There's a big lift on order for the Railway and Forestry Museum.
The BID Construction Group is offering the services of a 200-tonne crane to allow the museum to move five historic railcars that will eventually become part of a permanent exhibit.
The cars have been stored at the adjacent CN Rail yard, but CN has informed the museum it needs that land to expand its operations which necessitated the move, likely to take place on Monday and Tuesday.
"If we had to pay for it would cost about $100,000, and BID is doing it for free. We're a non-profit and we don't have funds for stuff like that," said museum executive director Ranjit Gill. "It will be quite something to see because these railcars are quite massive and heavy.
The project will involve moving a dining car and a sleeping quarters car, both about 80 feet long, in addition to three other railcars.
"One of the cars is a very impressive spreader [snowplow]," said Gill. "They're are all historical and they've all been exposed to the elements for quite some time. They won't be on display because they need refurbishing and they're not safe right now."
The museum is in need of its own warehouse and Gill said that is on the wish list as a future capital project.
One of the three front doors of the museum was damaged in Monday night's explosion that destroyed the Lakeland Mills sawmill. Gill said the museum plans to organize a fundraiser to help the families of the mill fire victims.
