WCRA NEWS

MARCH 2008 WESTERN RAILS SHOW SUNDAY, MARCH 16 64,587 GUESTS IN 2007 WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE

The Annual General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 1930 hours at the Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby. Members are encouraged to attend to review and approve the financial statements from 2007, the budget for 2008, and the Directors slate for the 2008 year. The February General Meeting will follow the AGM. Entertainment will follow the metings as time permits.

ON THE COVER

Canadian Pacific ES44AC’s #8863 / 8864 pose in the snow at Coquitlam on January 27, 2008. The Evolution Series are GE Transportation Systems' new diesel locomotive models that meet the U.S. EPA's Tier 2 locomotive emissions standards that took effect in 2005. All are powered by the new GEVO 12-cylinder engine which delivers equivalent power to the older 16-cylinder FDL engine while consuming less fuel and producing fewer emissions. The units are part of the latest order of 18 new General Electric locomotives, all of which will wear the 2010 Olympics scheme. (Dave Emmington photo)

MARCH CALENDAR

• West Coast Railway Heritage Park open daily 1000 through 1700k • Wednesday, March 5—Newsletter deadline for items to be included in the April 2008 WCRA News • Saturday, March 15 through Sunday, March 23—Wild at Art at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, 1000 to 1700 daily, free admission during this event • Saturday, March 15—Royal Hudson steams for Wild at Art • Sunday, March 16—Western Rails Show, Cameron Rec. Ctr., Burnaby, 0900—1600k • Sunday, March 16—Dedication of Model Railway exhibit, 1100 hours, Heritage Park • Tuesday, March 19—Tours Committee Meeting, call Bernie at 604-325-0923 • Tuesday, March 25 —WCRA General Meeting, 1930 hours, Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby, BC The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of railway history. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. We are a non-profit British Columbia society, registered as a charity. Individual membership in the WCRA is $50.00 per year, family membership is $60.00. E Members (electronic newsletter, $15 savings) are $35 individual and $45 family. (Outside Canada, please remit US $) Other categories are: - Junior Member (age 18 and under ) $ 25 - Sustaining Member $100 (tax receipt) plus membership type regular fee - Life Member (one time fee) $700 individual life / $1,200 family life All memberships include the monthly newsletter, Heritage Park admission, mini rail rides and discounts on food and merchandise. The Association holds a monthly meeting on the last Tuesday of the month at 1930 hours in Burnaby at Rainbow Creek Station in Confederation Park. Apply through www.wcra.org or mail to WCRA, PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., , B.C., V6B 3X2. WCRA News, Page 3 EDITORIAL

TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF 100,000 GUESTS BY 2010

The results are in for 2007, and West Coast Railway Association is on its way towards our big goal of touching 100,000 guests through our various activities and venues by 2010. It is indeed a lofty goal, and we have some way to go yet, but we managed to achieve growth from the 57,000 guest level in 2006 to 64,587 guests in 2007. Had there not been the civic strike in Vancouver (which forced closure of the Locomotive 374 Pavilion through the peak tourism season) we would have made our 2007 goal of 75,000.

Here are how the results break down for 2007: • West Coast Railway Heritage Park guest visits 38,201 • Locomotive 374 Pavilion guest visits 10,860 • Western Rails Railroadiana Show attendance 1,200 • West Coast Mini Rail community events 13,240 • West Coast Rail Tours guests 1,086

Total guests at WCRA venues / activities 64,587.

Last month, I wrote about long term financial progress in this column. This month the focus is on an equally important aspect for our long term, and that is attracting the interest in people to participate and visit our events, facilities and activities. It is most encouraging to see this grow steadily years after year.

A number of continuing plans will keep us moving forward, and getting us to that magic number of 100,000. A major step, of course, is the new Roundhouse and Conference Centre at the Heritage Park, designed to bring us an additional 25,000 guests by its third year of operation as they attend the various events and functions that will come to the new facility. We also plan to do a major review of the Western Rails show (which has seen declining attendance in recent years) with an eye towards a revitalization of this great event.

Guests are our lifeblood for the future. All of the things we do need to encourage our guests to return for more. Let’s remember their importance to us in every guest interaction we have. Don ASSOCIATION NEWS

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the West Coast Railway Association will be held on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 1930 hours at the Rainbow Creek WCRA News, Page 4

Station in Burnaby. Reports will be presented for the 2007 fiscal year, and members will be asked to approve the 2007 financial statements, the 2008 budget, and the directors for 2008.

FROM THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING

30 members and guests braved the snowy weather and made it to the meeting, which was chaired by Colin Dathan: • A minute’s silence opened the meeting in respect for recently deceased members Lee Holtby, Bill Lahr, and Mildred Whitehead. • Don Evans provided the President’s Report, noting fundraising for January and several projects now progressing. He went on to cover finance and Heritage Park items in the absence of Jim Brown. • Colin Smith updated the members on the re-start of construction work on the Roundhouse and Conference Centre at the Heritage Park • Colin Dathan noted the status of things at the 374 Pavilion • Bernie Tully noted the upcoming Mount Pleasant Railroad show—which was incorrectly dated in the newsletter as Feb. 1 (should have been Feb. 10) • Bill Johnston noted a date change for the Okanagan trip (see Tours section) and talked about the planned changes to The Canadian timetable by starting next winter • Colin Dathan once again asked members to submit their volunteer hours from 2007, and gave verbal notice of the February Annual General Meeting • Dave Emmington noted and sold second hand railway books as a fundraiser • Colin Smith recognized Ron Anstey for his hard work on the roundhouse and the Turntable over the past few months • Ryan Cruickshank gave his Trackside Report • Guests were introduced • The raffle and 50/50 were held, winner Joe Carroll donated his winnings back to WCRA • Entertainment was a show by Don Evans that covered Ireland, Beijing, Colorado and Pennsylvania.

WCRA TRIVIA # 230 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank

What railroad was formed with standard gauge on one end while narrow gauge was in use on the other? (for answer, see Credit Lines)

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Memberships dated 01/31/2008 have now expired, and if your membership expired 11/30/2007, this will be your last issue. Please check the label on your newsletter and renew today. Remember that renewals are being accepted for memberships with the E–Newsletter—check page 2 for current membership rates. WCRA News, Page 5

Is your email address current???? It is particularly important that those of you who have registered for access to the Members Only area keep your email address current in the Server. Each time a new issue is posted the Server sends a notice to the email address you supplied when you requested access. Because the undeliverable messages from a Server do not bounce back to it I have no way to be proactive.

If you have changed your email address, or think the one we have is out of date because you do not receive notices, please send your current email address to Jeremy at [email protected] and the server will be updated as required. (J.D.)

NEW MEMBERS

The WCRA welcomes new members Jocelyn Duplisse & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Terry Muirhead of Vancouver, Ken and Janet Klakowich & family of Vancouver, and Tom & Elaine Pruden & family of Vancouver. (J.D.)

