7th division news

2023 Heritage award

Railway Heritage Award Presented to Doug Mayer
By Ken Rutherford, Heritage Award Co-ordinator

The Railway Heritage Award is presented annually, when appropriate, to a current member of the 7th Division who has contributed in a meaningful way to the preservation of railway history. To be considered for the award, the nominee shall have performed one or more of the following:
• have been a member of an historical association or society that works on the preservation and presentation of railway history and artifacts
• have contributed to the preservation of railway history through published writings or through volunteer work on restoration projects
• have exhibited a substantial interest in the history of railways in British Columbia and its preservation; or contributed many hours volunteering with an operating heritage railway
• have participated substantially in some other significant way to preserve railway heritage

A candidate for this award is nominated by his or her peers, and the chosen recipient must be recommended by the award co-ordinator and approved by the 7th Division Board of Directors.

This year’s recipient, Doug Mayer, has been associated with the Revelstoke Railway Museum for over 30 years. He is the author of six books on the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Revelstoke Division and has researched far and wide to collect the data for these books. The books are available through the Revelstoke Railway Museum’s website and all proceeds go to the museum. Doug has also been an active member of the group of modellers that have built a model railroad in the museum to show visitors some of the highlights of the Division. Last but not least he has been very active in the storage and sorting of the Ferrier Collection of CPR drawings that were donated to the 7th Division and are now being held by the Revelstoke Railway Museum. (Note: when the drawings are completely sorted and catalogued they will be sent to the Canadian Pacific Historical Association to be scanned and returned to the museum for safe storage. The scans will be available online for members of the 7th Division to access.)

It was my pleasure to present Doug with this year’s award.

2023 Jack Work Memorial Trophy

The Jack Work Memorial Trophy is presented to the 7th Division member who best exhibits the qualities that Jack Work displayed, namely: imagination, creativity, innovation, artistry, forward thinking, quality workmanship, and the sharing of the results of these qualities with the rest of the hobby. Nominees must be a member of the 7th Division of the PNR for a minimum of two consecutive years. Recipients may only be awarded the Trophy once.

This year’s recipient is Tim Horton. Tim is the current 7th Division Assistant Superintendent. He has gone to great lengths to share his knowledge by authoring books on his beloved railway and presenting numerous clinics at the RMMBC in-person meets. His knowledge and modelling of BC Rail is extensive.

Congratulations Tim!

2023 Ross Heriot Memorial Gold Spike award

This award was first presented in 1968, and is usually presented annually to one or more individuals in the PNR 7th Division who have made a significant contribution to the division and its membership. It is in appreciation of their unselfish devotion of time and effort to further the aims of the NMRA, the PNR, and the hobby of railway modelling through assistance and service for the benefit of all railway modellers within the division.

I thank those who supplied nominations for this year’s award. I have gratefully received letters supporting this year’s recipient.

This year’s recipient has been an active member of the division for over eight years. Among his many contributions to the 7th Division, some particular highlights come to mind:

This year’s recipient stepped up to serve as the 7th Division Superintendent in 2016 on the retirement of Russ Watson. From then until his retirement from the Superintendent’s position in November 2021 and his subsequent assumption of, and retirement from, the Assistant Superintendent’s position in late 2022 he accomplished much. Acting as a gentle elder statesman and motivator he has served the 7th Division actively and very well.

He was instrumental in transitioning the 7th Division’s annual meet from its traditional format as a combined public train show and modellers’ meet to the current format as the Railway Modellers Meet of British Columbia, an event dedicated to modelling, and the Vancouver Train Expo, a public train show. Both events have benefited from this reorganization and are better than they previously were. The transition required the creation of a separate legal entity, Lower Mainland Train Expo Society, and the sorting out of the financial relationship between the 7th Division and the new Society, to which John played a key role. John served actively on the Vancouver Train Expo Organizing Committee and the RMMBC committee as the liaison between the two organizations and the division. He continues to play an important role providing guidance to the Organizing Committee.

In his letter of nomination Tom Lundgren wrote: “As the Leader of Vancouver Train Expo I wish to express my great appreciation for John’s interest and active assistance in support of the public train show.”

John’s contributions are clearly consistent with the criteria for the Golden Spike Award.

I do hope you will all join me in thanking and acknowledging our past superintendent John Martin as the 2023 recipient of the Ross Heriot Memorial Golden Spike award.

2022 Heritage award

On September 25 at the Victoria Model Railroad show, Ken Rutherford had the pleasure of presenting the 2022 Heritage Award to Robert Turner of Protection Island. The award is presented to a member (or members) in the Division who has/have contributed significantly to the preservation of railroad history within the Province of British Columbia.

2022 Jack Work Memorial Trophy

This year's recipient is Scott Calvert. Scott has been active in the 7th division for many years and he has always gone to great lengths to share his knowledge. He has presented many clinics. beginning as far back as our days at Oakridge and extending to recent PNR conventions and the RMMBC in-person and virtual meets. His web page contains an enormous quantity of information to assist his fellow modellers and he is always extremely generous with his time and advice. He has written for several modelling magazines to share his expertise.

2022 Ross Heriot Memorial Gold Spike award

The 2022 recipient is Lori Sebelley. She has been an active member of the division for several years.Among her many contributions to the 7h division some particular contributions come to mind: She has served both on the Trains and “Railway Modellers Meet of British Columbia” Organizing committees for several years. This person is an active member of the Coldslap Free-mo Club, participating in public displays for their layout and being an ambassador for our hobby.

2021 Heritage award

The first Heritage award went to Ken Rutherford and Rick Lord, a joint award.

2021 Jack Work Memorial Trophy

This year the Jack Work memorial trophy has been awarded to Rene Gourley. Rene has been involved with the hobby and NMRA pnr's 7Th division for many years. He has given numerous clinics, quite often on leading-edge technology topics. He is continually"pushing the envelope" as they say. He has written various article for the model press and for the past 6 years has been the chairman of the Railway Modellers Meet of BC,bringing all facets together for a first class, well received and well organized meet.

2021 Ross Heriot Memorial Gold Spike award

The Ross Heriot memorial gold spike award is usually presented annually to the individual or individuals in the 7th Division PNR NMRA who have made a significant contribution to the division and it's membership. It is in appreciation of their unselfish devotion of time and effort to further the aims of the NMRA, PNR and the hobby of model railroading through assistance and service for the benefit of all model railroaders within the division.