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Hamilton Spectator
28-05-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Elgin County Railway Museum re-opening ignites momentum to develop railway lands
The grand reopening of the 112-year-old Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM) on May 17 seems to have added excitement and momentum to plans to revitalize and redevelop St. Thomas' derelict downtown railway lands. Upwards of 2,000 visitors roamed the museum and its grounds at the reopening, with children enjoying a variety of activities and crafts, including a bouncy castle, while entire families also focused on interactive displays, artifacts and a collection of historic train engines and rail cars. Just five years ago, ECRM counted itself lucky to get that number of visitors in a year's time. Annual attendance figures now top 25,000, with interest across southwestern Ontario generated by events such as the Christmas Night Markets in November and December. Three years ago, ECRM's digital identity generated about 11,000 online views per year. Total views now exceed 1.3 million annually. About 275 businesses sponsored events at the museum last year. The community is also eager to get onboard for festivities like those planned for May 24 when an historic London and Port Stanley Railway (L&PSR) electric rail vehicle – Car 14 – will be returned to service for the first time since it was retired in 1957. Car 14 is scheduled to complete a ceremonial run on its old St. Thomas to Port Stanley route, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tickets for the ride are sold out, but many curious onlookers are expected. 'If you go back three years ago, nobody was talking about this property,' ECRM Chief Operating Officer Wil Zufelt said in a recent interview. 'Now everybody is talking about this property nonstop. 'It's because of emotions,' added Mr. Zufelt. 'People are in awe the first time they walk inside. You cannot not be. 'There are 18 doors on the east side,' he said. 'When I first walked around that area, when I was hired to take over three years ago, I thought, 18 doors and you never see them open. Now we opened up all the doors and let people in to see what's going on. History is supposed to be out in the public view where people can see it, not closed up behind doors. Everybody is ready, it's starting to become alive.' St. Thomas' railway history dates back to the completion of the London and Port Stanley Railway in 1856. It culminates with railway developments in the late 19th and early 20th century, when up to eight different railway companies ran over 100 trains a day through what was then known as the 'Railway Capital of Canada'. The railway lands in the city core are a prime example of the tens of thousands of sites across Canada – including some 25,000 in Ontario – that are classified as brownfields, or vacant and underutilized properties contaminated by past industrial or commercial activities. Today, some estimates peg the cost to remediate St. Thomas' downtown railway lands soil at more than $5 million. There are also questions around what needs to be done with the historic buildings on the site, how much restorations would cost and who will pay. Costs to restore the ECRM alone may exceed $40 million. 'There's a lot of work to be done before there are shovels in the ground,' said Mr. Zufelt, 'but you can see that building starting to change. The community wants to use the building, the property. 'The railway museum will always stay, it's always going to be the biggest part of that building,' he added. 'What you're starting to see is multi-uses for that building. 'It is the busiest property in St. Thomas now,' he continued. 'We host more events than anybody else. People want to use that space for a lot of different reasons. There's so much potential and it all starts with a secondary plan.' St. Thomas launched a secondary plan review process earlier this year, inviting proposals for redevelopment of the downtown railway lands and also opening the door to public consultations on the city's future. Reimagining of the brownfield – bounded by Talbot Street to the north, First Avenue to the east, Wellington Street to the south, and Ross Street to the west – will involve an extensive public consultation process and City council's eventual amendment of the official plan. Secondary plans typically provide detailed policies regulating urban design concepts, including the creation of public spaces and parks. Doug Tarry Homes Limited (DTL) and the McCaig family are the largest owners of property in the downtown railway district. Roughly speaking, DTL owns railway lands to the east of ECRM, while the McCaig family owns property to the west, including the large lot at the southeast corner of Talbot and Ross streets, as well as an area near the Joe Thornton Arena. The downtown railway lands are overseen by The Railworks Coalition. Formed in 2018 to preserve and protect the city's railway assets, the coalition is comprised of three non-profits organizations: CASO Station (Canada Southern Railway Station) / North American Railway Hall of Fame; ECRM; and the St. Thomas Elevated Park (STEP). Board members of each organization are board members of the coalition. Mr. Zufelt is CAO of all three. 'If you look at the 16 acres that are here … ultimately, it's probably going to be the biggest development in the downtown core,' Mr. Zufelt continued. 'It's been started, it just takes a while to get the ball rolling. 'Obviously, for us, we want this building to be protected, this space, the look, the view,' he said. 'We want the rail heritage to be protected, which is very important, but what we most need is making sure we have enough funds in the development of a county railway museum. 'Restoration is what we're working on now,' added Mr. Zufelt. 'We'll probably be rolling out in the next four months, with consultations with the public, and having public gatherings, talking about what the museum could be.' Mayor Joe Preston said the city must be careful not to limit the scope of its vision. 'We're on the edge of news coming out about the secondary plan,' he said in a recent interview. 'I keep thinking this is the secondary plan for the downtown lands, which is certainly the railway lands, in front of the railway museum, but it's not only that. It's all of the McCaig property, it's Balaclava school and what we're developing there.' Balaclava school is being converted into 78 supportive housing units in a partnership between the City of St. Thomas and Indwell, a Hamilton-based supportive housing provider. 'This can become a bigger look at that area of downtown St. Thomas,' added Mayor Preston. 'I don't want to hold it up, I want to put shovels in the ground, let's go. If indeed it's going to end up being some good housing for us, let's get going.'
