“This will be a great treat for our guests,” said Frank Carroll, representative of the McAdam Historical Restoration Commission, the group of volunteers that has been leading the restoration of the glorious station for the past decade. “We’re hosting a book launch event at 1 p.m. for the second edition of our gorgeous McAdam Station coffee table book and then greeting, at 2, a passenger train loaded with folks as part of the Oromocto Hospital Foundation’s Annual Train Ride fundraising event.”
The Hospital Foundation’s train ride fundraiser includes a train ride from Fredericton Junction to the McAdam Railway Station and back, a tour of the historic Station and finally dinner in Fredericton Junction. Tickets for the event have been sold out for some time – they often sell out in the fall for the following May’s train ride.
The book launch, meanwhile, is open to the general public free of charge. Mark Walma and Mary E. O’Keefe, authors of the well-known Abigail Massey at McAdam Station children’s books, will be on hand to share stories of the Station, of the Abigail Massey book project and of exciting plans for the upcoming year.
“When we brought out the special first edition of the coffee table book two years ago, it sold out even before we got it back from the printers,” Walma said, “so we’re delighted to be able to bring out the second edition, just as beautiful and just as chock full of exciting photos and text, but redesigned for the general market.”
Carroll pointed out that the book launch event creates a great opportunity for folks to view and take photos of the arrival of a passenger train at the Station and to enjoy the excitement along with the many passengers who will be loading and unloading on the train in McAdam.
“In its heyday, the McAdam Station welcomed passenger trains numerous times every day,” Carroll said, “but now, unfortunately, it’s a fairly rare event to have a passenger train filled with people roll up to our platform and open its doors. I expect this will bring back a lot of fond memories for a lot of folks across New Brunswick.”
The McAdam Station will offer its full catalogue of services and events starting in June this summer, including Railway Pie Sundays and the special celebration of Canada’s 150th Birthday on July 1.
“This combined book launch/passenger train event is a great way to kick things off,” Carroll said.
“I’m not sure what I’m more looking forward to,” Walma added, “the launch of our gorgeous book or the chance to step back into the Station’s history and witness the arrival of the Oromocto Hospital Foundation’s passenger train.”
The book launch begins at 1 p.m. and is free to the public. The train is expected to arrive at 2 p.m.
