Museum and Science Centre PLACE
2016 91 Days of Operation 25,862 Passengers $46,598 Passenger Revenue $4,130 Rail Pass Revenue City of PG Annual Operating Contribution $25,000 $108,970 expenses $114,599 revenues $5,629 surplus on the year
2016 Sponsors The Prince George Citizen ‐ Pioneer Track and Rail RT Solutions Total In Kind Value $15,340 Shout out to City Parks Staff! They go above and beyond to keep The Little Prince safely on the rails!
Existing Train Shed Built incorrectly in mid 1970’s 70’ Long X 12’ Wide x 10’ Tall Current Problems • The Building Leaks year ‐ round (assembled backwards) • The Building Floods + the Train freezes to the ground No fire exits • • Inadequate Lighting • No storage or work space • It is an eyesore in the Park Specifications/Needs • Eliminate the leaks (urgent) Raised Gravel Floor/Concrete • under at least the engine • Better/Safer Exits • Wood Storage Space • Improved Lighting Larger work area and tool storage •
Predictable Upcoming Maintenance Current Problems with Engine the Prince • Thurst Bushings under the Engine need 1 9 1 2 - 2 0 1 2 to be replaced (cannot currently happen in place) orge railway the fort ge ... , bri\ish co\umbi• p r i n c e george " I " • Outer skin on the Engine needs to be replaced (all custom metal work – recommendation from staff to do THCITIZEN 1W this in brass to avoid future problems) Friday, May 27, 2016 www.pgc 1t1 zen.ca Current Problems with Passenger Cars • Painting both Interior and Exterior • Wheel Bearings • Rooftops need repair/recovering Wish List • Communication system from Conductor to Engineer(s) • Extended track in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park Choo, choo! Emerson Pereira wav~ from behind the controls of The Little Prince miniature steam train on Thursday. The train is on the summer schedule ru nning Thur'lday to Monday from noon to 8 p.m. weather pe rmitting.
Key Considerations • The Engine is a key local artifact with National significance as it is the only 24” gauge steam engine operating in North America – even those in Russia are coal fired not wood fired • The Fort George Railway is Canada’s Shortest Railway at 2.2 km • The Davenport Engine is now unique + is from 1912, so all repairs and parts are custom made • Over 25,000 people ride the train annually – it is an important tourism draw/stay extender • We must adhere to Canadian Railway Operating Standards as a passenger rail operation • In the present situation this could be the last season that the Engine is operational without major repairs – doing major repairs without addressing the state of the building is throwing good money after bad The existing building is placing the artifact at risk due to humidity (rust and wood rot) from • flooding and direct damage from freezing to the ground due to annual flooding • If the City of Prince George intends to continue to operate the train through the contract with The Exploration Place these capital expenses must be addressed quickly.
Recommendations Museum and Sc ience Centre PLACE Train Shed • Add to capital program at the City for replacement in spring 2018 • Ensure the interior space necessary to work on the equipment + to store at least four cords of wood • Raise the floor level to prevent ambient flooding from snowmelt Equipment • Create a reserve that will grow to $100,000, held at the City, to allow for major repairs as they become necessary. • Improvements to the Train Shed will allow Museum Staff to accomplish much of the necessary work on site.
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