The club recently enjoyed a field trip…

June 18 Field Trip to Exporail

Shortly after noon on Saturday, June 18, some dozen MonSFFen gathered, physically, face-to-face in the lobby of the Exporail Museum, located in the town of St-Constant, across the river, just south of Montreal. This outing marked our long-awaited but tentative return to in-person gatherings.

MonSFFen will recall that the last time we gathered together in the same room for a club event was on the occasion of our March 7, 2020 club meeting at the downtown Hôtel Espresso. Shortly after that meeting, the COVID-19 pandemic was officially declared, lockdowns initiated, and all club events suspended until further notice! We soon opted to move our monthly get-togethers online for the duration of the pandemic, which, take note, is not yet entirely over, though considerably moderated. We continue to gather online every month, even as we prepare for an anticipated return to in-person monthly meetings very soon.

Exporail houses the nation’s largest collection of locomotives, rail coaches and cars, and railroad equipment and paraphernalia, representing Canada’s railway heritage, dating back to the early days of steam and streetcars. Steampunk fans will surely delight in this museum, strolling among the elegantly appointed passenger cars, and the massive nuts-and-bolts steam locomotives, their cabs replete with a plethora of pipes and valves and levers.

The museum also featured several exhibits devoted to the history of toy trains, and a sizable, operating HO-scale model-railroad layout, of particular interest to the collectors and scale-modellers in our group. Furthermore, we braved the day’s rain to walk about outside, where were parked on sidings additional engines and cars awaiting restoration. We both explored the museum on our own and benefitted from a guided tour of some of the notable trains in the collection, including a first-generation Montreal Metro car!

For the benefit of those who were unable to join us on this field trip, we present, here, a photo gallery of our visit to the Exporail museum. (All photos by Keith Braithwaite unless otherwise indicated.)

The main “Angus” pavilion was our starting point. From the lobby and leading into the cavernous primary exhibit area, a short passageway served to display an assortment of track-laying tools, uniform caps, signage, promotional models, toy trains, plaques, historical photographs, and other railroad accoutrements. Interpretive videos screened on television monitors, as well.

Within the exhibit area itself, numerous locomotives, coaches, and railroad cars were grouped together on sidings amongst which we were able to meander, effectively taking a stroll through Canadian railway history.

Street Cars, Montreal Metro

In one corner and belonging to the Montreal City Passenger Railway was an early stagecoach-like vehicle, which had been pulled through city streets by a team of horses, presaging rail transportation.

An open-air, sightseeing type was among several street cars on exhibit, including the “Rocket,” which we were able to board. Period advertising signage was reproduced as a detail of this car’s restoration.

Regrettably out of service on this day is an operating street car that carries patrons on a brief tour around the museum grounds outdoors. It was undergoing work in a maintenance garage adjacent the Angus building.

Familiar to Montrealers was a first-generation Metro car, its sky-blue colour and white trim easily recognized. A vintage map of the Metro system, circa mid-1960s, was among the details featured aboard this car—the Metro then was but a fraction of the circuit it is today.

Passenger Coaches

Exporail’s collection includes a number of passenger coaches, from vintage to more modern, and we were able to view the interiors of some of these trains by way of an elevated platform.

Moreover, we were able to board a couple of the coaches for a closer look at the ornate decorative flourishes of a bygone era, and such features as fold-out upper and lower sleeping berths, a rather compact washroom, and a coal-fired stove positioned at one end of the coach, providing heat for the entire car. Passengers seated closest to the stove were charged more for their tickets!

We also boarded a mail car and learned about the pick-up/delivery system employed to move mail across the vast expanses of this country, in a time when carrying the mail was an important function of Canada’s railways.

The Age of Steam

A highlight of our visit was the opportunity to view the many mighty steam locomotives in the collection, from smaller—relatively speaking—workhorse engines to formidable, giant powerhouses and streamlined behemoths, some of which we were able to board for a close-up look at the crew compartments. Given the enormous size of these locomotives, their cabs were a surprisingly cramped space to work for engineer and crew!

We were able, as well, to descend into a pit and have a gander at the undercarriage of one huge locomotive, and view, in a secondary pavilion, a couple of European-made engines, the showcase example of which was the beautiful, aerodynamic, A4-class “Dominion of Canada.”

