Engine 1531 will leave Barrie Wednesday for the next leg of its journey to the Simcoe County Museum.

Built in Quebec, the 1910 steam engine was used by CN Railway until the late 1950s; it was stationed in Allandale and served many Simcoe County communities. Donated by CN to the city in 1960, the engine has been on Lakeshore Drive ever since. A high fence was eventually erected to protect the artifact from vandalism and graffiti. The caboose was added in 1995.

In an interesting twist, the caboose left town first; crews took it to the museum Monday.

The train and caboose had to be moved from their Lakeshore Drive location to allow sewer-line upgrades to take place.

Meanwhile, the Simcoe County Museum is working to expand its railway exhibit – including by adding a track. The new track will cost $9,500 and be part of a larger, $15,000 project with the Historical Construction Equipment Association.

“It’s sad it’s going – a lot of people feel that way. But we have something of historical significance, and when you looked at it down at the waterfront, it was doing nothing than collecting rust,” said Barrie’s Community Services Committee chairperson Coun. John Brassard.

“Now, not only will it be restored and given its proper place of honour, but we’ll have kids (learning about it). Instead of looking at it through a chainlink fence, they’ll be able to board it and see the value of its history.”

Moving the locomotive isn’t straightforward, as the engine’s boiler jacket and some piping insulation contain asbestos; the cost to remove the chemical is expected to cost $75,000, while the cost to move the engine is estimated at $89,000.

The political journey to the museum, too, was not straightforward; councillors initially suggested it move to an area just east of the Southshore Community Centre, where the city had planned but never proceeded with a railway-themed park.

The city still has yet to decide the fate of the old Allandale Station. Earlier this year, the city called for expressions of interest (EOI) for the site, but council has yet to choose which of three options it prefers.

A key part of the EOI document was the preservation of the old station. In 1853, the coming of the train to Allandale established that village, which became a railroad town on the Simcoe and Huronia Railway, later incorporated into the Grand Trunk system.

The railway initially didn’t come to Barrie, but after much intrigue and litigation, the line was extended to Barrie in 1865, and then to Orillia in 1869.

“The building of the railway in Simcoe County is a very significant part of our heritage and is a key component for interpretive programming at the museum,” said Simcoe County Warden Tony Guergis.

“Historically, the railway had an important role to play in the establishment and prosperity of towns in Simcoe County. The addition of Engine 1351 to our exhibits will significantly enhance the museum visitors’ and understanding of the significance of railway history in Simcoe County.”