From the Dome Car: Train 2 Track 5 (Feb.-March 1992)













In this Dome Car, Morgan heralds the creation of North Kildonan Publications, his publishing house for railway-related items. That includes roster train cards, which he announces in this issue. (Maybe some of you still have them.) He also wrote about the start of a Canadian railfan magazine—a dream of his that finally came to fruition in 2009 with the creation of Railfan Canada. And he begins with the news of the passing of Orner Lavallee, one of Canada's best-known railway photographers. 

As this issue of CRM was developing, it was learned that one of Canada's leading railway historians and authors had passed away. Orner Lavallee, whom I personally met when he was a guest speaker at Rails Thru The Oaks, NFR Convention in May 1990, died in Montreal on Wednesday, February 5, 1992 at the age of 66. 

Orner was inducted into the Order of Canada in 1989 for his contributions to C anadian railway heritage and was the author of several books including "Van Horne's Road" and "Canadian Pacific Steam Locomotives." In 1973, he established the Canadian Pacific Corporate Archives and was instrumental in the collection and documentation of their artifacts.

At the NFR convention, Orner presented his audience with his 'untold story' of his contribution to the CBC production of Pierre Burton's television documentary of his books "The Last Spike" and "The National Dream.” There can be no doubt that his supreme efforts will be missed by many of those that knew him and by those who didn't. 

It is with great anticipation and enthusiasm that I announce the formation of "North Kildonan Publications.” The company's first project is the production of a set of 'Canadian Locomotive Roster Cards' under the heading 'Railfan Canada 1992'. The sports card type cards feature photographs of selected Canadian locomotives on the front with details compiled from the 'Bytown Railway Society Canadian Trackside Guide' on the reverse. The first set of 76 cards will be officially released at the Toronto Train Show in March and will retail for under $20.00 a set. 

Plans are in the works to release the magazine "Railfan Canada-Railway Photographic Journal," although no release date has been announced. It sure looks like the Canadian modelling/railfanning fraternity is finally going to see the talented efforts of Canadians in the public domain with some regularity. Bravo!!!  

Many subscribers to Canadian Railway Modeller will have noticed a change in their mailing label. We have replaced the expiration date with a train and track number that shows when the subscription expires. This should eliminate the confusion with dates as CRM has been running behind on issue releases.  

I received a phone call the other night from somebody who wondered if we ever get any negative mail from readers as the 'Letters to the Editor' only seem to contain all good stuff. Well, to be perfectly honest, we get very little negative mail and what we do get is usually regarding our tardiness with issue dates. We've had some very positive comments on Jim Little's three-part article on 'The Canadian' passenger cars and Fred Shannon is chomping at the bit to get rolling with his CP heavyweight passenger cars. It should be an interesting year ahead.  

Well, it won't be long before the ice is off the Red (for you folks who don't know Winnipeg, that's the river) and the 'Manitoba Mosquito' is back. I should have my BBQ out of the shed soon. See you next issue!




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