‘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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”