Built in 1937 for British Railways’ London-Edinburgh line and originally dubbed “Woodcock,” this locomotive was cutting-edge railroad technology in its day. Renamed “Dominion of Canada,” it was rescued from the scrap heap in 1965 after having been put out of service, restored by British Railways, and shipped to Canada just in time for this country’s Centennial Celebrations in 1967.

 

Also on view in this secondary pavilion was the exquisitely reconditioned “John Molson.”

Diesel-Electric Locomotives, Boxcars, Snow Removal Equipment

The age of steam gave way to diesel-electric power, and Exporail’s inventory includes a number of fine examples of these more contemporary locomotives.

 

There were on site a couple of boxcars, too, and this being Canada, special snow-removal equipment.

Model Railroading and Toy Trains

The Angus pavilion also featured several anterooms dedicated to model railroading and toy trains. A large, finely detailed model of Canadian National’s number 5606, locomotive and tender, marked the entrance to these rooms, and within was spotlighted a toaster-sized model of an engine imported from England for service on Canada’s first railroad, the Champlain and St. Lawrence, running between La Prairie and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu beginning in 1836.

 

A few wonderfully intricate model railroad layouts were on exhibit, including a pintsized set-up enclosed within a suitcase! Glass display cases showcased a variety of miniature locomotives and railcars, the most popular and common scale among model railroaders being HO, or 1:87.

A big, impressive HO layout occupied most of one large room, with operating trains snaking through miniature forest and mountain, tiny, lifelike town and city.

Toy trains and accessories were featured as well, from simple wooden models to metal and plastic replicas of varying sizes and levels of detail. Several of the famous and very collectible Lionel electric trains were included, here.

Railyard

As the rain let up a little, we made our way outside to explore the many trains parked in the railyard—locomotives, passenger coaches, boxcars, flatcars, maintenance vehicles, all awaiting refurbishment.

Recreated were a couple of passenger train stations and platforms, one of which harkened back to an era when passengers were segregated by gender as they awaited their train, the women in one waiting room, which was heated by a coal-burning stove, the men in the other, without any source of heat! The station’s ticket office was positioned between the two, with service wickets on either side. Luggage carts, and the office’s furniture and antiquated equipment completed the recreation.

As the time came to put a caboose on our field trip, we made one last stop before departing: the gift shop! We left having enjoyed a most pleasant afternoon exploring a most interesting museum.

Welcome to MonSFFA’s 2022 e-Picnic!

Make your favourite sandwich or prepare a tasty snack, pour yourself a cool, refreshing drink, and join us for an hour or two, or for the whole afternoon as we get together online to chat via ZOOM and enjoy each other’s company!

With the seventh wave now upon us and COVID numbers climbing locally, we’ve postponed our in-person club BBQ-in-the-Park until Sunday, August 28, by which time, we are told by authorities, the seventh wave should have dissipated.

So, in the meantime, we’ll be getting together for a casual video-chat this afternoon! No presentations, just light, informal programming, and the chance to catch up, discuss the latest in sci-fi entertainment, or share with the group thoughts on recent books read or screen sci-fi enjoyed. If you’re working on any nifty SF/F-related crafting or other projects, or perhaps recently visited a fun and interesting vacation destination, tell us all about it, and share any photos you snapped with the group!

Do join us for an afternoon of conversation and camaraderie right here, right now!

To join our ZOOM video-chat, which will run throughout the next few hours, simply click here and follow the prompts: This Afternoon’s MonSFFA e-Meeting on ZOOM

If you’re not fully equipped to ZOOM, you can also join in by phone (voice only); in the Montreal area, the toll-free number to call is: 1-438-809-7799. If you’re from out of town, find your ZOOM call-in number here: Call-In Numbers

Also, have this information on hand as you may be asked to enter it:

Meeting ID: 881 9398 4413
Passcode: 150245

REMINDER: MonSFFA will host a Summer e-Picnic tomorrow, Saturday, July 23, right here on this Web site beginning at 1:00PM!

Make your favourite sandwich or prepare a tasty snack, pour yourself a cool, refreshing drink, and join us for an hour or two, or for the whole afternoon as we get together online to chat via ZOOM and enjoy each other’s company!

With the seventh wave now upon us and COVID numbers climbing locally, we’ve postponed our in-person club BBQ-in-the-Park until Sunday, August 28, by which time, we are told by authorities, the seventh wave should have dissipated.

