Prescott Park

At Prescott Park

In 1967, Harold Prescott, then the Capreol mayor, accepted from CNR the donation of an authentic "mountain" type U-1-f class steam locomotive, as a memento of Capreol's history as a railroading town. Mr. Prescott, a CNR engineer, had operated this same engine, affectionately known as "Bullet-Nosed Betty."

In appreciation for Prescott's work in getting the engine, a new park was created and named Prescott Park in his honour.

Steam Engine "6077"

Each engine had a personality and the men who worked the trains could identify each one from the sound of its whistle.

The 6077 itself was actually in Transcona, Manitoba when it was donated to the town of Capreol. Built in Montreal, by the Montreal Locomotive Company in 1944, it was one of twenty of its kind ever manufactured numbering from 6060 to 6079.

The "mountain" type was the last group of steam engines purchased by the CNR, before it moved on to the newer engines. It was used chiefly for passenger and freight-service, usually running between Toronto and Winnipeg, and between Winnipeg and Montreal.

The 6077 had a 4-8-2 wheel configuration referring to the 4 leading wheels, 8 driving wheels, and a 2 wheel trailing truck located under the cab.

Her 6-foot driving wheels traveled 21 feet with every turn. She weighs 320 tons and is 93 feet long and 15 feet high. Her Vanderbilt-type tender could hold 18 tons of coal and nearly 12,000 gallons of water.

She was as powerful as 2 diesels and capable of attaining a top speed of 125 miles per hour.

The conical nose gave her a streamlined appearance, becoming known as "Bullet-Nosed Betty."

INCO Electrics

INCO Electric #101 was built by Westinghouse & National Steel Car in 1919, Serial No. LE-27; 50 ton type. Formerly owned by the Hydro-Electric Power Commission (Ontario Government), the locomotive was used on the Queenston (Niagara) "Chippewa Project." It was acquired by International Nickel in July of 1926 and retired in 1998 before being donated to the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum and Heritage Centre.

INCO Electric #116 was built new for INCO by General Electric in December of 1948, Serial No. 29128; 100 ton type. The engine was rebuilt in 2000, a year before its retirement.

Hot Metal Car #5

The giant rail car was donated to the museum by Vale during the summer of 2011. It was the last remaining hot metal car at Vale and had been used to transport molten copper from the Smelter to the Copper Refinery. The car is shaped like a torpedo with a giant hole on top where the liquid copper was poured in.

The car was destined for the demolition torch until Vale employee Rob Fleming intervened. Eager to preserve the memory of an important copper operation that once employed him and many others in the region, Fleming kept the car clear of ongoing operations by shuffling it around Vale's property until a grant could be secured by NORMHC for its transportation to Capreol.

Slag Pot Car

Originally donated by INCO to the Big Nickle Mine (now Dynamic Earth) before it was moved to Science North. It now rests in Prescott Park as an integral piece of NORMHC's Mining Exhibit. It was used in regular service carrying slag from the Copper Cliff smelter.

Cabooses

CNR #77562 was built of wood in 1899 likely as a box car. It is distinctive in that it is approximately 4 feet longer than the standard CNR wood-sheathed caboose. It is painted "Morency Orange" and has a green leaf with the "Serves All Canada" slogan.

The caboose, also called a "van", was a travelling home but also served as an ambulance and conveyor of goods and newspapers. It is rumoured that on occasion, after work, the van also hosted a few hot poker games!

CN Caboose #79231 was built by Hawker Siddeley in Trenton, Nova Scotia in 1967. It was eventually sold to INCO prior to arriving at NORMHC. The caboose is one of the museum's pieces currently awaiting restoration.

Rules Instruction Car

Also in Prescott Park is the "CNR Rules Instruction Car #15019". This car was originally built by Pullman Standard in 1912 for the ICR and named "Stratacona." Originally it was built as 10-2 sleeper and operated in passenger service. It was later configured as a rules instruction car.

J.G. Madigan, one of the Instructors, taught in this car. In one half of the car were his living quarters, complete with kitchen, bedroom, dining room, living room and bathroom. In the other half of the car was the classroom.

As a Rule Instructor, he moved through the district testing the qualifications of the operating employees and instructing them on any changes made in the rules as set down by the governing Board of Transport. The safety of the operation of the railroad was a first priority. Employees were tested every two years and had to have a 90% mark to pass or had to re-write. If they failed, they could be taken out of service.

After it's service as a Rules Instruction Car was no longer required, it was renovated and used as a public library in Gogama, Ontario. In the early eighties the Town of Capreol acquired and restored the car for Prescott Park, where it is currently on display.

Today the museum has the Rules Instruction Car on display as a School Car. The School Cars in Northern Ontario were an important part of bringing education to isolated areas. CNR School Car #1 ran out of Capreol for 41 years.

Click here for the story of Fred and Cela Sloman, their family and the "School on Wheels".

CN Warehouse-Baggage Car #60049

The car was built in October 1953 by National Steel Car. Its first identity was CN Baggage 9192. It was eventually re-numbered CN Service #60049 and used as an auxiliary train cable car.