MEMBER NEWS

A memorial service for Bill Lahr was held in Seattle on February 7th, at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Bill passed away January 12, and was pre-deceased by his wife Dorothy a few years ago. Both Bill and Dorothy were active members in WCRA, particularly as members of our tours committee for many years, (B.J.)

We are sad to report on the passing on of member Lee Holtby. Lee and husband Harold (who predeceased her a few years ago) were active in WCRA in many ways over the years. Lee passed away peacefully at home January 27, 2008. Our sympathies to the family.

VOLUNTEER HOURS NEEDED

We need your volunteer hours for 2007. Please let us know on an ongoing basis when you volunteer at activities, preparing newsletter submissions, hosting on tours, running mini rail, or volunteering at any of our events, activities or facilities. We use these to assist us on grant applications as well as for a host of other very helpful things for WCRA. Please submit your hours regularly to Colin Dathan at 604-298-3734 or [email protected] (C.D.)

WESTERN RAILS 2008

Western Rails, Canada’s Largest Railroadiana Show is coming to Cameron Recreation Centre, 9523 Cameron Street in Burnaby (behind Lougheed Mall) for it’s 26th Annual Show on March 16th 0900k to 1600k. There is something for every railroad hobbyist whether you’re into Collectables, Models Railroad hardware or Timetables. It doesn’t matter if you’re Buying, Selling, or just looking. For those who can’t decide – come and take a ride on the WCRA News, Page 6 Mini Rail while you think about it. Admission: Families $6.00; Adults $3.00; Seniors & Students $2.00; Children under 6 free.

Mark March 16th - THE SUNDAY BEFORE EASTER - on your Calendar!!!

Western Rails 2008 is a West Coast Railway Association Event. Further information is available on the WCRA website [use link from News Wire]. (J.D.)

WESTERN RAILS - Volunteers Needed

Have you some spare time March 15th or 16th???? WCRA can use your help in 3 areas at the show as follows; • Sunday Mar 16th WCRA Booth – if you can help staff the booth during the Show, contact Bernie Tully at 604.325.0923 or email [email protected]. • Saturday Mar 15th &/or Sunday Mar 16th West Coast Mini Rail can use help with: • Setup on Saturday Afternoon; • Running the train (if qualified) during the show - 0900k to 1600k on Sunday; and • Take down on Sunday at 1600k.

The Western Rails Show Committee also needs help with: • Setup on Saturday Afternoon starting at 1300k; • General Show duties (Admission Ticket Sales, Raffle Ticket Sales and Site Security) Sunday; • Take down 1600k to 1800k Sunday.

If you can help out with Western Rails Show duties or Mini Rail, contact Jeremy Davy at 250.890.3233 (from Vancouver Area 604.484.2791) or email [email protected]. (J.D.)

ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION & FUND

ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION FUND

We acknowledge our monthly contributors Dave Walker, Richard Tubbesing, and Ernie & Lynn Ledgerwood and the CP Heritage Society $1,000 (from sale of “donationware” of CP Steam locmotive software). Add in the Western Economic Diversification Canada grant of $110,000 and the Province of BC $100,000 TFA grant, Westran’s $50,000, the John Hardie Mitchell family foundation’s $20,000 and our total now leaps forward to $637,881. Remember, you can make a donation on line through www.wcra.org . If any of you have been contemplating helping out, the Royal Hudson Preservation Fund still needs your support. WCRA News, Page 7 FUNDRAISING

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – JANUARY 2008

January has been an extremely busy month as a number of action items from our 2008 Strategic Plan get into motion. We have an active and challenging year ahead of us. The strategic plan will be reviewed at the Annual General Meeting.

Funding Asks Made • First Roundhouse Sponsorship ask underway

Major Funding Received • Direct Mail Returns $3,150 • New Debentures $3,000 • General Donations $10,470 • Life Insurance Premium donation $1,445 • Telus Dollars for Doers $200 • In Kind donations $9,275 • CPHS Royal Hudson donation $1,000

Month Total $28,540 Year to Date Total $ 766,001 General purposes $66,001 WCR Endowment Fund $700,000 Other Significant Activities • Victoria meeting with developer re Roundhouse • Meeting with District of Squamish re Roundhouse amendments, footings work started • Meeting with new CN Trainmaster and Assistant Superintendent • Meeting with Peter Armstrong and Randy Powell. RMV’s new President • Met with Frank Butzelaar, new SRY president • Secured extension of MP 2 lease to June 30 at same terms allowing us to proceed with extension of sub lease to The Guard filming company • Completed Marketing Plan for 2008 – will be reviewed at our February 19, 2008 Board Meeting • Worked with staff and completed 2008 budget – ready for Audit Committee

DEBENTURES STILL OFFERED TO HELP FUND TURNTABLE INSTALLATION

The West Coast Railway Association is still offering a series of debentures to members to help fund the installation of the vintage turntable at the Heritage Park. The costs of servicing and preparing the site have been higher than expected, and we are wanting to complete the installation of the turntable and open CN Turntable Plaza in mid 2008. We really need your help here. WCRA News, Page 8

Debentures are offered in the same terms as previous offerings—a three year term to maturity, annual interest rate of 5%, and multiples of $500. For more information contact Jim Brown at 604-681-4403 or Don Evans at 604-988-3435. You can help the WCRA complete this exciting project and make a good investment at the same time—especially these days.

The turntable installation is our current #1 priority for completion and we need some help to put the funding for completion in place. Here is a way that you can get involved and help, as well as see a good return on your investment.

WEST COAST RAIL TOURS

THE 2008 TOUR PROGRAM IS NOW TAKING BOOKINGS – ASK ABOUT EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNTS

Apart from the tours shown in these pages please remember that our tours office is available weekdays to book independent trips. For example we issue tickets for VIA Rail Canada, , the and Yukon Route Railroad and the Alaska Railroad as full-service agents for those lines. Vacations new 2008 brochure is now available; call for your copy and book with us. We also have the 2008 Trafalgar Tours brochures ready to send. They include the following destinations: Europe & Britain, Australia & New Zealand, USA & Canada, and River Cruises. We will pop the brochure of your choice in the mail as soon as you make the call to 604-524-1011 or toll free 1-800-722-1233. You can also e-mail us on [email protected]. We also combine air, coach, ferry and cruise ships with rail services to customize itineraries throughout the USA and Canada. Flying east or south? Let us book you on WestJet, our preferred air carrier. For trips of 4 days or more we offer free home pickups and drop-offs in the Vancouver area.

