Spirit of Alberta

membership

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If you are considering a donation or membership renewal to the Rocky Mountain Rail Society and 6060 Locomotive, please use either e-transfer or PayPal to make your payment.

Thank you,

Treasurer

Rocky Mountain Rail Society

By becoming a member of the Rocky Mountain Rail Society, you lend important support to the preservation of 6060. You can join work parties that involve work to 6060 and the rolling stock that the RMRS is preserving. You can also volunteer for events within the local railfan community. RMRS participates in numerous activities throughout the year.

Membership is $30 annually. The Senior Membership has been dropped.

We have established a life time membership at a cost of $150.00. Payment is the same way as paying a regular membership.

Please either fill out the membership form, print and scan and send to the membership director at membership@6060.org

or fill out the information below and press submit. Information will be sent to the membership director.

If you include a donation with your membership a tax deductible receipt will be issued for any donation over $20.00

Membership (Your Contact Information)

Members and Followers of the 6060

Please renew your membership

to the Rocky Mountain Rail Society

The long term goal the Rocky Mountain Rail Society has anticipated for several years, is on the horizon. In 2022 and 2023, we made numerous repairs to the firebox.

Holes in firebox were patched and repaired.

Syphons were welded.

Floor is repaired, ready to hold fire brick.

All of the holes are drilled and most are tapped, ready for new stay bolts to be installed in early 2024.

What we are working on now,

• repair throttle casting,

• repair steam delivery pipe on fireman’s side - now complete

• replace whistle and blower pipes - now complete

• reinstall super heater tubes

• other critical upgrades will lead to a boiler Hydrostatic Test.

We have received another grant from the Alberta Government, Ministry of Culture and Status of Women for these repairs.

We know there is a committed following in the railway preservation community to see 6060 returned to steam.

What do we need? A strong membership.

If you are a member consider renewing your membership for 2025 and supporting the 6060 steam locomotive through volunteer work or donations.

If you are not a member and are interested in supporting our goal, please join; become a member of the Rocky Mountain Rail Society. Follow the links to renew, become a member, or donate.

Seeing this magnificent steam locomotive in operation, as she was in this photograph of her first day of operation, can be achieved by all of us who have a passion to see 6060 under steam power again.The Rocky Mountain Rail Society is requesting that everyone renew their membership for 2025. Bring a friend, new members are welcome.

If you know of anyone else who would support our repairs to the locomotive, encourage them to join our group. We have members from all over Canada and USA.

If you would like more information or explanation of the terms being used, please send an inquiry through the website (Contact us) or an email to info@6060.org, I will give you a better description. Steam locomotives are full of strange parts that are unknown today and no longer used on modern locomotives. Many parts have names that are no longer known. I will do my best to explain what the parts are.

Thank you for renewing your membership and your continuing support.

 Join the EMail list

Join our email list, stay up to date with progress on restoration of the 6060 steam locomotive. All of us at Rocky Mountain Rail Society are working hard to restore our piece of Alberta and Canadian History.

You will be sent a copy of the newsletter which comes out every 3 or 4 months documenting and describing progress of repairs.

Contact Us

Whether you want to get involved with the Rocky Mountain Rail Society or just have a question about steam engines, fill out the form below and a member of the 6060 Crew will get back to you shortly. From photo shoots to event information, we've got something for everyone.

ONLINE UPDATE MEETING

Saturday, November 23, 2024, 11:00 AM MST,

RMRS will hold an open online meeting to discuss ongoing repair to the locomotive fire box and restoration of the 6060 locomotive.

• All current and past members will automatically be sent an invitation to the meeting by email.

• Anyone who has previously joined the email list will be sent an invitation to the meeting.

• Zoom will be used for the online meeting.

You must have Zoom installed on your computer to join the meeting. Go to Zoom to download the Zoom client.

Click on the invite link sent by email at 11:00 AM November 23 and you may join the meeting.

