It’s summer solstice as I write this and an update on Calgary chapter goings on is long overdue.
First and foremost I must mention the ongoing effort to move along the Alberta line project. This is being spearheaded by Kevin Jepson. This springs Supertrain 2024 event provided our last opportunity to do realtime testing of the proof of concept for the project. It went well and gives us solid experience to build on. Kevin is currently working on some of the more technical aspects of the hardware interface of the system. A more detailed explanation and update will be forthcoming from Kevin very soon. Watch for it!
And speaking of Supertrain, MTC Calgary attended and hosted a booth at this years show on April 20 & 21. While attendance was down a bit from last years show, the enthusiasm was not. A number of first time vendors were there and the show once again occupied the entire venue. The Calgary chapters booth was on so-called Heritage Alley, a busy interconnecting thoroughfare between 3 of the 4 show fields. The location provided much opportunity to dazzle visitors with lightning slinging and story telling. A rough head count had several hundred stop by our booth over the two days. Several guests expressed an interest in joining our group or donating items to our cause. We also had a former CPR operator/RTC offer his services as an advisor and mentor. Several others representing museums expressed interest in the line project. Good news all around.
Calgary’s Heritage Park opened for the season on May 17 and it’s at Heritage Park that members of MTC Calgary hone their skills while sharing their passion for Morse telegraphy and the “day in the life history” of railway station operators and agents across Canada for 100 years. Activities include Morse code demonstrations, public telegram sending and hooping train orders. We’ll be doing this on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s, as we did last year. In addition children attending summer camps will get an introduction to Morse code as part of their activities. Our Marilyn Maguire started a junior telegraph club last season and its popularity is growing. In fact members of the junior club will be helping out MTC members on a regular basis during the season, a first for MTC Calgary and the park.
Heritage Park’s annual railway event, Railway Days, is set to run this year on Sep 14 and 15.
MTC Calgary will once again attend and host a booth, separate from our usual occupation of one or two of the parks former CPR stations. New this year will be assistance from the junior telegraph club with the event.
Last year MTC Calgary demonstrated Morse telegraphy at a number of open houses at Champion Park, near Aldersyde, Alberta. This represented a restart of a tradition that goes back to the 1980’s at the park and we’re hopeful that we will soon be hearing about plans for summertime 2024.
That’s all I have for now. Watch for a fall time update in this space and Kevin’s update on the line project.
In the mean time keep your keys clean and your breaks sharp.
73
Ken Ashmead, President
Morse Telegraph Club Calgary Chapter
First and foremost I must mention the ongoing effort to move along the Alberta line project. This is being spearheaded by Kevin Jepson. This springs Supertrain 2024 event provided our last opportunity to do realtime testing of the proof of concept for the project. It went well and gives us solid experience to build on. Kevin is currently working on some of the more technical aspects of the hardware interface of the system. A more detailed explanation and update will be forthcoming from Kevin very soon. Watch for it!
And speaking of Supertrain, MTC Calgary attended and hosted a booth at this years show on April 20 & 21. While attendance was down a bit from last years show, the enthusiasm was not. A number of first time vendors were there and the show once again occupied the entire venue. The Calgary chapters booth was on so-called Heritage Alley, a busy interconnecting thoroughfare between 3 of the 4 show fields. The location provided much opportunity to dazzle visitors with lightning slinging and story telling. A rough head count had several hundred stop by our booth over the two days. Several guests expressed an interest in joining our group or donating items to our cause. We also had a former CPR operator/RTC offer his services as an advisor and mentor. Several others representing museums expressed interest in the line project. Good news all around.
Calgary’s Heritage Park opened for the season on May 17 and it’s at Heritage Park that members of MTC Calgary hone their skills while sharing their passion for Morse telegraphy and the “day in the life history” of railway station operators and agents across Canada for 100 years. Activities include Morse code demonstrations, public telegram sending and hooping train orders. We’ll be doing this on Tuesday’s and Saturday’s, as we did last year. In addition children attending summer camps will get an introduction to Morse code as part of their activities. Our Marilyn Maguire started a junior telegraph club last season and its popularity is growing. In fact members of the junior club will be helping out MTC members on a regular basis during the season, a first for MTC Calgary and the park.
Heritage Park’s annual railway event, Railway Days, is set to run this year on Sep 14 and 15.
MTC Calgary will once again attend and host a booth, separate from our usual occupation of one or two of the parks former CPR stations. New this year will be assistance from the junior telegraph club with the event.
Last year MTC Calgary demonstrated Morse telegraphy at a number of open houses at Champion Park, near Aldersyde, Alberta. This represented a restart of a tradition that goes back to the 1980’s at the park and we’re hopeful that we will soon be hearing about plans for summertime 2024.
That’s all I have for now. Watch for a fall time update in this space and Kevin’s update on the line project.
In the mean time keep your keys clean and your breaks sharp.
73
Ken Ashmead, President
Morse Telegraph Club Calgary Chapter
