Trains, like the tide and time, stop for no one

Catherine Reynolds | Jun 22, 2017

When Doug Angle looks closely at a steam engine train, the mechanical parts look like a work of art.

Doug,  appreciates, like his family before him, the design, construction and operation of a train.

“My grandfather was a telegrapher for the Toronto, Hamilton, Buffalo Railway,” confirms the 59-year-old process improvement consultant from Sydenham, who is also the President of the Frontenac Society of Model Engineers (FSME)

“My father fired on steam engines in the 1950s.. He shovelled four tons of coal every day.”

Familiar with that hot and heavy work, Doug talks about his father’s accomplishments with pride.

“On a full-sized locomotive, it takes two people to keep it running,” he explains about the fireman (person who shovels coal) and engineer (person who operates the train). “To drive a locomotive, you need to know everything about how it works or you will find yourself sitting on a train wondering why it won’t go.”

Armed with this family history and his own interest in trains, Doug joined the FSME ten years ago.

“I wanted to take on something new,” says the friendly father of three.

“I think what you’ll find with model engineers, particularly with steam engines, you can see all of the mechanical parts working. What’s really neat is that our steam engines have all of the same parts as full-sized locomotives.”

18 members strong, the club owns a 1,200 ft track, locomotives and riding cars in a field next to the Battersea Baseball Diamond. The club started construction on the township property in 2011. It completed the elevated track in 2012 and the ground line in 2015.

Tucked away in a corner of the village that is not visible from the main road, the club is bringing itself front and centre this Saturday by hosting an Open House from 11 am to 3 pm.

“This is a great time to see our operation and have a ride on a train,” says Doug. “People can view, and enjoy, a variety of miniature live steam locomotives on display and in operation. We expect to be running on both tracks during the day. We’ll be giving rides on the larger gauge track.”

The president hopes the club exceeds the number of guests at their open house in 2016.

“Last year, we had about 500 people come. That may sound like a lot, but it pales in comparison to the 1,300 passengers we hauled at the Battersea Pumpkin Festival last year,” he said.

“The Pumpkin Festival was a lot of work and we were happy people came-out and shared their love of trains. A lot of people are surprised there are still steam engines burning coal; that they do what steam engines are supposed to do.”

The club is eager to share its love of trains.

“At this event, we have time to show people how the equipment works,” says the president. “In a sense, it’s a way of preserving our steam heritage. There aren’t a lot of full-sized steam locomotives operating anymore. We’re happy to show people that.”

To ride a miniature live steam locomotive for FREE this Saturday, travel into the Village of Battersea and turn off Battersea Road onto Doris Lane. The club is located in the field at the bottom of the hill on the right. To learn more about the club or this event, please contact Doug Angle at 613-376-3908 or visit www.fsme.ca