MALAHAT CIRCLE TOUR - Daily except Saturday - all year – 2 days

Depart from at a time of your choosing aboard Pacific Coach Lines scheduled service to Victoria. We supply vouchers to take you to the Queen Victoria Hotel—a few steps from the bus depot. You are on your own for dinner. Breakfast is served at 7:00AM in the hotel’s restaurant, then their van shuttles you to the VIA Rail station at 7:30 AM. Board the train for an 8:00 AM departure to Qualicum Beach where it arrives before noon. Enjoy this quaint town with its interesting beaches and restaurants. After lunch (on your own) we ask you to board the southbound train at 2:00 PM and get off at Nanaimo at about 3:00 PM. A waiting, pre- booked taxi takes you to Nanaimo’s bus depot for the 4:30 PM departure of Greyhound’s scheduled service to Vancouver. Dinner on the ferry is available. Arrive at Pacific Central Station at 7:15 PM. FARES: $224; Children 2-11 $186; BC Seniors (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only) $186. (Otherwise, $224). Ask about special pricing if couples travel together. Single WCRA News, Page 9 supplement $71. GST extra. Low season and budget hotel bookings save you more.

THE GREAT PLAINS and ROCKIES by TWO NAME TRAINS — 6 days

A unique chance to travel on two great “name” trains to visit the centre of the North American Continent from the comfort of your private sleeping compartments, dining cars, lounges and scenic domes. Enjoy the Canadian Rockies and the vast Prairies to Winnipeg then America’s Northern States and Mountain Parks. Departures: Tuesdays, Fridays & Sundays - from Vancouver Day 1: Check in at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station to board The Canadian eastbound through Vancouver’s eastern suburbs and the lower Fraser Valley. Take dinner in the diner and retire for the night in your choice of sleeping accommodation. Day 2: Before breakfast you are in the heart of the Rockies. Stop in Jasper for a break off the train. Re-board the train and you are on your way out of the mountains and into ’s verdant foothills. After a stop in Edmonton you are on your way east across the prairies crossing Saskatchewan overnight in your comfortable bed. Day 3: By breakfast time you are in Manitoba and late in the morning arrive in Winnipeg. After a transfer to a beautiful old railway hotel you have the afternoon free to visit local sights. Day 4: Breakfast is available in the dining room of your hotel before you check out and take a taxi for the short ride to the Greyhound depot. Here you board a modern motorcoach for Minneapolis, Minnesota U.S.A. (passport required.) Once there you transfer to the Amtrak station across the mighty Mississippi River to neighbouring St. Paul and board The Empire Builder. Once aboard you settle into your sleeping room for the start of your westbound journey. Day 5: Breakfast is available in the dining car as your train heads west across sparsely populated North Dakota. You are in Montana by noon and by dinnertime are skirting the Rockies’ famous Glacier National Park. Day 6: You can expect arrival in Seattle mid-morning. Our Amtrak connecting Thruway motorcoach leaves at 1:15 PM for Surrey, Richmond and Vancouver arriving back at Pacific Central Station, the starting point, at 5 PM.

FARE: The 6-Day Tour, based on shared accommodation. From Cdn $1295 per person. Single fares start at Cdn $1495. Price depends on age of guests, number traveling together, type of sleeping accommodation on the trains, date of booking, date of travel, and US$ exchange rate. Our price will be cheaper than doing this on your own. Add a night in Seattle and take the morning “Cascades” train service to Vancouver for an extra $99 per person including your hotel.

TRAINS & FERRIES, VICTORIA AND SEATTLE; SOUTHERN CIRCLE TOUR - Wednesday, May 14th BC Ferry to Vancouver Island for a ride on the Malahat Dayliner, visit Victoria, Clipper to Seattle and return on Amtrak to Vancouver - 3 Days WCRA News, Page 10

A new tour for 2008! Make your way to Vancouver’s Pacific Central station by 11:00 AM for an 11:30 AM motorcoach departure transferring you to a lunchtime BC Ferry sailing for Nanaimo where you board VIA Rail’s Malahat Dayliner on its southbound trip over the Malahat summit to Victoria. Evening is free in a convenient hotel to enjoy our provincial capital. Relax in the morning and check in by 10:30 AM for the 11:30 AM Victoria Clipper's sailing to Seattle arriving at about 2:30 PM. Transfer to your Seattle hotel and have the afternoon free to shop and sightsee. The next morning an early transfer to King St station is needed to board the Cascades train service to Vancouver, BC departing at 7:40 AM. Breakfast is available in the dining car. Arrive at Pacific Central station (your starting point about noon. Later motorcoach transfers to Vancouver are also available. This new leisurely tour features great coastal scenery and the chance to do some shopping in the USA. It will sell out quickly. Passport required.

FARES: The 3-Day Tour: Wednesday to Friday is $484 based on shared accommodation. (BC Seniors only- $464). Single: $644, (BC Seniors - $624). Extra night in Seattle? Add $86 per person ** Don’t like this date? Let us arrange this tour at a time of your choosing for a party of 10 or more. ** Don’t like groups? We can put this package together for individuals, to travel at a time of your choosing, subject to some conditions. Price may vary slightly. ** Live on Vancouver Island? Join us en route and we will get you home on Friday the 16th for the same price, or lower, depending on boarding location.

TWO TRAINS & TWO FERRIES; MID - COASTAL CIRCLE TOUR Tuesday, June 17th Vancouver Island, The Discovery Coast, Chilcotin & Cariboo Regions, Whistler - 7 Days

With taxi and motorcoach vouchers supplied, you make your way to Victoria on any of the frequent services provided by Pacific Coach Lines. You leave early to sightsee in Victoria or arrive in time for a welcome dinner in the hotel restaurant. The next morning you are transferred to the VIA Rail station and board the E&N Malahat Dayliner for its departure to Courtenay. Upon arrival your motorcoach takes you to a comfortable modern hotel in Port McNeill for the night. Frequent stops for sightseeing are made along the way. After breakfast on day 3 you board your motorcoach for Bear Cove where you embark on Queen of Chilliwack, Discovery Coast Ferry sailing for Bella Coola. For the next 13 hours wind your way through Queen Charlotte Strait, Fitz Hugh Sound, and Burke Channel. Day 4 is spent soaking up Bella Coola’s history and First Nations culture predominant in the area, all interpreted by a local guide. On day 5 you traverse the wild Chilcotin region after a climb up the infamous “Big Hill” that takes you from the coastal rain forest up and over the rugged through Heckman Pass. Spend the night in Williams Lake. On day 6 you travel through the south Cariboo region, to Clinton for lunch and traverse Cayoosh Canyon and the scenic Duffey Lake Road to the mountain resort village of Whistler, home of the 2010 WCRA News, Page 11

Winter Olympics. On your final day take a chance to sleep in or enjoy this beautiful mountain village. After lunch you get a coach transfer to the “Whistler Mountaineer” train service for your return to the coast via Squamish and Howe Sound. Beverages and a meal are served at your seat. In transfer to downtown Vancouver and home ending the tour. FARES: The 7-Day Tour: $1592 each based on shared accommodation; BC Seniors only - $1532. Single Supplement: $538. Shorten this tour by a day, save $62 and join the group in Port McNeill on June 18th by Greyhound coach.

