AER - AERHG Newsletter Vol1 #1

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	ALGOMA EASTERN RAILWAY HERITAGE GROUP N E W S L E T T E R
	VOLUME 1, NUMBER 2 MARCH 1999

Hello Again We're back! Much has taken place in the interval since we published the first issue of this newsletter in January. Not least is a steady stream of people wishing to be included on our mailing list to be kept informed of progress in saving the rail line between Espanola and Little Current. This has resulted from a wide distribution of the first issue of the newsletter (some people made copies for friends and that's an excellent idea, unless you want to give us their names to put on our list). Recently, names have come as a result of John Morgan's hard work in putting together a website specifically for the AERHG. More about this elsewhere.

John Morgan's Column
The recent meeting between Dale and Genesee Rail-One (described elsewhere in this newsletter) has answered some questions and raised others. On the positive side we now know who owns the rail line. We have had a qualified verbal statement of support from them as well as a general

idea of what will be required by Genesee Rail-One in order to use the line. On the negative side, we now have a firm time limit under which we must operate.
Dale's meeting with the Ministry of Mines and Northern Development has clarified the degree of support we can expect from the Ontario Government.
Mike has had some success getting statements of support from the Manitoulin-Espanola Development Association and the Town of Eastern Manitoulin and Islands. As of the time of writing, we have not yet received much needed support from the Town of Espanola and the Whitefish Falls First Nation.
We will soon be forming. the Algoma Eastern Railway Heritage Group into a nonprofit organization. This is a necessary step required by the Provincial Government to get help from them. It will also enable us to begin fund raising for the feasibility study, which given the time constraints pretty well needs to be done this summer.
The project is rolling

forward. This newsletter now goes to over one hundred recipients. Interest is growing, but more support is needed. You receive this newsletter because either you have expressed an interest in the project, or we think you will have an interest in seeing the tourist train run. For instance, if you are a hotel, or camp owner in the Espanola area, you can expect to see an increase in your business as tourists come to ride the train and explore the local area.
Now we need your help. When we formalize this organization, each of you will be asked to become a member. Becoming a member of the AEPHG will show your support for the project, not only to us, but far more importantly, to the organizations we will be asking to become major financial sponsors. So when you receive your membership notice, don't just chuck it in the trash thinking, "lots of other people will join, they don't need me". Please demonstrate your support in this project by joining us.
We need to kindle a greater level of interest from residents of the area where the

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train will run, especially in Espanola and Whitefish Falls. Those of you who live and work along the line can make an invaluable contribution. Tell your friends and neighbours about our activities. Encourage them to join the AERHG. At the very least, ask them to write, or telephone their local politicians (all levels of government), expressing support for the tourist train concept.
John Morgan The Algoma Eastem Historical Comer This is a new column for our newsletter. We know that the AEP, has an interesting history. Unfortunately little of it is public knowledge. We're hoping that some of you might be able to help us find out more about this fascinating line. In each issue of this newsletter we will ask a question about some item related to the AER and invite anyone who has, or may know of someone who has information about the selected item to share their information with us. Please send your information to: <morcomp@intranet.ca> or John Morgan, c/o Morcomp Associates, RR 2 Codrington, ON, K0K 1R0. if you have any questions you would like answered, let us know. If we can't answer them we'll try to publish them in this column. This month's item:
Did you know the AER, had a siding which

served the McMillan Gold Mine at Mile 61. 1, just south of West River? Does anyone have any information on this gold mine? Web Site The AERHG is now wired. Please visit our new Algoma Eastern Railway site on the World Wide Web. You'll find information on the AER, rosters and a virtual tour as well as the latest concerning saving the Little Current Sub. You will also find AEPHG press releases and back issues of this newsletter. Tune you favourite browser to: http://www.intranet.ca/ ~morcomp/aer.html Meeting the Owner After sending out the first newsletter we received an email message from Carl Belke, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Genesce Rail-One, the “parent" company of Huron Central between the Sault and Sudbury and the Quebec Gatineau, out of Montreal.
From this we learned that Genesee has owned the trackage from Espanola to just short of the crossing to Goat Island near Little Current since last August. Their purpose in acquiring the line from CPR was for the rail that is, to salvage it for reuse elsewhere on the company's lines. In a later meeting with Mr. Belke, some of the details were filled in.
First, he is generally

supportive of a tourism concept for the line and personally has experience in such ventures. As a result of a recent study they did, he is able to estimate the cost of rehabilitating the line, even to the point of standard freight usage. The structures are basically sound and the line overall in reasonable shape with a few soft spots needing more attention. This still means expenditures in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. There is no need for "re-lay" rail pulled up from here this coming summer - this will come the summer of Year 2000. If the line is then being used in a form of tourist operation, there must be at least some payment to Genesee for value of rail required they will then have to acquire elsewhere.
In short, things are looking better than they did and we hope to be able to continue with good news.
Dale Wilson.

Contact Information
Mike Lehoux, 386 Barber Street,
Espanola, ON, P5E 1B8; Phone
(705) 869-5319,, email.
<mike.clare@sympatico.ca>
John Morgan, RR #2, Codrington, ON, K0K 1R0; Phone (613) 4750455; email
<morcomp@intranet,ca>
* Dale Wilson, 158 Adie Street, Sudbury, ON, P3C 2C8; Phone (705) 674-8217,, email <dale.wilson@sympatico.ca>

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