About 200 people came out early Saturday to watch as Guelph’s locomotive 6167 was moved from its former home on Farquhar Street to a much more visible John Galt Park on the shore of the Speed River.
People were asked to stay home and watch the live stream of the event, said Danna Evans, general manager for culture and recreation with City of Guelph.
"It was a good chance for some people to dial in, but seeing it live and in person — I get it,” said Evans. “Even in COVID times it's pretty cool.”
It has taken almost two years from the time Metrolinx informed the city that the locomotive had to be removed from its property to the moving day Saturday, a process that has included getting approval from city council for the location and concept, as well as the $650,000 price tag for the move.
George Renninger is a member of the 6167 restoration committee and volunteer with Guelph Museums. He said it was thrilling to see the 490,000 pound locomotive moved on Saturday.
"Thank goodness for hydraulics,” he quipped.
Puslinch-based Mammoet used a number of pieces of equipment to move the two sections of the locomotive over the course of the day on Saturday.
Locomotive 6167 was built in 1940 and for years was used by Canadian National Railways for passenger and freight service. It was based in the New Brunswick area during the Second World War, moving supplies and troops to the eastern ports.
It was gifted to the City of Guelph in 1967 in honour of Canada’s centennial.
Renninger said if the time and money was put into it, he believes that 6167 could theoretically run again — though it’s not likely to happen.
"In principle, if you took the running mechanism apart and lubricated it, it would turn. But it hasn't turned since 1967,” said Renninger. "This is actually in good condition.”
Many similar locomotives were scrapped when they were taken out of service in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
“There were some people who were interested in saving some of them, and they were able to get them saved — and this is one of them,” said Renninger.
Now 82 years old, Renninger remembers growing up and seeing steam engines in operation and said it isn’t hard for him to imagine what 6167 would sound like if it were fired up once again.
"It's easy for me because in the early 2000s I went to Poland to work in the cabs of steam locomotives as sort of a guest driver, so I don't have to remember too far back to hear the sound,” said Renninger.
Evans said that 6167 will be on full view and will not be fenced in.
"If somebody really wants to get up and climb it a fence isn't going to stop them,” she said. "It will definitely get way more exposure on the road.”
6167 was moved to Farquhar Street in 2014 when Guelph Central Station was built.
Renninger believed it should have been made part of a centrepiece dedicated to transportation in Guelph.
"Then it got stuck on a side track,” he said. “Thank goodness it’s here now.”