WHITE PASS and YUKON ROUTE STEAM SPECTACULAR - Friday, July 11th Whitehorse, Yukon, and vintage train service all the way from Skagway to Carcross, YT, plus hours of Impressive Mountain Steam Railroading - 4 days NEW CHANGES

Free pickup at your Lower Mainland area home or hotel is organized for departure from Vancouver’s International Airport by Air North’s late morning departure for Whitehorse. Upon arrival you take a scenic tour along the Alaska Highway to Miles Canyon and then check in at your hotel for the afternoon and evening. Visit the restored “Klondike” river boat and ride the riverfront trolley. We also recommend the “Frantic Follies” revue, for great entertainment. You have the next morning free to visit the attractions in Whitehorse before a mid-day departure by chartered motorcoach on the South Klondike Highway to Skagway, AK. Rest stops will be made in Carcross and scenic overlooks. You must have an early breakfast today in order to get aboard the special steam excursion to Fraser Meadows. Boarding commences at 7:15 AM for departure at 7:30 AM. (8:30 AM BC time). The station is one block around the corner from the hotel. You will enjoy great mountain railroading behind steam! This 85 km round trip terminates at Fraser Meadows, BC, 10 km north of White Pass. Upon your return just before noon you will have the afternoon free in Skagway to explore this historic village. Your tour guide will have dinner suggestions about a good variety of restaurants in the village. On your last day you will be transferred from your hotel to the WP&YR shops to board the special “Yukon Adventure” train for Carcross. Awaiting you at Lake Bennett will be a hot meal. You arrive in Carcross at 2:30 PM (3:30 PM, BC time) where your motorcoach will transfer you to Whitehorse Airport for the evening Air Canada flight to Vancouver. We arrange transportation to your home in the lower mainland. Ask about add-ons and extra days in the north. FARES: The 4-Day Tour, Friday to Monday is only $1394 each based on shared

VANCOUVER ISLAND’S WEST COAST - Tuesday, August 12th via Coastal Supply Vessel, E&N Train, & Port Alberni Steam Mill & Railway - 4 days NEW CHANGES

Your free pickup gets you to the 8:30 AM sailing by BC Ferries from Horseshoe Bay. Upon arrival at Nanaimo’s Departure Bay your coach will follow the Island’s scenic east coast to Courtenay for lunch. Here you will board the E&N Malahat Dayliner for its southbound trip to Parksville. Your coach meets you for a transfer to Coombs Junction Market. Then it’s off to Port Alberni for a visit to the top-rated Alberni Valley Museum. You will have time to relax WCRA News, Page 12 before a buffet dinner at a seaside restaurant. Next morning you leave the hotel for the short trip to the dock to board the “Frances Barkley“, a coastal supply vessel that services Alberni Inlet. It stops briefly at Sechart in the Broken Group Islands before continuing on to Ucluelet. After lunch on your own on the boat we are met by our coach at about 12:30 PM and spend the afternoon sightseeing along Pacific Rim National Park. We will visit Tofino for a mid afternoon break and return to Ucluelet for the evening. A gourmet dinner is included here. Thursday morning wake up and relax over a late brunch in a nearby restaurant. At 1:30 PM we take a local tour and leave the Long Beach unit of Pacific Rim National Park for Port Alberni. Stops will be made at scenic overlooks for a snack and the water bomber base. You check in to the Port Alberni Hotel and relax before a farewell dinner in the hotel restaurant. After breakfast next morning you depart for the railway station where you will board the train for its 10:00 AM departure for the McLean Mill National Historic site, (the only steam operated sawmill in Canada). Upon arrival take a tour of the mill, and have a light lunch. You leave about 1:30 PM for the eastern side of the Island to catch the 4:30 PM sailing for Vancouver. (A stop at a rail station for those returning to Victoria on the Dayliner is possible). FARES: NOW REDUCED! The 4-Day Tour, Tuesday to Friday is $850 each based shared accommodation. (BC Seniors $830). Single Supplement - $282. Extra day via Victoria: 5- Days including the train to Victoria, hotel and return transportation to Vancouver on Saturday, (unescorted): $930, (BC Seniors $898). Single Supplement - $342.

TWO STEAM TRAINS, FISH and WINE PLUS CASINO FUN - Friday, September 5th A great opportunity to ride behind two steam locomotives in the Okanagan region, taste some great wines and see fish spawning - 4 days NOTE DATE CHANGES

Leave Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station by chartered motorcoach for highway no. 7 on the scenic north side of the from Mission to downtown Agassiz and the museum housed in the oldest wooden railroad station in B.C. Follow the and stop for lunch at the Hell’s Gate Air . Then it’s on to Skihist Park overlooking Rainbow Canyon of the Thompson River and the railways operating through this most difficult part of the river valley. You overnight in after a welcome dinner. Next morning your coach will transfer you to the Kamloops Heritage Railway’s train with steam locomotive #2141. The train climbs from Campbell Creek up into ranching country en route to Armstrong.

Continuing by motorcoach you visit O'Keefe Ranch for lunch and proceed on to Penticton with a stop to view spawning fish at Peachland’s Hardy Creek Park. You stay at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino on Okanagan Lake’s south shore for 2 nights. If you like casinos this is an excellent one. Next morning leave for the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. The train takes you along the hills overlooking Summerland and on to the Trout Creek Bridge, the highest on the former Kettle Valley Railway line. You will then have lunch on board the SS Sicamous, the beautifully restored lake steamer on the beach in Penticton. This is followed by a tour to a local winery after which you will return to your hotel for the evening. The next WCRA News, Page 13 morning your group will depart for Osoyoos where you will see one of the best model railroads anywhere (Osoyoos Desert Railroad). Then it’s off to the Grist Mill at Keremeos for a tour and lunch. You then take the Crowsnest Route, back to the coast with stops at a fruit stand and Manning Park Lodge. This ends a great circle tour through BC’s most interesting highlights.

FARES: $787 each based shared accommodation; Single Supplement: $ 183

th VANCOUVER ISLAND RAILFAN SPECIAL – Friday, September 19 – 3 days

You depart at 7:20 AM for the 9:00 AM sailing from Tsawwassen through the Gulf Islands to Victoria. You make a stop at the Butchart Gardens, and the Royal BC Museum and stay overnight in a comfortable Victoria hotel. Saturday September 20: We depart our hotel at 7AM for a ride on the VIA Rail E&N Malahat Dayliner up Vancouver Island to the end of the line in Courtenay. We then bus transfer to a unique market and stay in Parksville by the sea for the evening. Sunday September 21st: We cross the Island’s central mountains to Port Alberni for a Steam train charter with photo runbys and tour Canada’s only remaining steam- operated sawmill. We stop at Cathedral Grove for a walk through the magnificent forest and return by ferry to Vancouver late afternoon via Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay.

