207

Old trolly car for repairs now at the Elmira Railway Museum
31 August 2002
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

208

Edward and Tissa Deveau
Edward worked for the railroad in many capacities. In the mid 1940's, he began office work for the railroad upon finding out that there was an over abundance of telegraphers, for which he had been training for at the time.
His experience enabled him to get work as relieving office worker and freight handler in many areas of the Island including Montague, Souris, Charlottetown, Kensington, Summerside and Tignish.
For these jobs he was receiving $85 every two weeks, which was considered top pay. He also took shovelling jobs whenever they came up, whether it was shovelling coal or snow.
He too remembers shovelling snow at the Raw Cut, a snowbank that appeared every year between Harmony and outer Souris limits which caused the train to become stuck numerous times.
Mr. Deveau and his wife Tissa recalled many interesting things about the railway. Although it was before their time, they remember hearing about the narrow to wide gauge shift. Many men worked all one Saturday and Sunday to make the track wider.
All new engines and cars had to be sent here to travel on this new track as the spacing of their wheels could not be adjusted. The old engines and cars were then sent to Newfoundland where the narrow gauge was still being used.
The stations where tickets were sold and where station agents were hired to perform this and other duties were Elmira, Souris, Bear River, Morell and Mount Stewart.
Other stops the train made in between were at what was referred to as "Way Stations." These included Harmony, New Zealand, St. Charles, Selkirk and Ashton, all east of St. Peters. Store orders and other items arriving by train to these way stations had to be pre-paid as there were no agents there to handle the money.
During the war, many of the railroad men joined the service. To fill these now vacant spots, some of the men who were left were promoted until their return, i.e. firemen or brakemen could be promoted to engineer.
When the tracks were being sprayed to control the growth of weeds, the Deveau's heard as did Leo Gallant that Agent Orange was the chemical being used. At this time, this chemical was not known to be dangerous.
Many railroad workers were recalled during this interview. They included:
Jack (the Lake) MacDonald, a man from St. Peters Lake who was a station agent in Souris
Artie (Johnny Vie) MacDonald and Harry Leslie, section foremen
Harold McGaugh, sectionman
Joe Campbell, sectionman (after Harold McGaugh)
St. Clair and Frank Paquet (brothers), engineers
Andrew Murrant, worked at the Souris Station
Harold Delany, station agent in Souris (after Peter Holland)
Mike Fitzpatrick, section foreman
Billy Fitzpatrick, freight handler (after Frank Whalen, around 1947).
In closing, Mr. Deveau said the railroad workers were like family and there was a great companionship between them.

209

Railway Switch at Elmira Railway Museum
31 August 2002
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

210

Cammy Pierce
The Elmira Station was once a booming spot for visitors and the community. Many people came and went but the "Pierce" family were remembered by many and had quite an involvement with the railway.
There was a train every day at Elmira, the station was always packed with people waiting. Arthur MacNeil was responsible for picking up the mail.
One night he fell asleep waiting and someone put itching powder down his shirt. Poor Arthur soon awake, the itching nearly drove him crazy and he had no idea what was causing it. Cammy's uncle, Bill Pierce, was post master which was just across the road from the station. Neil Cheverie delivered the mail.
Cammy shovelled snow on the Elmira to Harmony Section. There were times they were on four tiers in a cutting. It was much colder in those years, but in April things warmed up making the snow stick to the shovels and they had to wax the shovels to make the snow slide off easily.
Jack Pierce, Cammy's uncle, bought livestock and shipped them by train from Elmira and East Baltic. When working in East Baltic, he rode the morning train to the Baltic and would walk back to Elmira.
A brother by the name of Kenneth Pierce learned how to operate the key and moved to Northern Ontario to work as a dispatcher. The work as a dispatcher was and still is a demanding job. Mistakes are not tolerated. Kenneth remained with the railway until his retirement a few years ago.
In the early 1900's a mill just north of the rail line sawed the lumber for the rail ties used for the Elmira Branch. Blasting Powder was used to cut the way through rocks and could heard for miles.
Percy Steele, station agent for Elmira, lived in the station with his wife for a short time. In the winter he was known to drive his Model A Coupe down the track when the roads were blocked with snow.
When the train had a lay over in Elmira on Sunday's, the crew liked to spend their day off fishing. Cammy's father made them gaffs for catching salmon. Returning from a day of fishing with the new gaffs, which had proved to be successful, they gave him one for payment. Mr. Pierce was a Blacksmith.
Although there was no real violence or crime mentioned in the interviews, except for stealing coal, Cammy can recall several incidents. Pick pockets were a big problem in Charlottetown.
They would occupy the station every day waiting to hit on their next victim. Cammy's sister had her purse stolen when she drifted off to sleep. It wasn't safe to leave anything unattended. The Harvest Train that went out west was not safe for women to travel on. In the early 1900's, one woman waiting to board a train (not on P.E.I.) was dragged into a car and killed.
A man and woman loading hay onto a wagon had their horse shot and killed by someone shooting from the moving excursion train out west. A man returning from the West had his whole summer's pay stolen when he fell asleep waiting to board the train. He of course, never got it back.
Lastly, at one place the train made a stop at was a liquor store. A group of men went in, taking everything they could carry and breaking the rest.

211

The late Greg Kent driving the P.E.I. Miniature Railway, at the Elmira Railway Museum.
26 September 2003
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

212

The P.E.I. Miniature Railway was moved from its original location in Kildare Capes, P.E.I. and was officially opened in the summer of 2003. The tracks wend their way over 6000 feet of terrain near the Elmira Railway Museum.

213

Greg Kent
26 September 2003
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

214

Greg Kent
August 9, 1951 - January 21, 2004

Greg came to work at the Elmira Railway Museum at the opening of the P.E.I. Miniature Railway. He was the Railway's first Engineer in Elmira. In addition he was a talented jack of all trades, and master of many. His talents and skills were an asset to the Museum. Greg was an outstanding community leader and volunteer.

215

Enjoying the Fall colours on a trip on the P.E.I. Miniature Railway
18 October 2003
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

216

The P.E.I. Miniature Railway travelling through the fall colours in Elmira, P.E.I.

217

Enjoying the Fall colours
18 October 2003
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

218

The P.E.I. Miniature Railway coming in towards the station at Elmira, P.E.I.

219

Engineer Greg Kent brings the P.E.I. Miniature Railway Train into the station.
26 September 2003
Elmira, Prince Edward Island

220

Engineer, the late Greg Kent brings the train in to the station area, for passengers at the P.E.I. Miniature Railway Station. The railway is a featured attraction at the Elmira Railway Museum.