LAKELAND – While the Iron Horse Trail had less traffic this year due to a series of fire prevention closures, the Riverland Recreational Trail Society (RRTS) had a variety of needed repairs on its Aug. 18 meeting agenda.
Trestles on both the west and northeast branches of the trail have suffered damage, with Danny Smyl reporting that one of these, with one of its railings and some of the trestle’s surface falling off the north side, “can be seen from the highway” west of Cold Lake and will require major repairs, for which he has sent in a quote. Another trestle on the west branch heading to Smoky Lake also needs major work, he noted.
The southeast repairs are right at that branch’s far end, where RRTS president Marvin Bjornstad told members, “I am concerned about Heinsburg.”
The historic railway water tower, which was used by the CN Railway trains from 1930 to 1965 and was restored decades later by a group of devoted volunteers with funding from a long list of area businesses and individuals, has been a major drawing card for tourists over the years, but now it needs work. Its paint is starting to peel in places, it is missing a few shingles and some of the windowpanes have come out of their frames, but thankfully are being held in place by the screens.
“I would like Alberta Historic Sites to put the water tower in their next year’s plan, they need a plan by January.”
The water tower, station and caboose are highlights for visitors who use the campsites that have been developed nearby in recent years, along with a gazebo and camp kitchen with washroom facilities.
Bjornstad also said that window replacement was needed in the Heinsburg train station, and that there are replacement windows stored in the station for the nearby caboose that need to be installed to prevent further deterioration.
Planting trees along all three branches of the trail was also on last week’s agenda, and Bjornstad told the members that Elk Point’s new CAO Darrell Lessmeister has had arborist training and could be a valuable asset in determining what should be planted in various locations.
Riverland’s next meeting is slated for Sept. 8.