FARES: The 3-Day Tour: $396 based on shared accommodation. Single: $556

THE CANADIAN ROCKIES AND ALBERTA’S STEAM TRAINS - Tuesday, September 23rd – 5 days

Depart on VIA Rail’s Canadian at 5:30 PM in your comfortable sleeper. Meals included. Day 2: Wake up this morning in the heart of the Canadian Rockies following raging rivers and with any luck a view of Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. At 11 AM you arrive in Jasper where you will have an hour to walk around, photograph a Mountain type steam engine and explore the visitor’s center and historic railway station. We arrive in Edmonton at 5:30 PM where we transfer to our hotel next to the West Edmonton Mall. Day 3: You will tour Edmonton today riding the impressive Light Rail system and later visit the West Edmonton Mall, the world's largest entertainment and shopping centre and Alberta's number one tourist attraction. At 2:30 PM you are bused to the which houses a collection of various railway equipment and buildings. Their emphasis is on cars and locomotives from the Canadian National Railways (CNR) and Northern Alberta Railways (NAR). At 4:30 PM you depart for an overnight stop in Red Deer, Alberta. Day 4: You depart the hotel at 8:30 AM for the Alberta Prairie Railway at Stettler, Alberta. Dramatic excitement behind a steam loco awaits you. All excursions include a full course buffet meal which is included in the fare, on board entertainment and maybe even a train robbery. During your journey on board the train to Big Valley you will travel through the beautiful rolling and treed countryside of Alberta's Parkland. Overnight in Drumheller. Day 5: An outstanding day WCRA News, Page 14 today as you visit The Royal Tyrrell Museum celebrating the long history and spectacular diversity of life - from the tiniest grains of pollen to the mightiest dinosaurs. Set in the Alberta badlands, the Museum opened in September, 1985. About half a million people per year come to experience the power and excitement of some of the most remarkable fossil displays anywhere in the world, in Canada’s only institution devoted entirely to paleontology. At 11:15 AM you head for ’s Heritage Park arriving shortly after lunch. This renowned park features street car and steam train rides, roundhouse and railway exhibits as well as a complete town site with buildings from the early days of Calgary. At 4 PM depart by bus to Light Rail (C-Train) to downtown Calgary then bus to hotel or local Hobby shop. (Options: Continue tour with Steam train to Vancouver below, fly out this evening from Calgary or take the Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver. FARE: call for details.

CPR STEAM THROUGH THE ROCKIES Westbound from Calgary September 28th or Eastbound from Vancouver on October 5th on 6 -day itineraries. These tours are once-in-a-lifetime escapes behind CPR Steam Locomotive Empress no. 2816 crossing British Columbia’s many mountain ranges in classic transcontinental coaches. Westbound overnight stops are made in , Revelstoke, and Kamloops. Eastbound is a “rare mileage” adventure with stops in Kamloops, Golden, Cranbrook and Lethbridge traversing the . FARE: from $3995. Includes hotels, meals, transfers, one-way airfare to/from Calgary, admissions, and entertainment. Call for a detailed itinerary.

WHISTLER MOUNTAINEER RAIL-FAN SPECIAL— Monday, September 22 , 1 day You depart from your Vancouver hotel or Waterfront Station at 7:00 AM in a transfer coach that takes you to North Vancouver to board the Whistler Mountaineer service departing at 8:00 AM. Arrival in Whistler is about 11:00 AM where you will be transferred to the village centre for lunch and sightseeing. Your chartered motorcoach will pick you up at the village bus-loop at 1:45 PM for a drive down the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway. At the West Coast Railway Heritage Park you will enjoy rail activities and interesting displays. Refreshments and a snack will also be available here. You depart the Railway Park at about 3:30 PM. Photo stops will be made at spectacular Shannon Falls and Britannia Beach before dropping you off at your pickup point in Vancouver. SPECIAL FARE: $169.00. Limited seating, book early.

Remember: West Coast Rail Tours travel agency has IATA status so we can handle all your bookings for air travel as well as cruises, motorcoaches, hotel accommodations, ferries and — our specialty - rail. We ask you to choose us as your travel agent, as all of our tours serve as fundraisers for WCRA projects. Contact the tours office toll free at 1-800-722-1233, or locally at 604-524-1011. Better yet e-mail us at [email protected] (B.J.)

West Coast Rail Tours - The “Rail” Way To Go WCRA News, Page 15 374 PAVILION

The number of visitors recorded for January is 981 compared to 475 for the same period last year and is a good start for 2008.

Roundhouse Turntable Plaza Open House

What would you like to see developed at the Roundhouse’s Turntable Plaza? The Roundhouse Facilities Committee is interested in getting your feedback on a series of drawings of some possible ideas for the Turntable Plaza that a group of designers and community members have created. For more details go to http://www.roundhouse.ca The Roundhouse Facilities Committee invites you to bring any ideas you have to improve the Turntable Plaza to a Community Open House on February 23, 2008. 1:00pm to 4:00pm

New Volunteer

I would like to introduce you to Tetsuya Oura. Tetsuya will be volunteering at the 374 Pavilion with firm commitments for Fridays and every second Tuesday. Tetsuya is a student at Ashton College located in downtown Vancouver. Tetsuya will be here for two months before returning to Japan.

Volunteer’s Required for the 374 Pavilion

Please consider becoming a volunteer at the 374 pavilion. There are openings available on Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Volunteers are the backbone of the 374 Pavilion. We would not be able to open and present the 374 pavilion without the help of our caring and enthusiastic volunteers. As volunteers you will have the opportunity to greet guests who come from all over the world to see the CPR 374 engine. Duties include: opening, closing the building and most important of all presenting the historical background of the 374 to visitors. Last year over 21,000 visitors came to the “374” and only through the efforts and dedication of our volunteer group were we able to accommodate them. We offer free parking and a very flexible schedule, either one day a week or two days a month whichever works best for you. If you are interested in assisting us and greeting a wide range of visitors please contact Jim Brown at 604-681-4403 or 604-985-7249 or e-mail at [email protected] (J.B.)

WEST COAST RAILWAY HERITAGE PARK Home of the Royal Hudson

BIATHLON BANQUET HELD ABOARD RDC’S

It was a novel finish to a great sports event, as a novel Biathlon Banquet was held aboard WCRA News, Page 16

WCRA’s Budd Rail Diesel Cars BC 33 and BC 21 on Saturday evening, January 26th. The event had been held in the Callahan Valley near Whistler (shades of Olympic events to come!), and the group wanted a novel dinner. The selected venue was to be aboard our Budd RDC’s BC 33 / BC 21, having a catered meal while the train rolled around on our trackage.

An event it was. As the group started arriving, and arriving, and arriving it became evident that they had significantly oversold the 110 seats available! That meant the food would run out too! The volunteers and staff came through, however, as did caterer Pepe and Gringos and in the end everyone was fed and looked after. They took it all in stride!

Operations were another challenge for the crew, as a fresh dump of snow made the tracks slippery and pushing snow with a Budd from standing start is not an easy chore. In the end they made it with considerable coaxing and some back and forth to get up some momentum. The trip back was easier!

