vol. 10, no.5, october 1981 - Memorial University of Newfoundland

Something to celebrate
n Friday. 14 August 1981, a large enthusiastic
O crowd turned out to see the formal unveiling of.
commemorative plaque to the memory of Robert
Gillespie Reid who came to Newfoundland in 1890 and
subsequently completed the trans-island railw ay
which he operated until 1923.
Ending a week-long agenda that commemorated the
looth anniversary of the start of the rat twev. govern ­
me rit and railway dig nitaries asse mbled at the St .
J ohn's railway station to pay homage to the Reid effort
and to tou r a history train that had just finishe-d a
wee k's journey across the island. Included in the train
were a restored baggage car and mail car painted in
the original "Newfoundland Railway" colors. The can
housed a pictorial and interpretive exhibit put tcgether
by members of the Newfoundla nd Histo rical Transport
Society and TerraTransport.
Accord ing to organizers, the train was well received
along the route and the largest single crowd of spectat
ors assembled at the rai lway town of Whitbourne
Inter ior of CN V.I.P. car. L. to A. - A. Anth ony, chief cook;
C. Downl on of the Newfou ndland Transport Historical
Soci ety; and 4G-year employee " Bill y" Hayes, chief
stew art.
DECKS AWASH__S
L. to R (sealed) Hon . R Dawe , C.N. General Manager
J .A . Dextrase, 1. Reid , RG. Messenger, Len Stir ling
(Standing) A.A. Penney , C.F. Armstrong, E. Pratt, Hon .
J.A. Smallwood. R O·Neill.
whe re hundreds turned out to relive the days of the
"Newfie Bulle t" . President of the Newfoundland
Transport Historical Society , Dr . "Ben" Hogan
estimated that Z800people signed the official register
while visiting the train.
The notable personalities on hand had high praise for
those men who worked on the line over the years.
"The railway provided more jobs than any other
si ngle industry in our history," said former Premier
Hon. J ,R. Smallwood who heralded the railway as the
one si ngle greatest event affecting the moder n
economy of Newfoundland. "It would be wrong to
assess the value of the railway merely on the balance
sheet of the railway company." Mr. Smallwood felt
that the railway was in itself the first step in modern
economic development of Newfoundland.
Responding on behalf of Premier Brian Peckford,
Transportation Minister Ron Dawe expressed concern
for the futu re of the rail way in the province . "T he
pr oblems that have followed the railway are still with
it," admitted Mr. Dawe who felt that a revival of the
deter mined spirit of Robert Reid would at least go part
way in solving some of them.
In praising the talent and personal qua lilies of R.G.
Reid, Canadian NaUonal General Manager J. A.
Dex trase cautioned that it was only by examining the
greatness and the achievements of men like Reid that
we would come lo assess the contribution they have
mad e to mode rn society, and the great debt that we as
Canadians owe them.
At the end of the week', ceremonies, an estimated
10,000 Newfoundlanders bad seen the history train
during ill travels. After the ceremonies concluded the
two cars went inlo slorage at the St. John's yard.
ilia expected that TernTranaport will turn the cars
over lo the Newfoundland Transport Historical Society
before next year and th at they will become a part of a
perman ent travelling exhib it for the ge neral public,
his tor ian s, and tr ansport ation buffs to enjoy in the
futu re. "