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A 'Wheeler' taking a load of fired brick out of a Kiln, 1930's1930
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Wheeling was known as the hardest job at the Plant and was relegated to the young rookies. These young men would on occasion have races when the Boss wasn't looking - Two racers, each with a brick laden Wheelbarrow, would start at the posts located in the West Stock Shed. The men would lift the load, balance it and then release one of the Wheelbarrow's handles and put that free arm behind his back. A signal was given and off they would go zigzagging around the posts that hold up the Stock Shed roof. They would race to the far end, turn around and head back to the starting point. The winner, of course, was the one that arrived back at the starting line first. The Wheelers developed balance and very strong forearms, they didn't upset their loads very often, if they did it was usually due to a practical joker.272
Brick delivered by the Wheelers were loaded into Box Cars using straw as packing2003
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Wheelbarrow2002
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The Wheelers would deliver the bricks to the waiting rail Box Cars, there workmen would layer the bricks and set straw between each brick and layer so the bricks wouldn't break or chip during transport.275
Bricks were wheeled to waiting Box Cars, loaded by hand with a layer of straw between each level.1 December 2003
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Grain cars were used to transport bricks as you can see by the gauge printed on the car's wall. Compare the amount of brick that could be loaded, due to the weight restrictions on the Spur Line, at the bottom of the scale to the amount of Wheat the car could hold at the top of the scale.277
West Stock Shed (r), Kilns and one Smoke Stack (l)1 December 2003
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Grain doors (vertical wood pictured) found in the rail Box Cars that came to the Plant were used for firewood until they decided to use them to enclose the Stock Sheds. One could say that the enclosure of the Stock Sheds was courtesy of the Canadian Wheat Board.279
Bricks were stored in Stock Sheds.1950
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Capital Campaign brochure cover depicting Brick Plant scenes.2002
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This brings us to the close of our virtual Brick Making tour.Claybank Brick was sent and used throughout Canada, the United States, Cuba, Algeria, and Europe. Working at the Brick Plant was considered an essential service in World War II; Claybank produced brick used in the fireboxes of the CN and CP Rail Line Locomotives that helped open up the West; and it produce brick that was used in the construction of Launch Pads at Cape Canaveral. Most of our Visitors are amazed with the global significance of this 'Little Brick Plant in the Middle of Nowhere'.
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There is absolutely NO Smoking at the Claybank Brick Plant NHS except in the designated smoking kiln24 January 2004
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For more information please call:(306) 868 4774
For tours call:
(306) 868 4474
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