Thanks to all who helped out with this novel event for us It brought over 150 people to the Heritage park on a snowy January evening! (S.E.)

ROUNDHOUSE CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

Construction on the new Roundhouse and Conference Centre got underway in January, as design was finalized and excavation for the footings commenced.

New drawings were delivered to the District of Squamish, and while a new development Plan process will need to be completed, footings and track base foundations work will proceed under the existing Building Permit.

Duro Construction got started mid January and excavated the area for the east side of the new structure, and was then able to relocate utility services to clear the area. The snow and frost then set in, however, and work had to stop until conditions improve.

(Photo, Ueli Liechti)

WCRA News, Page 17 FEATURE ARTICLES

THE FASTEST MAN ON EARTH IN 1843 WAS……..A RAILWAYMAN ! - by Joe Carroll

In the early years of steam railways one of the operational problems was the low power of the locomotives. The solution to this was to build the grades as level as possible. The massive embankments, cuttings, tunnels and bridges that were engineered to this end have, 160 years later, provided superb racetracks for present day high speed trains.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the engineer who was responsible for the Great Western Railway found himself in a quandary. The branch lines that fed these super mainlines could not generate enough returns to justify high standards and so were built with steeper grades etc. At that time the solution to steep grades was to install steam winches to drag the trains. This was barely cost effective and was an operational nightmare. Part of Brunel’s South Devon Railway posed such a problem and the famous engineer was sorely pressed for a solution.

The solution he chose was not unlike our Skytrain in that it did not rely on wheel adhesion for traction. Electricity and linear motors were unavailable but he was attracted to a patent held by the brothers Jacob and Joseph Samuda. In 1839 they patented an idea that had been around for a while, an atmospheric railway.

This consisted of a large cast iron pipe laid between the rails with a slot in the top. A piston inside the pipe was connected by a bar through the slot to the ‘hauling’ car. The slot was sealed by a long leather flap and when a vacuum was introduced into the pipe the car was sucked along the track. The demonstration track was laid at a 1.2 per cent grade and the contraption hauled 5 tons at 30 mph and 11 tons at 22 mph. Despite some criticism this caught the attention of a lot of people including the directors of the Dublin and Kingstown railway.

These gentlemen took the plunge in 1843. They built a passenger carrying atmospheric branch line between Kingstown and Dalkey. The Samuda brothers provided a 100hp steam vacuum pump with a thirty foot diameter flywheel fed by three boilers and a 15”dia. pipe was laid for 2490 yards, the last 100yds. being ‘coasted’. The average grade was 1.28 per cent, and in places was steeper. Five minutes before departure the engineman would start pumping down the pipe and the train brakes would be set. When the brakes were released the train glided smoothly up the hill, no smuts, no soot. The return was made by gravity. 30 mph was quite normal uphill, sometimes more.

The fastest ascent was made by Frank Ebrington, an engineering student and one of Ireland’s unsung heroes. Frank was seated on the hauling car waiting to do a test run when it was sucked away, someone having forgotten to hook up to the rest of the train! The train travelled the branch line in one and a quarter minutes at an average of 85 mph. Maximum speed was WCRA News, Page 18

100 mph. The track had considerable super elevation and of course the piston in the pipe helped keep the car on the track. It is not recorded whether Mr. Ebrington ever rode again or if he recovered from the trauma of being the fastest man on earth!

Brunel, however, was smitten. He decided this system would help solve some of his problems. He proceeded to fit a section of the South Devon Railway with the atmospheric system. Over the severely graded section from Exeter to Newton Abbot the 10ft. sections of 15in. pipe were laid between the 7 foot GWR rails. Pumping stations were built and upon opening trains of 28 tons travelled at 64-68 mph and those of 110 tons at 30 mph, all this with 16” of vacuum in the pipe. The speed capabilities enabled the lost time on the locomotive hauled sections to be recovered on the atmospheric section.

As one can imagine, there were many bugs to be sorted. The biggest problem was the leather flap. It froze in the winter, the rats (the line is by the sea) chewed on it also, and this caused leaks and then poor vacuum. Brunel of course had lots of solutions, as did the Samuda brothers, but the system was expensive and the GWR board stepped in and shut down the atmospheric system. Brunel had plans (and material on hand) to extend the system with 22” pipes on other subdivisions, but it was all for naught.

Other atmospheric systems went the same way except for one in France, 10km long from Nanterre to St. Germain. With its 25” pipe and 3 per cent grades it soldiered on until 1860. Here’s a thought! Imagine what size pipes it would take to move a 15,000 ton coal train!

If you are fascinated by excellence in imaginative engineering I recommend the many books on Isambard Brunel and his father Marc Brunel. The only limit to the genius of the Brunels was the materials available to them.

EASTERN U.S. RAILS - by Don Evans

It has been a tradition in our household that, after spending Christmas with family, we head off somewhere for New Year’s. Often, tradition has led us down the Oregon Coast by car, but last year we broke with tradition and headed to San Diego by air. What to do to see 2008 in? Well, our “to do” list has always included trying Times Square in New York for New Year’s Eve, and so the course was set. We would head for Boston after Christmas (a favourite city of ours) then Amtrak to New York, take in New Year’s Eve and spend a few days in the city.

December 27, 2008—we are off on Air Canada to Boston via Toronto. All is as expected and we arrive at Logan Airport on time just around supper time. A quick taxi ride through the new tunnel and we are at our hotel, time to unpack and have dinner locally to round out the day.

December 28th—a beautiful day indeed, crisp (36 degrees F) but sunny and a perfect day for a long walk. There’s ice on much of the Charles River, but the walkways are mostly free of WCRA News, Page 19 ice and snow and the walking pleasant as we head west following the river to Harvard Square and the Harvard University area. We enjoy lunch, then continue around the area enjoying the architecture and the sights. Harvard Square is also home base to Boston’s fleet of trolley coaches, not sure what kind they are but they are very similar to Vancouver’s new ones in appearance and environment.

Time to head back—our first ride on the “T” - the Boston MBTA. Everything is now “Charlie Ticket”, mag. stripe farecards with full barrier entry (but not exit) - no more tokens. These farecards are creatively named after the hit song “Charlie and the MTA”, a hit in 1959 by the Kingston Trio about a man who got on the Boston MTA and rode never to be found! Boston is ’s first subway, still in operation today as the T’s in downtown, operated with LRV equipment. Back to Harvard Square—we are boarding the Red Line— heavy subway equipment, although lots of above ground running south of the city. We ride to Boston’s South Station where we stop to pick up our Amtrak tickets (we reserved on the website) from the machine at the station. South Station is still set up from Christmas which includes a Garden Railway scale model railroad in operation. (photo below).

Dec. 29—Another nice day, we start with the purchase of a Day pass on the “T”, board the Orange Line at Back Bay station and ride to State Street, then walk the market area and enjoy morning coffee. Heading over to the waterfront, we are struck at how different it WCRA News, Page 20 looks now that the elevated freeway is gone, replaced by underground roadways in what was know as the “Big Dig”. It sure has improved the city. We walk around the waterfront and the harbour area, ending up on foot back at South Station for lunch. We enjoy lunch watching the comings and goings of Amtrak and “T” Commuter rail.

