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Our Club has been approached several times recently about snowmobilers using the active rail lines in West Carleton, particularly in the Carp and Kinburn areas.
Specifically, people are using the railway to access services in Carp. Rail Term, the company that maintains the line, is concerned for the safety of snowmobilers, trains and their maintenance crew and equipment.
Snow can be packed on the rail bed hard enough to cause their equipment or a train to leave the track. The 50,000 pound maintenance vehicle below came off the track outside Carp on March 11, 2019 due to snow pack. This is a safety issue for Rail Term as well as the financial impact to the railway.
Trespassing on railway property is dangerous and illegal; cross only at designated locations.
Locomotives and rail cars are wider than the rails and railway bridges, tunnels and rock cuts; this allows little or no room for you and your snowmobile. Riding next to the tracks puts you in extreme danger.
Railway tips for sledders
Operation Lifesaver and its safety partners want you to be alert when riding your snowmobile near railway property and when crossing railway tracks. A snowmobile operator’s first responsibility must be safety.
Stay Safe: Keep these Lifesaving Tips in Mind
Trespassing on railway property is dangerous and illegal; cross only at designated locations.
Locomotives and rail cars are wider than the rails and railway bridges, tunnels and rock cuts; this allows little or no room for you and your snowmobile. Riding next to the tracks could put you in danger.
Stay Off! Stay Away—Stay Alive! More Safety Tips
Always expect a train on any track, in either direction, at any time!
Ride on approved trails only. Look for posted signs warning that you are approaching a railway crossing. These signs, sometimes posted by the local snowmobile club, may be in any shape, size or colour.
Always cross railway tracks at a designated and marked crossing and at an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible. Attempting to cross the tracks at a place other than a designated crossing could be deadly.
Model and teach young riders the correct way to cross railway tracks:
- STOP no closer than 5 metres from the nearest rail.
- LOOK both ways and LISTEN for approaching trains. Remember that where there is more than one track, trains can travel on any track, in either direction at any time! Even if a train is already passing through the crossing, another train can approach unexpectedly from either direction on other tracks.
- If you see a train approaching, or if the warning signals at the railway crossing are activated, STOP and wait in a safe place, away from all tracks. Once the train has passed and the warning lights have stopped flashing, ensure you have a clear view down the tracks and look both ways again for other approaching trains.
- Cross the tracks only when you are certain it is safe.
Be cautious, especially when riding in snowy or night time conditions. These conditions reduce visibility making it difficult to see obstacles, passing trains or railway crossings.
A passing train can create so much snow-dust that visibility is nil; always stop at a railway crossing to ensure you don’t ride into the side of a passing train.
Your helmet, the engine, wind and weather conditions may muffle the sound of an approaching train.
A mechanical breakdown of your snowmobile can occur at any time; don’t risk getting stopped dead on the railway tracks—Any time is train time! If your snowmobile should get stuck on a track or railway line, immediately contact the railway using the emergency number prominently posted at crossings, or call 911.
Set the Example for Safety
People die each year because they are not aware of the hazards associated with trespassing on railway property or they disregard railway crossing warning signs and signals.
Inexperienced riders, especially children, learn by example. What you DO when you are on your snowmobile may be more significant than what you SAY. Set the example for safe snowmobile riding!
Please remember: ANY TIME IS TRAIN TIME!
For additional railway safety information, please visit:
Website: www.operationlifesaver.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/oplifesaver
Twitter: www.twitter.com/oplifesaver
LOOK, LISTEN, LIVE!
OPERATION LIFESAVER
901 – 99 Bank Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 6B9 Tel.: 613-564-8100 Fax: 613-567-6726 E-mail: admin@operationlifesaver.ca
It’s that time of year again. TRAILS SIDE BBQ, sponsored by your local WC club.
Stop in Trailside this coming Sunday Feb 3, 2019 from 11 AM to 2 PM.
We will have hot dogs, hot chocolate, coffee, donuts and a “WARM FIRE”
Stop Right off the W311S trail (OVRT). Map market in the event photo where the B is on the map. Just south of the Pakenham bridge. Trailside will be marked by signs. Please SLOW down when approaching.
Stop in to share stories, have some food and drinks. Enjoy our trails …..
This is the OFSC Free Weekend! You can get your free pass for sleds that do not have a trail pass this weekend and enjoy your local trails. Just have license, insurance and plate stickers.
Hope to see you there.
Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata, right at the end of the W1 trail in West Carleton is offering a 15% off their best available rate and free parking to West Carleton sledders! Maybe take advantage this weekend after the Landowner Appreciation Dinner and stay the night!
Enjoy 15% Off Our Best Available Rate & Free Parking!
