Established in 1975.
The Frontenac Society of Model Engineers (FSME)
Live Steamers in Frontenac County
About Us
The Frontenac Society of Model Engineers (FSME) is a volunteer organization dedicated to building and operating industrial era machinery, including railway locomotives, traction engines, and stationary engines. Since 2008, FSME has built extensive large scale miniature railway tracks in a park just North of Kingston.
FSME operates two miniature railways: a High Level triple-gauge track (3 ½, 4 ¾ , and 5 inches) for smaller models and a Ground Level single-gauge track (7 ¼ inches).
Our High Line:
3 1/2″, 4 3/4″ & 5” gauge locomotives run on a 700’ long separate track we call “The High Line”. Members’ steam locomotives may be powered coal or propane. Some are battery powered electric engines. The High Line traverser, with multiple steaming bays, enables loading and offloading of your locomotive from vehicles to steaming bays to tracks.
Our Ground Line:
7 1/4″ gauge locomotives run on a 1,700’ long track we call “The Ground Line”. We have steam, electric & gasoline powered engines which are capable of pulling 16 adults. This track is approximately 1800′ long. Our site is situated in an open and forested park area. There are adjustable height loading tracks on both High Line and Ground Line making for easy loading and unloading of locomotives. Boiler water is available from a custom built water tower.
The Battersea Pumpkin Festival, held annually in early October, attracts many visitors to our facilities. FSME successfully ran both steam and diesel-hauled trains non-stop from 10 AM to 4 PM, carrying around 1,800 passengers, or 5 passengers per minute, with a train dispatched every 2 minutes.
During the running season from May to October, FSME holds public ride days. Rides are free, however donations are welcome to offset operations and maintenance costs, for more information please check our Facebook Page.
Our track lies in an open park with some track running through the forest. Hidden from the road but as you come down the hill, the Railway Crossing signs announce you have found us, as the steam engines whistle along the 7-1/4 inch gauge tracks.
Are you looking for a new and interesting hobby? Want to run or build a stationary engine or a locomotive? To get started contact us at secretary.fsme@gmail.com.
Members meet weekly to maintain the track site, share ideas, and help each other with their projects.
The track is open typically from April to November. Locomotive and track operation for new members will be provided as needed by experienced members.
Founding member Phil, with his steam loco “Vale of Aylesbury” built in the UK by his teacher at the Ministry of Aviation’s Rocket Propulsion Establishment in the 1960s.
Phil and “The Vale of Aylesbury”:
Running my 7-1/4” coal fired live steam locomotive is: a challenge, inspiring, hot work, rewarding and can be spectacular. It takes a while (30 minutes plus) to fill the boiler with water, light the fire starting with charcoal and then coal , and raise steam pressure, oil all the valve gear and bearings – on a ‘steaming bay’ away from the main line. Then, with 80 pounds per square inch steam pressure, couple up to a driving car and move over the turntable on to the mainline and into the station to pick up a passenger car. Starting out of our station is an uphill climb into a turn so quite a challenge to avoid wheels slipping, after which it is smooth sailing down the West straight and into the cool shade of the forest, adding coal on the run and stopping to fill with water every two laps.
New members are welcome.
Contact us at secretary.fsme@gmail.com for details.
For our schedule of events and steaming days, click here.
Keep up to date with our Public Ride Day events on our Facebook Page at
https://www.facebook.com/fsmefb