CTV News
25-05-2025
- CTV News
‘Real-life history': St. Thomas train returns to track after being dormant for 68 years
This is the first time since 1957 that the London and Port Stanley Rail Car 14 is transporting passengers. CTV London's Brent Lale reports. It's like stepping back in time. 'This is the first time since 1957 that the L&PS (London and Port Stanley Rail) Car 14 is downtown St. Thomas, and going on a trip to Port Stanley,' said Rose Tisdale, general manager of the Elgin County Railway Museum (ECRM). Car 14 was built in Newark, Ohio in 1917. After running until 1957 as a passenger train, it was donated to the Canadian Railway Museum in 1962 by the London Railway Commission. It has been in the possession of the ECRM since 1999 and has been fully restored. ST. THOMAS TRAIN CAR 14 London and Port Stanley Rail Car 14 has been fully restored and is back on the track from St. Thomas, Ont. to Port Stanley for the first time since 1957, seen on May 24, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It's glorious,' said Steve Peters, a St. Thomas city councillor and historian. 'It's a palace like car and with the King (Charles) coming to Canada, he could ride in this. Car 14 is finally in its rightful place. Outside the walls of the museum and back on the track.' 'It's great for the museum and it's great for St. Thomas,' said Gord McOuat, who has worked for hours restoring the air brakes and performing test runs on the train. Peters called this inaugural run 'special.' 'It's real-life history,' he said. 'It's not something that's just static and sitting there. We have to preserve our past for our future.' The train cost $33,665.70 in 1917 and was the best design money could buy. The L&PS was a prototype for a line envisioned by Sir Adam Beck, which would have seen electrified lines across Ontario. With those lines no longer in place, Car 14 was towed along the track. ST. THOMAS TRAIN CAR 14 Train enthusiast Bradley Roberts, 13, expresses his love for London and Port Stanley Rail Car 14 on May 24, 2025. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'I just love how it's like, a very old, electric-train car and that even though it can't run on its own power, we still have this diesel to help us,' said Bradley Roberts, 13, who is a train enthusiast. 'This is probably one of my favorite days ever.' Louisa Savitz and Jennifer Kirby decided to go back to the turn of the century by dressing up in historical clothing. An era when St. Thomas got the nickname 'The Railway City.' 'We all remember our parents talking about riding [the train] all the time, so there's a lot of history here,' said Kirby. Peters hopes this is just the beginning when it comes to reigniting St. Thomas' rail history. ST. THOMAS TRAIN CAR 14 Louisa Zavitz (left) and Jennifer Kirby dressed in turn-of-the-century costume on May 24, 2025 for the first ride on London and Port Stanley Rail Car 14 since 1957. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'We've got a little bit of a connection here about 2000 feet to the north,' said Peters. 'That is that link to London that is not there. That's what we've got to accomplish in the long term.' That may be years away. Until that happens, train and history lovers can enjoy the upcoming rides in the historic car. 'It's emotional and it's exciting seeing everyone's positive, happy reactions,' said Tisdale. 'It's a local piece of history and it's just really important to us. In museums, you have a broad spectrum of artifacts and our collection spans North America and western Ontario. But having something that's local to us right in St. Thomas, it's just really fun.'
Newsweek
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Liam Lawson Hit With Penalty After F1 Miami Sprint Crash With Fernando Alonso
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The FIA has penalized Racing Bulls driver Liam Lawson for causing a collision with two-time Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso during the Miami sprint race. He has been handed a five-second time penalty along with one penalty point. On lap 15 of 19, the New Zealander collided with the rear of Alonso's Aston Martin AMR25. This caused Alonso to spin and crash into the wall, ending his race prematurely. Unfortunate contact between Alonso and Lawson 💥 This is how Fernando's Sprint came to an end 😬#F1 #F1Sprint #MiamiGP — Formula 1 (@F1) May 3, 2025 Lawson had scored his first points of the 2025 season with what was a seventh place finish. While speaking to the media following the race, the New Zealander explained: "He came out on cold tyres, and I'd done a lap. I was trying to get by him early in the lap. Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 01, 2025 in... Liam Lawson of New Zealand and Visa Cash App Racing Bulls looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Miami at Miami International Autodrome on May 01, 2025 in Miami, Florida. More"I waited for DRS, made sure to get my wheels ahead a the apex trying to overtake. I feel I did that, then I got squeezed off. "At that point I was heading for the concrete wall. I was trying to get out, but he left me no space. "Obviously [it's] not my intention, but I feel like I had my wheels ahead." The FIA has released the following clarification on the decision: "Infringement: Breach of Appendix L, Chapter IV Article 2 d) of the International Sporting Code. "Decision: 5 second time penalty imposed after the Sprint. 1 penalty points (total of 6 for the 12 month period). "Reason: The Stewards heard from the driver of Car 14 (Fernando Alonso), the driver of Car 30 (Liam Lawson), team representatives and reviewed video and in-car video evidence. "Car 30 was attempting an overtake on the outside of Car 14 into Turn 11. Although being able to pull fully alongside, the front axle of Car 30 was not ahead of the front axle of Car 14 at the apex as required per the Driving Standards Guidelines. Therefore Car 30 was not entitled to be given room at the exit. Due to the layout of the track, the car which has the right to the racing line in Turn 11 also has the right to the racing line in Turn 12. "Car 30 drove to the very edge of the track between Turns 11 and 12 and collided with Car 14 on the approach to Turn 12. The Stewards determine that Car 30 was predominantly at fault and therefore consider a 5 seconds penalty to be appropriate taking into account the track conditions."
