Bill Walker Interview - Family with over 200 years of accumulated rail service with most in Dauphin!

Bill and Lucille Walker and family from Oakville, ON have made a $1000 donation to the Dauphin Rail Turntable Bridge Exhibit project taking place in Dauphin, MB., the “Birthplace of Canadian Northern Railway”.

Bill Walker’s grandfather, William Albert Walker (b. Oct. 10, 1862, d. June 20, 1923), was an engineer with Grand Trunk, Great Northern and finally Canadian Northern Railway and is pictured in the cab of the first locomotive on the Dauphin Rail Turntable in February 1908. His sons also worked on the Canadian National Railway, mostly in the Dauphin area.

Here is a list of their names: Ross Robert Gerald Walker, b. June 1889; he worked as a Machinist in the CNR shop in Dauphin in the late 1890's until his retirement. He died June 8, 1968. 

 James Rutherford Walker, b. August 28, 1891; worked for the CNR starting in Dauphin and retired in Western Canada. He died November 29, 1979. 

 William Oliver Walker, b. March 10, 1897; worked for the CNR starting in Dauphin and retired from the railway at an unknown date. Died 1955. 

 John Thomas Walker, b. January 6, 1900; worked for the CNR starting in Dauphin. He died in 1974 or 1979? 
 Frank Hector Walker (Bill's Father) b. December 17, 1902; worked for the CNR starting in 1920 as a "wiper" in the CNR shop Dauphin. He retired from the CNR in 1966 as a locomotive foreman in Brandon. He died February 9, 1982. 

 The Walker family, with many years spent in Dauphin, had accumulated 200 years of service collectively working on the railway with Canadian Northern/Canadian National Railway. This donation illustrates how the 130 year rail legacy in Dauphin binds families and their descendants through this connection. The installation of this exhibit in CN Park will be located just adjacent to CNR Place.

This is the former Dauphin Rail Station which is both a Manitoba Historic Site and an Historic Railway Station of Canada, originally built in 1912 by Canadian Northern Railway and is affectionately known as “Manitoba’s Most Beautiful” former Rail Station. Donations can be made on behalf of the project to the City of Dauphin by cash, cheque (memo: turntable) and debit with tax receipts being issued. The fundraising goal for this iconic one of a kind structure is $75,000.

 Dauphin’s rail history dates back to 1896 where the first train arrived on a small local railway (Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company) that was purchased, owned and operated by Sir William Mackenzie and Sir Donald Mann. This event would spark a moment that would forever change the landscape of immigration, settlement, agriculture and commerce. Their efforts would culminate in a 9,500 mile transcontinental system called Canadian Northern Railway. Dauphin is the birthplace of that railway. The Dauphin Rail Museum exists to preserve, interpret and present the rich railway history of Dauphin and the Parkland area.