Time to use our pass again, there is another rapid transit line here called the Silver Line. It connects South Station to Logan Airport, so we hop on to one of the articulated diesel and electric buses that serve the route. Under ground, they are powered by overhead wires, above ground further out they switch to diesel operation. There turns out to be a dedicated busway (electric) from South Station to the docks and convention center area, there the poles come down and the buses run through one of the new tunnels to the airport (with regular traffic).

Back at South Station, we now transfer to the Red Line and head for the end of the line at Ashmont. The subway comes above ground for much of this run south of the city, but the real treat is when we get to Ashmont. Disembarking from the train, we see signs directing us to connecting buses and the “Mattapan High Speed Line”. Further investigation turns up an incredible conveyance—restored and updated original PCC cars! This is not to be missed, so we climb aboard and are off, running a private interurban like right of way on a classic PCC! The shops are at Mattapan, and there are many cars in evidence, at least a dozen or so must

WCRA News, Page 21 make up the fleet. (photos page 20 and back cover).

December 30—Time for a trip to another part of New England, so off we head on foot across the city to Boston’s North Station. Here we decide to ride the commuter rail to the coastal town of Rockport. We board the 1015 train, which consists of an F40PH-2 locomotive and five single level cars. It is pleasing to find that the cars have had their windows replaced, last time I did this two or three years ago they were so scratched it was difficult to see out. The ride is uneventful and pleasant, through the Massachusetts countryside with several coastal towns along the way, we arrive right on time at 1127. (photo, GP40-TC #1133 at Rockport) WCRA News, Page 22

We walk into town and enjoy an ocean side lunch as well as some beachcombing and shops and galleries. We walk back to the station just in time to catch the 1400 train back to Boston, similar consist with six cars. Again a pleasant ride back to the city.

December 31—Time to head for New York City—we have reservations on Amtrak’s Acela Express #2253 at 1115. (photo, page 21) The departure is right on time, and the ride swift as this is an express, stopping only at Boston’s Back Bay and Route 128 stations, then Providence, Rhode Island, New Haven Connecticut, Stamford Connecticut and New York’s Penn Station. We arrive on time at 1445, but don’t have a good start here—the escalator from the platform is not working, so it is quite a chore to lug our luggage up to the station level. Once there, a quick taxi to our hotel and we settle in and unpack for the next four days.

It’s 1600 hours—we head over to Times Square to check things out—there is already a very large crowd assembled! Well, we are not going to try and stand there in the cold yet, so we retreat and debate our strategy. In the end it works quite well, we head up to 57th street and across Broadway and then back to 53rd where we enjoy dinner at one of our favourite New York places—Ellen’s Stardust Diner (with a singing wait staff). It is jammed, of course, but we get in and have some fun, emerging after a thorough bathroom visit! around 1830 to try and join the mob (there are no facilities with the Times Square event!).

Now we have to walk up to 59th Street before we find a spot we can enter the throngs—there are thousands of police around, and we are scanned as we enter the area, then we make our way south as far as we can on 7th Ave. (the street from which you can see the ball drop). The street is closed, of course, and fenced sections are set up all along the street from 47th Ave. (where the ball is) back to Central Park at least 14 blocks back. We manage to get into a section around 52nd Street—five blocks away. Even through the 300 mm zoom, the ball is tiny and far away. We debate the merits of staying (cold, jammed in the crowd, poor view) but decide to stick it out!

For five hours we stand in the mob of more than a million people, in temperatures of around 40 degrees F. but dry—it’s really quite a good night for weather! You get to know your neighbours (they are all from other parts of the country, New Yorkers would never think of doing this!) as well as the NYPD troops in the area (they turn out to be a lot of fun). The disappointment is that with this world renowned event, there is not even an audio transmission of the special concerts and stars going on at the stage. So, most there just stand around for hours and try to entertain themselves!

Midnight comes—the ball is a bright speck of light in the distance, the countdown loud from the crowd, the fireworks and confetti fire, and everyone hastens to their accommodations and the nearest bathroom! That’s it—we did it!

WCRA News, Page 23

January 1 & 2, 2008—we have a very special start to 2008 as we meet up with friends from my Harvard class of 1993 (who live in New York) and enjoy a fabulous New Year’s Day brunch at Manhattan’s University Club. It is incredible to say the least—not just the food, but the full ambiance of this eight story restored building from the 1890’s. The remainder of the day and the next day are spent on foot enjoying the sights of the city. Especially neat are the Christmas windows at several department stores—think Woodward’s windows times three of four and still major attractions on Fifth Avenue and other main streets.

January 3—It has been sunny, but getting much colder as a cold snap moves in. Last night it was so cold we had to take a taxi the ten blocks to the theatre to see Jersey Boys (great show!) so we know outside is not for us today, given the AM temperature reading of 10 degrees F! What to do? Well, let’s try a train ride to Long Island. So, off to Penn Station we go to explore the Long Island Railroad (we had checked possibilities on the internet from the hotel room).

We can ride the entire Island to Montauk, NY—a roughly three hour journey, passing through the Hamptons on the eastern end of the run. We descend to the platform for the 0749 Long Island Railroad express to Babylon. This is a ten car set of new MU equipment, with three and two seating, but very attractive compared to the older equipment that has been around for years. We are off through the tunnel under the East River and run non-stop to Jamaica, arriving at 0810 (a major transfer point). Here we note a very busy station with at least ten platforms in operation, and a mix of electric third rail MU equipment and diesel hauled WCRA News, Page 24 train, many with new double deck equipment. We continue on to Babylon, arriving on time at 0847. We transfer across the platform to the Montauk train, and depart smartly at 0852.

Now we are on a diesel hauled double decker—again very new and nice equipment, with one of Long Island RR’s new locomotives (don’t know their model—see photo) at each end and four cars in between. This ride is very pleasant, single track and many small towns, nice scenery through the Hamptons, and several short views of the ocean. We arrive at the end of the line—and the end of Long Island—at 1053.

As we walk from the train on the platform, it is very cold—made worse by the wind. Clearly walking to the town is not an option, so into a taxi we climb. The driver is delightful, he takes us to the main street of the town (only a couple of blocks of shops), and then to the beach (we vow we are at least going to attempt a short walk. He recommends a place on the main street for lunch, and we arrange for him to pick us up at the local Chamber of Commerce building at 1210. Out onto the beach we go—wow is it cold (but beautifully bright and sunny).