Invitations will be sent by email, Thursday, November 21, prior to the meeting.

If you missed your invite, please fill in the form below and request an invite to the meeting.

Anyone may attend the online meeting,

you must request an invitation.

If you have previously joined the email list, your email remains on file and you will be sent an invitation.

If you would like to receive an invitation to attend the online meeting, please fill in your name and email address below and click submit. A meeting invite will be sent.

Meetings are held every couple of months to update members and others interested about what is happening at the Rocky Mountain Rail Society and restoration progress on the 6060 steam locomotive.

Annual General Meeting Saturday November 16, 2024

Speeder Operation from Warden Shop

Anyone operating the speeder must be over the age of 18 years or ride with a trained operator over the age of 18.

Date and Time

April 5, 6 2025

Saturday, April 26

Saturday, May 24

Saturday October 18

Schedule and Work Party

WARDEN Site, April 22, 2023

Back row: Lonnie, George, Tyler, Don, Alex, Scott, Harry

Front row: Robert, Jacques, Les

Brian took the picture and is behind the camera

Thanks to all for the hard work. Warden is ready and speeder is ready for operation for 2023!

Calendar of Events 2025

Supertrain show 2025

Spring Work Party

RMRS Annual General Meeting

Fall work party return equipment to storage, site cleanup, etc.

Spring Work Party

Saturday,

April 26, 2025

10:00 AM start time

Take all equipment out of winter storage. Open site for summer operation.

Thank you to our volunteers!

Link to Work Party Task list

Location

Olympic Oval NW Calgary

Warden Shop

Royal Canadian Legion,

9202 Horton Road SW

Calgary, Alberta

Warden Shop

Renaissance 6060

Pictures and History of the

6060 Steam Locomotive

Don Totten has reprinted a book of pictures of the 6060 steam locomotive, including historical description.

Copies of the book are available for $30 each. Shipping via Canada Post is extra and is typically $4.00.

All proceeds from book sales go directly to restoration of the 6060 locomotive.

Presentation of Steam Locomotive 6060 to Province of Alberta 1980

Accepting the donation, Jeanne Lougheed, wife of former Premier Peter Lougheed

AWAKENING THE MAGIC OF THE 6060 STEAM ENGINE

ABOUT 6060

The 6060 is a steam locomotive built for Canadian National in 1944. It was retired from CN service in 1959 and placed on static display next to the Jasper, Alberta train station in 1962.

6060 is a Mountain Type locomotive, wheel configuration 4 - 8 - 2.

The locomotive was built for the war effort, mostly by women. Since men were away at war, women took over the factories and built locomotives, aircraft, vehicles, ships and other war materials.

The locomotive was returned to service by Canadian National in 1973. It served as a tourist excursion train, operating from Toronto to Niagara Falls in southern Ontario.

Along with steam excursions from Toronto, the locomotive travelled to Vancouver to participate in Steam Expo (1986) and has delighted passengers across Canada since it rolled off the assembly floor in October 1944. 6060 currently resides in Stettler, Alberta.

The 6060 steam engine was presented to the people of Alberta as a gift in 1980, to commemorate the Province of Alberta's 75th anniversary.

6060’s loyal following, the members and volunteers of Rocky Mountain Rail Society, work tirelessly to preserve and share the history of the steam engine with the community. The RMRS crew has been working to restore 6060 to full service since 2011.

6060 is one of the best remaining examples of a modern steam locomotive, and, in addition to being Canada's largest steamer, is a rare example of a North American Mountain-type engine.

ABOUT RMRS

The real history of the 6060 steam engine lies with the hardworking and enthusiastic group of rail enthusiasts that make up Rocky Mountain Rail Society. What began with Harry R.J. Home saving 6060 from the cutting torches and scrap in 1962, has grown into a loyal following for the Spirit of Alberta.