So, in the meantime, we’ll be getting together for a casual video-chat tomorrow afternoon! No presentations, just light, informal programming accessible on the Web site, and the chance to catch up, discuss the latest in sci-fi entertainment, or share with the group thoughts on recent books read or screen sci-fi enjoyed. If you’re working on any nifty SF/F-related crafting or other projects, or perhaps recently visited a fun and interesting vacation destination, tell us all about it, and share any photos you snapped with the group!

Do join us for an afternoon of conversation and camaraderie right here at www.MonSFFA.ca tomorrow, Saturday, July 23, beginning at 1:00PM!

We’ll see you then…

MonSFFA will host a Summer e-Picnic this Saturday, July 23, right here on the club’s Web site beginning at 1:00PM!

Make your favourite sandwich or prepare a tasty snack, pour yourself a cool, refreshing drink, and join us for an hour or two, or for the whole afternoon as we get together online to chat via ZOOM and enjoy each other’s company!

With the seventh wave now upon us and COVID numbers climbing locally, we’ve postponed our in-person club BBQ-in-the-Park until Sunday, August 28, by which time, we are told by authorities, the seventh wave should have dissipated.

So, in the meantime, we’ll be getting together for a casual video-chat this Saturday! No presentations, just light, informal programming accessible on the Web site, and the chance to catch up, discuss the latest in sci-fi entertainment, or share with the group thoughts on recent books read or screen sci-fi enjoyed. If you’re working on any nifty SF/F-related crafting or other projects, or perhaps recently visited a fun and interesting vacation destination, tell us all about it, and share any photos you snapped with the group!

Do join us for an afternoon of conversation and camaraderie right here at www.MonSFFA.ca this Saturday, July 23, beginning at 1:00PM!

We look forward to seeing you…

REMINDER: Please take note of the following:

Eleventh-hour schedule change: we remind MonSFFen and friends that the club’s Summer-BBQ-in-the-Park 2022, originally slated for this afternoon, has been postponed until Sunday, August 28!

As we inquire further, we are finding that our new, proposed locale, Parc Maisonneuve, is not proving to be quite what we’re looking for with respect to our traditional club BBQ. For example, charcoal barbecue units, like the club’s grill, are prohibited, and there seem to be rather few, if any, picnic tables available

As such, we are regrouping to more thoroughly investigate the site, and to determine if we can modify our requirements without compromising too greatly our customary BBQ. We are also planning to reconnoiter our familiar Parc Angrignon location to ascertain if the washrooms there have seen a marked and much-needed improvement as regards cleanliness. The sorry condition of the facilities is what prompted us to abandon Angrignon, but if things have since improved, we may consider a return to that park.

Finally, both Quebec and Ontario have now acknowledged that a seventh wave of COVID is upon us, driven by the latest incarnations of the highly contagious Omicron variant—this pandemic is most definitely not over! While a return to limitations on public gatherings and other restrictions is not foreseen at this time, people are encouraged to play it safe by masking and social-distancing where appropriate. Too many, apparently, have ignored the need to isolate for 10 days should they begin experiencing COVID symptoms, this to avoid transmitting the virus to others and therefore perpetuating the pandemic.

The COVID numbers in Quebec are reasonably stable, we are told, though climbing. However, fully vaccinated folk—”fully” meaning at least three shots, and for those in higher risk groups, a fourth—are considered to be relatively safe from becoming seriously ill or landing in hospital. But that doesn’t mean one is protected from becoming infected.

This seventh wave is not expected to last through the summer and, we hope, will have dissipated by August 28.

July e-Picnic

We do have planned for this month, on Saturday, July 23, beginning at 1:00PM, an e-picnic on ZOOM, similar to those we hosted during the peak of the pandemic. Do join us for an afternoon of catching-up with friends, conversation, snacks, light programming, and merriment!

August Club Meeting

Meanwhile, our August 13 club meeting may, or may not be a physical, in-person get-together; we await word regarding the official opening of the meeting hall. If we don’t end up convening face-to-face, the 13th will then unfold as one of our usual e-meetings, so either way, we are holding a club meeting in August.

Please Take Note of These Updates

Please take note of these revisions to the club’s events calendar. As always, event scheduling and programming are subject to change.

REMINDER: Please take note of the following:

Eleventh-hour schedule change: we remind MonSFFen and friends that the club’s Summer-BBQ-in-the-Park 2022, originally slated for tomorrow, Saturday, July 9, has been postponed until Sunday, August 28!

