can be stored indoors. There it would be sheltered from the elements, protected better from vandals and looked after by people that care and respect the 6218 for the history it brings to the committee.
I know that this locomotive was used the steam program run by the Canadian National Railway. A few years ago 6167, another steam locomotive to run in the program was cosmetically restored and it turned out nice. If 6167 deserves to be made as good as new. Why not 6218.
Local railway history in a city that largely owes its modern existence and past economic prosperity to the railways should keep such history for present and future generations
Its a shame to see this significant artifact slowly detriate by it surrent care takers. We are all care takers of those items left to us, if you don't wish to do the duty, pass it on to some oelse willing and able. This is not a me first contest, its the care of some thing precious to pass to future generations.
Hopefully something can be done to help bring 6218 out of retirement.
The last time I rode 6218 was back in 1968. It would nice to give her the proper respect she has earned. Indoors out of the weather, like the engines at the Museum on St. Laurent Blvd., here in Ottawa would be perfect. She's part of our railway heritage. Don't waste her.
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Built in 1942 by the Montreal Locomotive Works, CNR 6218 faithfully served the Canadian National Railway in fast freight and heavy passenger service until her initial retirement in 1959.
An example of the the very popular Northern class 6200 series, the 6218's retirement lasted only 5 years when she was restored and returned to the rails pulling popular excursion trips throughout southern Ontario between 1964-1971. After her second retirement the Canadian National Railway donated the locomotive to the Town of Fort Erie-ON to honour the region's railway heritage and large railway yard.
The town agreed the locomotive would be kept in a clean and attractive condition at all times, that adequate protection would be provided to minimize vandalism and that a suitable roof would be erected to provide overhead protection. CNR 6218 has been on display at the Fort Erie Railway Museum since 1974, but unfortunately, erecting a roof or shelter over the locomotive has never been economically viabile.
As reported in Niagara This Week, four decades of exposure to the elements have taken their toll on the 6218. The locomotive has accumulated a great deal of surface rust and is, in fact, rusted through in several places. The Town of Fort Erie is now faced with an important question....what to do with CNR 6218?
There are several options being discussed, but the Niagara Railway Museum feels the best way to preserve this important historical artifact is to move it to our facility located inside the former Canadian Nation Railway yard shops in Fort Erie-ON. Our museum is located only a short distance from the Fort Erie Railway Museum, but offers a physical building in which CNR 6218 can be protected from the weather and cosmetically restored.
The Niagara Railway Museum has been preserving and displaying railway artifacts with historical relevance to he Niagara Region for 20 years. We would be honoured to help the Town of Fort Erie preserve this important piece of its history and share it with future generations.
By signing this petition, you are voicing your support of the Niagara Railway Museum's proposal to have the CNR 6218 moved to our location in Fort Erie-ON for indoor storage and cosmetic restoration.
We also encourage you to contact Mayor Wayne Redekop and Ward 1 Councilman George McDemott to share your support of our preservation efforts
Updates
October 20, 2017
The momentum is undeniable now. People clearly want this piece of history saved.
Reached 100 supporters
October 20, 2017
88 Comments
I had many happy trips riding being 6218 in Ontario, I was present during its valedictory, which was given by Omer LaVallee. You have a unique part of Canadian Railway History. Please DO NOT move it. Just for the record, I live in the NYC region.
This is long overdue. I have a picture of myself taken in 1989 with the engine….and it was rough then. The City of Fort Erie should be embarrassed for how they have let this fall into such disrepair….and the NRM is the best option for a new home that will properly care for it.
It makes a lot more sense to put the locomotive at the railway museum where it can be stored indoors. There it would be sheltered from the elements, protected better from vandals and looked after by people that care and respect the 6218 for the history it brings to the committee.
I know that this locomotive was used the steam program run by the Canadian National Railway. A few years ago 6167, another steam locomotive to run in the program was cosmetically restored and it turned out nice. If 6167 deserves to be made as good as new. Why not 6218.
Local railway history in a city that largely owes its modern existence and past economic prosperity to the railways should keep such history for present and future generations
Its a shame to see this significant artifact slowly detriate by it surrent care takers. We are all care takers of those items left to us, if you don't wish to do the duty, pass it on to some oelse willing and able. This is not a me first contest, its the care of some thing precious to pass to future generations.
Hopefully something can be done to help bring 6218 out of retirement.
The last time I rode 6218 was back in 1968. It would nice to give her the proper respect she has earned. Indoors out of the weather, like the engines at the Museum on St. Laurent Blvd., here in Ottawa would be perfect. She's part of our railway heritage. Don't waste her.
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I had many happy trips riding being 6218 in Ontario, I was present during its valedictory, which was given by Omer LaVallee. You have a unique part of Canadian Railway History. Please DO NOT move it. Just for the record, I live in the NYC region.