From railway operating personnel to steam and rail fans - each member of RMRS is dedicated to the preservation of this elegant and unique locomotive. Not only do members of RMRS strive to preserve 6060, but they also love to share their passion with the local community through education, hands-on experience and comradery. 

To join this devoted group and help with the restoration of 6060, check out our membership section.

2011

OUT OF SERVICE Timeline

6060 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE

2011 was the last operating season for 6060 at Alberta Prairie Railway in Stettler, Alberta. 

2012

During routine annual Non Destructive Testing (NDT) inspection, problems were discovered in the firebox crown sheet (top of the steel firebox) and the steel firebox wall on the fireman’s side. There appeared to be a small anomaly in the metal. Further inspections were requested by the Alberta Boiler Safety Association (ABSA) who licenses the boiler for operation.

A number of stay bolts were determined to be leaking. A welding process was developed to see if the leak around the stay bolts could be seal-welded, however, was unsuccessful.

Under the guidance of the Power Engineer who Rocky Mountain Rail employed to monitor boiler operation and the ABSA Inspector a process was agreed upon to remove a portion of the crown sheet. In addition, the Power Engineer and ABSA Inspector directed that more non-destructive testing and examination be performed on the crown sheet and boiler shell.

2013

2014

2018

2018

2019

2019

2020

2022

2023

 Discussion began between the mechanical committee and the RMRS Board of Directors about options for repair of 6060’s firebox and stay bolts. The Board requested a budget for necessary inspections and repairs.

Acuren Inspection Services of Edmonton was engaged to begin the process of boiler inspection of the 6060 and a process was developed to meet ABSA requirements. The inspection was completed on sections of the boiler over a period of time as funding permitted. 

Acuren Inspection Services provided the Rocky Mountain Rail Society with a steel integrity and thickness report. Report forwarded to df Boiler (Edmonton), the company engaged by the society to perform repair work on 6060.

 2018 through 2019: Several meetings held between Acuren, df Boiler, ABSA and the Rocky Mountain Rail Society. Additional information and inspections were required. Completed report by Acuren was provided to df Boiler in June 2019.

 Review by df Boiler was completed in early August 2019. df Boiler developed a repair plan. Plan was sent to ABSA for their approval.

2019 (August/September): Repair plan for the boiler of 6060 was approved by ABSA.

 2020 (June): A crew from df Boiler removed 79 rigid and flexible stay bolts from the firebox of 6060 as stage 1 of the repair plan.

Crown sheet patch welded into firebox, test and inspection holes plugged, welding on Thermic Syphons. Repairs to fire box floor, ready for fire brick installation.

Thread taps required to install new stay bolts ordered and received.

New holes drilled in crown sheet patch, old holes re threaded to accept new manufactured stay bolts.

Stay bolts must be custom manufactured by df Boiler as they are of varying lengths and sizes.

thank you, Harry Home

March 30th, 2020

To all Rocky Mountain Rail Society Members, Friends, and Supporters:

 Harry R.J. Home

May 27th 1933 – March 30th 2020 

It is with incredible sadness that I announce the passing of Harry Home, the Society’s co-founder and patriarch.

Harry served as Locomotive 6060’s primary guardian, engineer, and advocate for nearly 60 years. He will be remembered for his tireless actions over the decades that directly resulted in 6060’s preservation, restoration, and continued operation. Harry’s passion for steam preservation was unparalleled, and he is considered to be a legend within the Canadian railway community. We will dearly miss his wisdom, leadership, and enthusiasm.

At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Harry’s wife, Edna, as well as the extended Home family.

