2009

25 September 2009 Web Site to Showcase Provincial Railways Melanie Clark, left, business development and tourism director for Florenceville-Bristol, Art Clowes, centre, secretary of the New Brunswick division of the Canadian Railway Historical Association, and Louis Picard, right, project executive from the department of wellness, culture, and sport, took part in the launch of a web site Thursday to showcase the province's historical railways.     McAdam New Brunswick - If you're a railway history buff, you may be interested in a new web site launched Thursday at the historic railway station in McAdam by the New Brunswick Railway Heritage Association, a working committee created under the provincial division of the Canadian Railway Historical Association.   The web site, www.nbRailways.ca, highlights New Brunswick railway heritage with a combination of stories, photographs, and information about railway stations.   The site was create by a committee made up of representatives from the Bristol Shogomoc Railway in Florenceville-Bristol, The New Brunswick Railway Museum in Hillsborough, the Saint-Quentin train station, the Edmundston-Madawaska tourism office, the McAdam Railway Station, the Department of Tourism and Parks, as well as the Department of Wellness, Culture, and Sport.   "Some folks here have worked together for some time and it was about three years ago that we first talked about energizing ourselves to develop this site," said McAdam Mayor Frank Carroll.   "Thank goodness it was never let go by those who knew how important this project was. This is an important day for railway heritage in this province."   Art Clowes, provincial division secretary for the railway historical association, had only praise for the project and the railways featured on the web site.   "I have visited most of the (railway) sites in North America and I still feel that the Maritimes - and particularly New Brunswick - offers much more uniqueness in our railways than most people think," Clowes said.   "The railway was started with a number of individuals and small railway companies developing a variety of structures on these sites."   The web site showcases each of the railway lines - five in all, including Upper St. John River, Appalachians, Maxwell Brothers, Acadian, Capital Region, and Bay of Fundy Tracks.   It describes each of the stations still in use, along with former stations that now operate as libraries, commercial offices, community centres, or are waiting for restoration.   "We have so much here in the province," Clowes said.   "Let's start showing people what we've got and ask our politicians and government officials to help us promote it."   Clowes said he encourages people to check out the web site and visit links to various railway station sites.     Screen capture of the New Brunswick division of the Canadian Railway Historical Association web site.

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