Heritage Railway set to re-open

The Heritage Railway and Carousel Company will be back in operation at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 27. 

The popular waterfront miniature railway has been shut down since July 17. 

"We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding over the past week as we were temporarily closed," stated Don Coutts, treasurer with the Heritage Railway and Carousel Company. 

"The Heritage Railway and Carousel Company (HRCC) has been successful in finding an individual who is licenced by the TSSA for Amusement Rides. We would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding over the past week as we were temporarily closed."

Honouring a Railway friend

Organizers of the tourist stop were forced to shut their operations due to the passing of longtime chief mechanic Dan Pigeau. 

Pigeau had been the chief mechanic for the HRCC for the past 9 years but had been actively involved with the railway for many years before that. 

"Dan will be missed by all the volunteers of the trains and carousels," said Rod Johnston, chairperson of the HRCC on social media. 

"Dan was quite involved with the building of the Heritage (big) carousel in 2002, and instrumental in getting the Winter Wonderland (small) Carousel operational in 2005."

Organizers say the 30th Anniversary celebrations scheduled for August are postponed and they will be releasing the new date soon. 

The celebration will focus on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers who changed the look and feel of the North Bay Waterfront.

The dream of two men, former mayor Stan Lawlor and local dentist Rod Johnston, to create a miniature railway and preserve the heritage of rail in North Bay, became a reality on July 29, 1994, with the official opening of the Heritage Railway Company.