Looking for a destination like no other? Experience the Brookstreet Hotel & Resort in Ottawa-West. Four Diamond luxury accommodation and service, that’s affordable for friend and family getaways. Explore below to see what more we have to offer – and find your next getaway just outside of Ottawa at the Brookstreet Hotel.
For more information, availability and rates please visit the Brookstreet Hotel website
It’s that time of the year again 🙂 Your WC Snowmobile club is accepting nominations for the following end of year awards !
– WC Mike Asquini Volunteer Of The Year
– WC Rookie Of The Year
– WC Family Of The Year
– WC Trail Patroller Of The Year
– WC Safe Snowmobiling Ambassador
– WC Outstanding Snowmobile Promotion
If you have someone you would like to nominate please email to contact@wcstai.com. Nominations will close on Sunday Jan 6, 2019.
Your board of directors will be voting on this at our monthly meeting on Tuesday Jan 8, 2019.
Please explain why you are nominating this important and amazing person ……………..
Thanks so much,
Scott
Mark Jan 19, 2019 off your calendars for our Annual Landowner Appreciation event to be held at our newest supporter and event trail destination, The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata.
This $40 value is free to our landowners who help make our sport possible. It includes a Roast Beef dinner with dessert and coffee, cash bar and a DJ provided by Quality Entertainment until 1AM… Door prizes and draws…
We encourage you all to Sled or Drive in on Jan 19 in support of our landowners.
Dinner party Tickets $40 to Land Owner Supporters
DJ Entertainment Tickets: $10 from 8:30 PM-1AM.
RSVP Before Jan 9
Email: Dan@Alvinausher.com
Text or call: 613 867-4437
Landowners, if we haven’t contacted you yet please let us know…
See you all there.
Who would have thought we would have this much snow stay on the ground this early in the year. I hope it stays until April. I had my first ride but didn’t get out of the yard.
Our Signage Training Course is being presented on December 4, 2018 at 6:00 prior to the regular Board Meeting at the Community Centre in Kinburn. If you haven’t volunteered to help sign some of our trails this is an excellent opportunity to find out what it’s all about!
Don’t forget that OFSC requires that all Trail Coordinators receive Signage Training at least every 3 years. There are a number of new people on the list this year that require training and others that need a refresher course. I hope to see you there.
Also we have lost a few people this year and are looking for Trail Coordinators for the following sections.
|
A trail |
Arnprior dam to RR29 |
|
W16 |
W11 to Galetta Rd |
|
W16 |
Cannon Smith to Torbolton Ridge |
|
W16 |
Torbolton Ridge to Buckrams Bay |
|
W311S |
CP rail Pakenham to Arnprior |
If you have friends who snowmobile and would volunteer to help on one of these sections please let me know.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated by the Board of Directors and enjoyed by our club members. I thank you for your assistance.
Paul McDonald
There are just a couple more days to save $80 on your 2018-2019 Trail Pass. November 1 at midnight prices go up!
When you are purchasing your permit don’t forget to select “Yes” in the “I consent to the OFSC contacting me” dropdown menu to make sure you receive important OFSC messages as well as any email messages from our club. It’s on the first screen right above the opt-in menus for the Go Snowmobiling Ontario and Supertrax magazines.
The WCSTA course is now fully booked.
There are other clubs holding courses, which can be found in the events calendar page of the Upper Canada Snowmobile Region website. For other driver training course locations and dates please check the UCSR Calendar
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WCSTA will hold a Driver Training Session on Sunday, Dec 9 for those who would like to obtain a snowmobile operators license.
A snowmobile operators license can be obtained for those over 12 years of age who do not have a valid Ontario drivers license. Those people 16 years and older, will be asked to submit a form to verify no Drivers license has already been issued to them.
It will be held at the Kinburn Community Center, starting a 9 am, and running until 4 pm
The course is 6 hours in length, going over snowmobiling safety, followed by a test. Proof of age, for example, by birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport is needed, along with a parents signature of consent for their child’s attendance.
Registration forms will be filled out on day of course. If a parent cannot sign consent on that day, please contact Driver Training Instructor to arrange filling out registration beforehand.
There is a fee for the course that is set by the province, at $40.00, payable in cash or cheque made out to W.C.S.T.A.I
Our club will provide pizza lunch for students attending.
Class size is limited to 25 students.
To aid us with the registration process, please complete the pre-registration form below. Once this information is received you will receive a confirmation email within a day or two to verify that your application has been received. Please note that proof of age and parent signature will still be required when you arrive at the driver training.
You may also contact Eric Mesdag at drivertraining@wcstai.com, or phone 613 314 3933 for more info.
Time is running our to get your OFSC trail permit at pre-season prices. Save $80 off your 2019 Ontario Seasonal Snowmobile Trail permit when you purchase your permit online on or before November 1st. Buy early and save your hard earned cash!
Explore Fun, Freedom, and Adventure when you #gosnowmobilingontario