 Paul Newsome was born and raised in Winnipeg. After graduating from the University of Manitoba he had a career in labour relations and human resources including St. Boniface Hospital and VIA Rail. He joined the Vintage Locomotive Society (VLS) in 1970 and has been continuously involved since as a locomotive engineer, in operations, fundraising, training and administration. He is currently the General Manager. You may know the VLS by its popular name The Prairie Dog Central, a 17 mile short line tourist railway operated by VLS. The society formed in 1968 with operations commencing in 1970. It became a short line operator in 1999 with the purchase of 17 miles of CN’s Oak Point subdivision. They then constructed facilities at Inkster Junction and run each year from Mothers Day thru October. But the line isn’t idol the rest of the year; they rent it for car storage to raise money to help offset expenses. The Prairie Dog Central offers history, education and entertainment. Their No 3 steam engine was originally built in 1882 and sold to CP where it served throughout Western Canada until sold to the city of Winnipeg in 1918. The coaches are from 1901 to 1912 and their caboose was built in 1912 and came to the society in 1971. They also have two diesel locomotives. The focus of most of the runs on the Prairie Dog Central is the family market in Grosse Isle. Also there are heritage buildings and a shelter. The PDC also does charters and theme runs like the Great Train Robbery and pulled pork BBQs. They typically get 2 adults to every one child and close to 30% of the passengers are from outside Manitoba. Q & A Iain asked if the PDC ever travels on other lines. No, they stay on their own line as the liability concerns running on other lines makes it very difficult. Nancy asked if they plan to do another Thomas train. Not if Paul can help it – it’s a lot of work! Paul was thanked by Ed Toews who’s father-in-law was a member of VLS for many years. Ed even remembers helping to strip one of the coaches. https://www.pdcrailway.com/ https://vintagelocomotivesociety.org/ |