Sincerely,

Rocky Mountain Rail Society

Kevin B. Quigley

Our Board of Directors

Don Wilson

Lonnie McGowan

Brian Henderson

Les Dickens

Dave Higgins

Ken Jones

George Nethery

Don Totten

Harry Maekelburger

Bill Williams

Kevin & Rick

President

Vice President

Secretary / Treasurer

Director Social Media

Director

Director

Director Membership

Director Mechanical and Rolling Stock

Director

Director

Souvenir Sales

president@6060.org

vicepresident@6060.org

secretary@6060.org

socialmedia@6060.org

directors@6060.org

directors@6060.org

membership@6060.org

mechanical@6060.org

directors@6060.org

directors@6060.org

souvenirs@6060.org

Construction Project

by Don Totten

(Automotive Instructor)

Over many years of my adult life I have had a passion for Canada’s Heritage.  At different times I have asked my colleagues for support in this pursuit to preserve our heritage.  This fall I asked Mr. Flegg and Mr. Raimondi if we could do a restoration of a Railway work equipment cart.  This cart is of a type used by Railway Maintenance crews to transport up to 10 men to a work site along the railway.

In days gone by groups of men called section gangs would be responsible for 15 to 25 miles of track. A section gang was generally made up of 4 –7 men with one section foreman. These men maintained the switches, track, bridge crossings, culverts, railway road bed and any public or private road crossings. 

Canada, as we all know is vast and this job could be a lonely one in many areas of the country.  It was and continues to be an essential part of Canada’s economic well being to have an efficient rail system.  Men from the era when this cart was in general use rode this cart to their work site in rain, blazing sun or freezing winter temperatures. 

Today these workers ride to the work site in pickup trucks fitted with hi-rail wheel sets that allow the vehicle to be driven on rails. The work now requires fewer men as technology has made some of the jobs easier to accomplish.

The Rocky Mountain Rail Society owns the cart.  The society operates a number of pieces of heritage equipment during the summer months at Big Valley, Alberta, south east of Edmonton.  This is just one piece of equipment that will be restored at Central Memorial High School in Calgary.

Restoration of the work cart is now complete and it has been transported back to Stettler. I hope students and their families take the opportunity to travel to Big Valley to see and ride the equipment at special events over the summer.  For information contact: Alberta Prairie Railway 403-742-2811 or www.absteamtrain.com.

The Society also owns the largest operating steam locomotive in Canada. The locomotive was formerly known as the Canadian National Railway locomotive 6060, a 4-8-2 Mountain type locomotive built in 1944 by the Montreal Locomotive Works.

The 6060 is recognized as an Alberta Heritage Resource by the Province of Alberta.  A few years back parts of the locomotive were restored at the school before being returned to Stettler, Alberta where it is stored.  Currently locomotive 6060 is under repair.

How did the 6060 Locomotive travel

From

Ontario to Alberta?

How did the 6060 locomotive travel from Ontario to Alberta? This article tells the story to fans and followers of the locomotive.

Back in the early 1960s, engineer, Harry Home fell in love with the engine and became part of a group who came together to save 6060 from the scraper’s torch. He brought it to Jasper where it was placed on display next to the CNR station. In the 1970s, Harry worked maintaining the 6060 and after it was rebuilt and returned to service in eastern Canada. He trained crews on the firing techniques of oil-fired steam locomotives.

Oil-fired steam locomotives were only found in Western Canada; all steam locomotives in the East were coal-fired. Harry travelled from Jasper to Toronto for several summer seasons to train crews and take in some of the last runs from Toronto to Niagara Falls.

On the last return run from Niagara Falls, Harry was the fireman and the engineer and road foreman was Bruce Carney. The track was among some of the best in Canada and Harry told the story that Bruce really let 6060 stretch her legs!

The 6060’s tenure as steam locomotive star in Ontario was coming to a close. Canadian National Railway was making changes. There were rumors that 6060 would be headed for Stratford, Ontario.

Stratford was the location of the Big Shops of the CNR where steam locomotives were rebuilt and repaired during the age of steam. The shops dated back to the Grand Trunk Railway era (1852 to 1923 taken over by Canadian National Railway). I recall my grandfather always speaking with great respect about locomotive work completed at Stratford.

This plan to move to Stratford was not to be.