As we inquire further, we are finding that our new, proposed locale, Parc Maisonneuve, is not proving to be quite what we’re looking for with respect to our traditional club BBQ. For example, charcoal barbecue units, like the club’s grill, are prohibited, and there seem to be rather few, if any, picnic tables available

As such, we are regrouping to more thoroughly investigate the site, and to determine if we can modify our requirements without compromising too greatly our customary BBQ. We are also planning to reconnoiter our familiar Parc Angrignon location to ascertain if the washrooms there have seen a marked and much-needed improvement as regards cleanliness. The sorry condition of the facilities is what prompted us to abandon Angrignon, but if things have since improved, we may consider a return to that park.

Finally, both Quebec and Ontario have now acknowledged that a seventh wave of COVID is upon us, driven by the latest incarnations of the highly contagious Omicron variant—this pandemic is most definitely not over! While a return to limitations on public gatherings and other restrictions is not foreseen at this time, people are encouraged to play it safe by masking and social-distancing where appropriate. Too many, apparently, have ignored the need to isolate for 10 days should they begin experiencing COVID symptoms, this to avoid transmitting the virus to others and therefore perpetuating the pandemic.

The COVID numbers in Quebec are reasonably stable, we are told, though climbing. However, fully vaccinated folk—”fully” meaning at least three shots, and for those in higher risk groups, a fourth—are considered to be relatively safe from becoming seriously ill or landing in hospital. But that doesn’t mean one is protected from becoming infected.

This seventh wave is not expected to last through the summer and, we hope, will have dissipated by August 28.

July e-Picnic

We do have planned for this month, on Saturday, July 23, beginning at 1:00PM, an e-picnic on ZOOM, similar to those we hosted during the peak of the pandemic. Do join us for an afternoon of catching-up with friends, conversation, snacks, light programming, and merriment!

August Club Meeting

Meanwhile, our August 13 club meeting may, or may not be a physical, in-person get-together; we await word regarding the official opening of the meeting hall. If we don’t end up convening face-to-face, the 13th will then unfold as one of our usual e-meetings, so either way, we are holding a club meeting in August.

Please Take Note of These Updates

Please take note of these revisions to the club’s events calendar. As always, event scheduling and programming are subject to change.

Eleventh-hour schedule change: please note that the club’s Summer-BBQ-in-the-Park 2022, originally slated for this Saturday, July 9, has been postponed until Sunday, August 28!

As we inquire further, we are finding that our new, proposed locale, Parc Maisonneuve, is proving not to be quite what we’re looking for with respect to our traditional club BBQ. For example, charcoal barbecue units, like the club’s grill, are prohibited, and there seem to be rather few, if any, picnic tables available.

As such, we are regrouping to more thoroughly investigate the site, and to determine if we can modify our requirements without compromising too greatly our customary BBQ. We are also planning to reconnoiter our familiar Parc Angrignon location to ascertain if the washrooms there have seen a marked and much-needed improvement as regards cleanliness.

And, both Quebec and Ontario have now acknowledged that a seventh wave of COVID is upon us, driven by the latest variants of the highly contagious Omicron—this pandemic is most definitely not over! While a return to limitations on public gatherings and other restrictions are not foreseen at this time, citizens are encouraged to play it safe by masking and social-distancing where they feel it appropriate.

The COVID numbers in Quebec are reasonably stable, though slowly climbing. However, fully vaccinated folk—meaning at least three shots, and for those in higher risk groups, a fourth—are considered to be relatively safe from becoming seriously ill or landing in hospital, if not from infection. This seventh wave is not expected to last through the summer and will, hopefully, have dissipated by August 28.

We do have planned for this month, on Saturday, July 23, beginning at 1:00PM, an e-picnic on ZOOM, similar to those we hosted during the peak of the pandemic. Do join us for an afternoon of catching-up, conversation, snacks, light programming, and merriment!

Meanwhile, our August 13 meeting may, or may not be a physical, in-person get-together; we await word regarding the official opening of the meeting hall. If we don’t end up meeting face-to-face, the 13th will then unfold as one of our usual e-meetings, so either way, we are holding a club meeting in August.

Please take note of these revisions to the club’s events calendar. As always, event scheduling and programming are subject to change.