Slade outlines options for Carbonear’s rusting locomotive

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The committee looking into what to do with the aging locomotive on display in downtown Carbonear has presented council with a list of options that range from restoring it to scrapping it, said Deputy Mayor Sam Slade.

Slade outlined the options during council’s April 15 public meeting.

“The committee is accountable to the municipal council,” Slade noted, reminding the chamber of its mandate. “’The committee is to research possible restoration initiatives and recommendations to a restoration plan that’s in accordance with environmental and occupational health and safety regulations and guidelines. The committee will obtain quotes to complete the restoration. The committee will also assist with a fundraising plan for initial restoration and the potential for ongoing reserve funds for maintenance.’”

The Town of Carbonear owns CN Locomotive 803. Council’s original motion on the locomotive stipulated that it would consider its restoration for continuous display in its current location if the restoration can be completed without using taxpayer dollars. Funds for the restoration must come from fundraising efforts. Only $6,000 has been secured thus far. 

Slade said the committee quickly identified that the lead content in the locomotive’s paint is very costly, which poses a significant barrier to the restoration. 

According to Slade, the committee identified the following options: Option #1, status quo; Option #2, restore the entire locomotive to be displayed in its current location; Option #3, keep only the front and back of the locomotive to create a display; Option #4, store the locomotive until funds for complete restoration are available; Option #5, dispose of the locomotive for scrap; Option #6, give the locomotive to a restoration group in another municipality. 

“These options, and the analysis of each, are being presented to council, which is the authority to make the decision on the locomotive,” said Slade.

Options #1 and #4 are not in accordance with the terms of reference set out for the committee as they do not address the safety of the locomotive onsite, he added. Storage of the locomotive would require taxpayer dollars as restoration funds could not be used for it. Option #2 would be at a significant cost, an estimated $700,000 to $1.95 million. There is little likelihood of the committee raising this amount via fundraising, said the deputy mayor. Option #3 would be at a significantly lower cost, estimated between $250,000 and $300,000. It would provide some scrap payment that would help offset the cost and, as it would be a display, additional funding might be available.

“There would likely still be negative feedback from train enthusiasts as a portion of the locomotive will be destroyed for scrap,” Slade admitted. 

Options #5 and #6 would address the safety issues of the deteriorating locomotive but would not result in its restoration.

“Mr. Mayor and council, the committee has completed its purpose to research options for the locomotive and present these in the form of a report to council,” said Slade. “It is council’s decision to determine the next step for the locomotive. If the decision is made by council to remove the locomotive, the committee recommends that a storyboard be displayed to provide the history of the locomotive and the railroad in Carbonear.” 

Slade said the amount of funding likely to be available, approximately $125,000, would not be enough to restore the locomotive. With that, he concluded the presentation leaving the decision to council to be made at a future date.

CN Locomotive 803 is on display in front of Carbonear Pond, just west of the Conception Bay Regional Community Centre.