Throwback Thursday - Engineer in Training

Jon Morris was getting number 9 ready for another day’s operation outside the Elgin County Railway Museum on May 04, 2002.

By Peter Mumby. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the April 2024 issue of Railfan and Railroad magazine which was billed as the “Canadian Steam Special.”  Of particular interest was the cover story, “Empress Returns,” by Justin Franz.  This article describes the history of Hudson locomotive CP2816 and the preparations made for this spring’s Final Spike Anniversary Steam Tour in celebration of the CPKC  merger.  A number of references were made to Jonathan J. Morris, CP’s steam operations manager, and this took me back to a time over twenty years ago when Jon was learning the basics of steam locomotive operation as a volunteer with the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society.  SOLRS was operating ex-Essex Terminal Railway 0-6-0 number 9 out of the Elgin County Railway Museum in St. Thomas, Ontario.  Jon was a high school student at the time, and could often be found on the weekends assisting with number 9’s operation around the St. Thomas yard or on short excursions out of town.  As a local railfan photographer I was often in attendance during these operating sessions and always enjoyed visiting with Jon as he was learning his craft.

Jon is checking the water level on his locomotive on June 07, 2002. The location is Shedden on the CN CASO subdivision.

Jon is filling number 9’s water tank on August 25, 2001 in the yard at the ECRM.