Hay River (Aug 04/03) - A society has been created to preserve the history of the rail line from Edmonton to Hay River.

Glenn Pangborn is the president of the new Rail Fans North Historical Society. - NNSL file photo

The Rail Fans North Historical Society was officially formed in mid-July. The new group has 28 members from Hay River, Yellowknife and Enterprise.

It's president is Hay River's Glenn Pangborn, who says he has been working six months to establish the society.

Pangborn explains the society's goal is to preserve a complete record of the rail line, including documents and archival data. "The biggest thing for the society is to preserve the history of the line and to promote the line."

Along the lines of promotion is an ongoing attempt to attract a tourist train from Edmonton into Hay River next year.

Following recent meetings with the departments of Transportation and Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development, Pangborn says it appears 90 per cent certain the tourist train and its 300 passengers will make one visit to Hay River next May.

On Aug. 18, Pangborn will make the case for the tourist train visit during a formal presentation to the NWT and Alberta governments.

After that presentation, he says the matter will be decided one way or the other. "On the 18th, we'll know."

And Pangborn adds, "We're definitely farther than we've ever been to get this train up."

The visit would coincide with the 40th anniversary of the construction of the rail line into Hay River.