1980 was the 75th year of Alberta joining Canada. Tales have it that Harry put the bug in someone’s ear and a request was issued by the Government of Alberta to have the 6060 locomotive returned to the Province.

There was some urgency to move the locomotive back to Alberta. 6060 operated under live steam in a freight train.

Careful use of a light throttle was required by the steam locomotive engineer. It allows for moderate use of water (to make steam) and oil (fuel for the boiler). This did not avoid the requirement to fill with water and fuel along the way. It did allow Harry to stretch the distances between water and fuel stops.

This was quite a job for one man, as Harry was serving as both the engineer and the fireman. He also had to perform maintenance along the way, including greasing the rods, checking the axle journal oil levels and managing oil lubricators operated by the locomotive running gear (side rods).

Harry shared how thankful he was of fellow railroaders helping out along the way. He told how he slept in the cab during the five-day journey, using a new journal pack (normally soaked in oil) as a pillow. He had been given this (and a lengthy list of spare parts) by the Spadina round house (former CN maintenance building) in Toronto prior to his departure.

Harry said he was the happy recipient of this treasure after he followed a Senior member of the Spadina shop staff into a downstairs hiding spot where a significant supply of steam era railway parts still resided.

An arrangement was made for many parts to be transferred to a boxcar that found its way to Alberta. Today Rocky Mountain Rail Society is in possession of many of these items in the Society tool car.

During the afternoon of the fifth day of the journey, 6060 was taken to Duagh (north of Edmonton) and the site of the Alberta Railway Museum. A few days later, a ceremony took place.

Representatives from Canadian National Railway presented Steam Locomotive #6060 to the People of Alberta. Accepting the locomotive was Mrs. Jeanne Lougheed, the wife of former Premier Peter Lougheed.

Following the ceremony, arrangements were made to have 6060 pull the Jubilee Express train tour. See Jubilee Express story on the website.

Story told by Harry Home to Don Totten, mechanical committee, Rocky Mountain Rail Society

If you would like to help us get the 6060 Locomotive operating again, please visit our

Donation Page

Jubilee Express

Story told by Don Totten

In 1980, Alberta Transportation Minister, Henry Kroeger, was instrumental in negotiating with Canadian National Railway to donate Steam Locomotive 6060 to the Province of Alberta as a gift for their 75th anniversary. She ran proudly under steam from Eastern Canada to the Edmonton area, to operate on a number of excursions that would see her pull a special train—the Jubilee Express—as celebration for all Albertans.

One of the first and most urgent challenges in organizing the Jubilee Express was: where to get equipment? Specifically, good passenger cars. Part of the answer was found at the Alberta Railway Museum.

Another interesting contribution came from the Canadian Pacific Railway. During the summer months, commuter cars based in Montreal were not in use. Commuters who live in the city’s outlying suburbs were on summer vacation.

The number of cars provided by CPR was a least ten. These passenger cars proved to be excellent for the occasion. They rode well and had lots of good seating, plus overhead storage. The cars had never been this far west. A CNR switcher was also added to the train as back up.

The first two round trips departed out of Edmonton, one northwest to Whitecourt, the other southeast to Camrose.

The next trip, on the Labour Day weekend, ran south to Calgary. I recall driving with my father, who was visiting us from Ontario, out to Conrich, Alberta, to see 6060 come into Calgary from the northeast.

What a sight! We snapped a few photos as the train passed the elevator in the early evening light, then followed the train to Sarcee Yard in time to see the passengers get off and make their way onto waiting City Transit buses.

The crew switched the train around on the wye in preparation for the next day’s trip back. There was a lot of activity around the 6060 as fans took photos of the crew servicing the rods and adding water to the tender and passenger cars were cleaned. Excitement was in the air, and my dad and I had tickets for the train the next day!

