The World of Transportation

What a wonderful museum! This is actually one of four development museums in Saskatchewan . . . each one focuses on a different theme. Yorkton's museum is "Story of People", Saskatoon is "1910 Boomtown" and North Battleford is "Heritage Farm & Village".

Moose Jaw's museum is all about transportation and they have packed in every imaginable mode of transportation that was ever used on the Prairies.

Who knew that the first electric powered vehicle in these parts was actually produced almost 30 years ago. The prototype had issues with the cold winters or something.

How could it have taken 30 years to perfect a car that could function in our cold climate? With all of the technology that has been available to us in the last 30 years, it baffles me that there was not some wonderful, forward thinking soul out there that couldn't have found the solution. Are we any closer today? Let's hope so!

The museum in Moose Jaw is the official Canadian Snowbirds gallery and features some of the actual planes, cockpits and other interesting items that goes along with the Snowbird legends. There was also another complete section of the museum that was devoted to airplanes which also included a workshop where a group met to rebuild old airplanes. It was interesting seeing all of the parts of planes in various stages of completion.

Of course the train could not be forgotten . . . these took up a great portion of the museum. Everything from cabooses, engines, passenger cars and model trains were featured.

Railway workers were paid $1.50 per day, but their room and board was $4.50 per week! Wouldn't be considered a really good week's wages. Hard work and low wages . . . a perfect reason to stay in bed in the morning!

Thank goodness it was "forbidden" to throw live coals, hot ashes or any burning materials from the train. Imagine if you were in the wrong place at the wrong time and had that thrown on you! Do you think they really needed a sign to tell people that? Common sense was maybe as hard to come by back then as it is today?

How many of you still have the melamine dishes from back in the 50's and 60's? Believe it or not, I have a box full in my basement! They are antiques, aren't they? Sure would like a snazzy toaster like that though.

Ha! I bet you thought there was nothing quilty about this post! There was a transportation quilt that was done in 2003 hanging in the entrance of the museum. Very detailed and wonderfully done . . . look at the Snowbird formation near the top of the quilt.

K . . . that is the final installment of my trip. Next post will have some quilty pictures . . . I promise.

'til next time,

M.