Let’s do the locomotion…

Transcona

The 100th birthday of a beloved Transcona landmark will be celebrated later this month.

The Transcona Museum and the Transcona BIZ are organizing an event to celebrate the centennial of the CN 2747, which will be held on Saturday, June 20 between 1 and 4 p.m. at Rotary Heritage Park (735 Kildare Ave. W). The event is presented by CN.

According to the museum’s website, the CN 2747 train was constructed in April 1926 at the Canadian National Railway Shops in Transcona. It was the first steam locomotive to be constructed at the Transcona Shops, and it was also the first steam locomotive built for the Western Region.

In recent years, more than $600,000 has been raised through a capital campaign to ensure the historic engine has been preserved, protected and secured for future generations to enjoy, and it now rests in a permanent enclosure. In 2015, the museum acquired ownership of the engine from the Midwestern Rail Association, which had acquired the locomotive from the Kiwanis Club.

Alanna Horejda, Transcona Museum’s curator, said the engine now takes pride of place in Transcona, and has become a much-loved landmark in the community.

“The community has grown around it,” said Horejda, who has been co-chair of the 2747 committee with museum board member and passionate advocate Peter Martin. “Many things have happened in the last 100 years, including changes to industry and technology. We’ve come a long way in the last 100 years.”

Horejda added that folks are welcome to attend the upcoming celebration on June 20, when there should be parking on side streets.

“We couldn’t have done this without the community,” she said.

The event is scheduled to include a free barbecue, face painting, activities, and tours. As well, new aspects of the restoration project will be unveiled (at 1:30 p.m.).

Martin — a longtime supporter of the museum whose father, Paul, was a former mayor of Transcona — is a lifelong Transcona resident who grew up appreciating the significance of the train, as well as the Park City’s railway roots.

“We now have a structure that preserves Canadian history, and that was totally built in Transcona. It’s our big iron horse,” Martin said.

“To be able to protect and preserve this, and have it available for future generations is something special for the community,” Martin added. “We want people to pay homage to this piece of history — to sit, observe, and realize how important this is. This isn’t AI, it’s something very special that was built by the hands of Transcona people. It’s here to enjoy and appreciate,” he added.

Go online at www.transconamuseum.mb.ca for more information.