The next morning dawned warm and clear—a perfect September day. The City of Calgary once again arranged for City Transit buses to bring passengers to the train. It was amazing. People were everywhere, taking photos, talking to each other, just TAKING IN this amazing sight. Organizers shuffled everyone aboard and a horde of people waved and watched from the roadways as we departed Sarcee Yard.

Soon we were off, gliding across the vast Alberta prairie. At that time, 1980, the railway line ran east of Calgary towards Drumheller, though the rail is all gone from that track now.

This part of the railway line was historically and economically significant to the province, as the Canadian Northern Railway completed its construction just prior to the beginning of the First World War to provide service to newly developed coal mines in the Drumheller valley.

Harry Home referred to this line by another name (probably a nickname) but I cannot recall what he called it: perhaps a reader might help me out with the nickname? In the late 50s he was stationed in Hanna, a steam locomotive stronghold at the time, working for the Canadian National Railway as a young engineer. Harry loved working there.

At Rockyford, the train made a stop and the local fire department came with their fire hoses and fire truck to water the locomotive. Passengers were allowed to detrain and take in the activities. I can’t recall now, but it seemed like Rockyford had quite a number of grain elevators. When watering the tender was complete and the passengers were back on the train, we slowly left town.

Rockyford is on the west side of a very impressive valley that eventually follows the Rosebud Creek into the Drumheller area. As you descend into the valley the railway begins to twist and turn, crossing numerous bridges all the way to Rosebud and Wayne, then north into Drumheller.

In the vestibule doors one can hear the sounds of railroading: the squeal of the wheels in the curves, the hiss of the airbrakes being applied. The landscape changes too, as the rolling Alberta prairies give way to high valley cliffs. The late summer sun’s rays reflected off the steep valley walls that act like an oven and the heat begins to bake us all. Who knew it could get this hot in Alberta?

All too quickly, we arrived in Drumheller. The passengers detrained, some choosing to visit a new exhibit celebrating the area’s connection with dinosaurs, others heading downtown. Local service clubs did an amazing job of providing a great meal to all the passengers, all part of the trip. While we were at lunch, the 6060 was serviced and left us briefly, heading up the hill east of Drumheller to the south end of the Stettler Subdivision, to be turned at the wye located at station named “Dinosaur.”

In the mid-to-late afternoon, all the passengers returned to the train. My father pointed out the tired children getting on the train with their parents—not unlike the sights I’ve seen in more recent times at Alberta Prairie Railway. In quick order, we were underway. 6060 was doing that slow, steady chuff-chuff heard when the running is fairly level and the train is being managed with a moderate throttle.

As the train swung to the west at Rosedale and passed over a bridge near Wayne, we headed into a grade—not too steep; however, the cadence of the exhaust changed. It was an intoxicating sound. The stack developed the slightest grey hue as the exhaust became more pronounced. You could tell, 6060 was in for a battle up a long, saucy grade. With each twist and turn, the sound of the whistle at crossings and the steady barking of the exhaust reflected from the high valley walls. The 6060 was thundering as we headed across a bridge, curving and climbing west out of the valley. This went on until we arrived in Rockyford where we stopped for water and a locomotive service. Finally, it was a short run into Calgary where we were met by City Transit buses and a crowd of locals, out to see this very special train arrive.

The crew looked over the 6060. They turned it on the wye, serviced it and made it ready for the trip the next day to Hanna.

My father left the next day with my mother and sister to drive back to Ontario. This left me free to ride to the Drumheller area on my motorcycle, where I had the opportunity to take more photos of 6060 passing through the Drumheller valley once again.

It is sad to say that much of this railway line has been taken out of service, the rail removed. Such a loss of infrastructure.

During the following week, 6060 made the last run of the Jubilee Express as it traveled north to Edmonton and storage at the Alberta Railway Museum. Extensive repairs were required before 6060 could return to operation, and this did not happen until 1986 when another great event came along: Expo 86. That’s another story.

The Rocky Mountain Rail society can use your help to have 6060 returned to operation. If you would like to help, please visit our

Donation Page