Mystery evening supports heritage preservation

When the South Simcoe Railway's passengers depart the station Sept. 9, they may not know what is going to happen, but they will be helping to preserve Canada's unique railway heritage.

The Saturday evening dinner and murder mystery package evening will raise funds to support the railway's efforts to preserve the flavour of the branch-line railways that helped make our country possible.

For more than 100 years, steam-locomotive-powered trains built this country, and yet there are now only a few left in North America.

Throughout the year, the South Simcoe Railway operates branch-line rail excursions pulled by one of two

authentic steam locomotives, engine #1057 built in 1912, and engine #136, built in 1883, two years before the completion of the railway line linking the east to the newly-developed Canadian west. Passengers travel in authentic heavyweight passenger coaches that were built in the 1920's.

The Sept. 9 event begins at 5 p.m., with a delectable catered dinner. The diners may choose an entree of prime rib, cedar plank salmon or penne, all cooked to perfection by chef Gilles Roche and his culinary team from Gourmandissimo in Caledon East. The mystery begins during dinner, and the guests will discover that some of the diners are there specifically to play a part in the evening's mystery. Passengers board the train, and travel on a one-hour journey through the scenic Beeton Creek Valley as the plot thickens and the mystery continues.

When the train returns to the station, the passengers must help solve the mystery while they enjoy dessert and coffee to conclude their night out.

Advance reservations for this event are required, and may be made by calling the

railway office at 905-9365815 on weekday afternoons, or on the railway's Web site at www.steamtrain. com. Tickets are $90 each, which includes dinner, the mystery, train trip, and all taxes and gratuities. A cash bar will also be available during the dinner, featuring Ontario wine and beer selections. Seats are limited, so patrons are advised to book early.

The railway is owned and operated by a dedicated group of volunteers, who perform all tasks and functions, ranging from equipment and track maintenance to operating the excursions. The volunteers are committed to preserving and interpreting

railway heritage, so future generations can experience and understand how the railways played their pivotal role in Canadian history.