About Island Rails 2009
The car ferry, John Hamilton Grey, carried the last operational rail cars and locomotive away from Prince Edward Island on December 31, 1989. The event marked the end of 118 years of railway service on the Island. It wasn’t long before almost all the remaining evidence of P.E.I.’s railway heritage was gone as rails, ties, signals, and signs were removed and the land was reallocated as an Island-wide recreational trail system. (left – the John Hamilton Grey)
Two locations on the Island have preserved this history. The old Kensington and Elmira train stations house museums of railway artifacts and have locomotives and rolling stock on site. They provide the lasting clues to the Island’s history of rail transportation. (right – 1762 sits in front of the railway museum in Kensington)
The 2009 Maritime Federation of Model Railroaders Convention and Annual General Meeting on Prince Edward Island will commemorate 20 years since trains left P.E.I. It will be held at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht club in Summerside on May 22 – 24, 2009.
The location is not far from the wharf where rail cars brought in tons of potatoes each year to be loaded onto ships destined for ports around the globe. Not far, in fact, from the old train station that is now a public library.
The Silver Fox’s six rink curling surface (90′ x 150′) makes a perfect venue for hosting events that require large open spaces. The public show, demonstrations, and clinics will be held in this area. Don’t worry about it being cold, their ice is usually out of the rink by the end of March.
Portions of the ice surface will be curtained off to provide areas for clinics. A room on the second floor overlooking the harbour will be used as a contest room and for the AGM. The Silver Fox will also cater the banquet.
The ice surface where the public show, clinics, and demonstrations will be held.
The second floor meeting room for the AGM and Contests
The banquet area.
The official accommodation for the Convention will be the Quality Inn – Garden of the Gulf. More information can be found here.