We beach comb our way for a couple of blocks, then—cheeks feeling the cold, we almost run the 2 blocks up to the main street and into John’s Pancake House. Hot soup and a sandwich never tasted so good! After warming up it was time to venture out again, we had 30 minutes before our pick up. A few of the shops were open, and we ended up at the Chamber building for about 10 minutes with a delightful lady telling us all about then area. The taxi arrived on time, and we headed off—but detoured with another call to pick up a local with her clothes baskets going to the laundry. The driver gave us a scenic tour back to the train, then dropped us off to get his other passenger to her destination.

The platform had a roof, but no wind free zones—five minutes there seemed an eternity until the local to Speonk pulled up—a diesel on each end and three double deck cars. (photo on rear cover). We were the only passengers boarding here, an on time departure of 1228 hours. The ride was again pleasant as we warmed up and enjoyed the scenery. We chatted to the female conductor, who recommended we go to the LIRR station at Speonk where we had 25 minutes awaiting a train change. We arrived at 1346 and sprinted across to enjoy warm drinks and a cookie.

Speonk is a service point for the LIRR, and we would board the next train which departed 1407 for Jamaica. (photo page 25) This train consisted of the new double deck equipment, but with a cab control car, five coaches and one locomotive pushing. We boarded and were off, again an enjoyable ride and a fast one as we were express from Babylon to Jamaica, arriving at 1542.

Another across the platform change—although a very busy one as we connected to the 10 WCRA News, Page 25 car train to Penn Station which was absolutely full as it pulled out at 1550, arriving New York Penn at 1611. It had been quite a day, we agreed as we rode a taxi back to our hotel.

And so it ended, as we headed for New York’s La Guardia airport and Air Canada for our flights home. The E75 is a nice little plane and took us into a very snowy Montreal, where we changed and departed on time for Vancouver on an A320. Another experience, and like them all lots of fun and new discoveries. But, as for Times Square on Dec. 31, next time we will be back to watching on TV—from wherever we are.

FROM WCRA NEWS 30 YEARS AGO—March 1978 - by Craig McDowall Canadian Pacific The recent transit strike involving BC Hydro resulted in up to 30 commuters a day using The Canadian for transportation between Mission/Coquitlam and Vancouver. No. 1 arrival in Vancouver at 08:25 and No. 2’s departure at 17:45 was almost perfect for those who worked downtown. The roundtrip fare of $4.00 is considerably more than the 70 cent bus fare . . . but one could get a beer on the way home!

March 29, 1978 marks the 90th anniversary of CPR’s first passenger train into Victoria and a special tribute will be held in Victoria to mark the occasion. The Dayliner will be decked out in streamers and bunting (MCM note: after its arrival in Victoria so the line wouldn’t be littered with pieces of decoration from Nanaimo to Victoria!). The crew will be dressed in

WCRA News, Page 26 period uniforms and ‘passengers’ in Victorian attire. The Dayliner eased across the Johnston Street bridge and came to a halt at the foot of Pandora Street.

A correction to the Mandarin oranges in last month’s newsletter. The erstwhile James McPherson (wanting to make sure CN gets credit when due) corrected me in that the train was actually a CN train. Oops.

CP#4562 (M630) was on The Canadian from Moose Jaw to Calgary prior to the past Christmas.

CP tested a Tunisian(?) locomotive on the St. Agathe and Park Ave. subdivision on Jan. 16th. (if it was successful, would the Tunisian be painted Tuscan?).

CN The Federal Government has announced a multi-million dollar port expansion at Prince Rupert. Two new grain terminals and renovation to the existing plant a a coal dock are planned. A note of caution . . . this has been announced before and zippo has happened to date.

CN’s Calgary station will be converted to a 1000 seat theatre at a cost of $6.5 million.

CN has two of its ‘Skyview’ (the ex Milwaukee Road ‘Skytops’), are up for sale at Winnipeg. They are ex CN 1901 ‘Malpeque’ and CN 1903 ‘Trinity’. The cars are offered ‘as is, where is’, and according to member Jeremy Lambert and Jim McPherson, who saw them about three months ago, are in very poor condition. CN states it will cost about $800 to restore the cars to interchange service.

The first passenger train to be run in the Northwest Territories, the Inushuk Express will be operated by CN on its Great Slave Railway (Hay River to Pine Point). The 95 kilometre runs, a total of 23 , will be operated during the 1978 Arctic Winter Games. The train will be powered by GP 9#4345 with a steam generator car and three coaches.

The sand tower from the former CN Vancouver shops was dismantled and loaded into a gondola car and shipped up to equipment foreman in Prince Rupert for use there.

Due to the recent BC Hydro strike, the automobile storage and delivery system was hampered. So over the weekend of March 18/19, the tri-levels were brought into CN’s waterfront yard and a mobile ramp was used to unload them.

CN is leasing a large number of units to US lines: 15 SD40’s to the Milwaukee Road for 90 days, 20 units to the CN&W for 30 days, 4 GP 38-2’s to FAST track in Colorado and 3 WCRA News, Page 27

GP40-2’s to the Ford Motor Co. to be used as portable generating stations during the recent US coal strike!

B.C. Rail A new concrete overpass has replaced to the old timber trestle over Westport Road in West Vancouver. BCR used a 50 ton American crane and the 150 ton Squamish auxiliary crane. The installation took 5 days.

BCR #615 is currently in the re-build shop for a complete overhaul and rebuild following recent wreck damage.

BN BN chop-nosed GP10 #1420 spotted in Vancouver on March 5th.

White Pass & Yukon Due to the upcoming June 30th closure of Cassiar Asbestos’s mine at Clinton Creek, the White Pass will lose a significant portion of its business. Last year, over 50,000 tons of asbestos was hauled by truck from Clinton Creek to Whitehorse and then railed to Skagway for trans-shipment to Vancouver on WP & Y vessels. This business was worth $14 million or 18% of WP & Y’s gross revenue.

Royal Hudson The ‘Discover B.C. Tour 1978’ tour is now finalized. 2860 made a shakedown run on March 21st pulling the Coquitlam transfer. It was MU’d to two SD 40-2’s which gave it a chance to test its new ‘black box MU’ system. The ‘Discover BC Tour’ will head to the Eastern US.

WCRA Nooze Current financial statements for 1977 are included with this newsletter. Kindly note that the cost of printing and distribution the newsletter exceeds the total Dues Revenue!! Holy Cow! Don’t worry, we figured out what to do . . . we’re gonna raise the dues!! (For those of you not paying close attention . . . this is referring to 1978, NOT 2008!!!)

RAILWAY NEWS

MOTIVE POWER NOTES

An all BC Rail SD40-2 motive power consist was spotted at CN’s Vancouver Terminal Ave. yard on January 15 at 1115 hours. The units were #762 / 746 / 764—a very rare combination these days. WCRA News, Page 28

CN SUPPORTS BC 150

CN has developed a support package for BC Communities in support of the BC 150 year celebrations. The CN Community Celebration Fund will support community based initiatives that are in recognition of the 150 years BC celebrations.

One of the main projects to be supported by the fund will be the Rivermania, which involves a fleet of boats leaving Prince George on August 24th, travelling down the mighty Fraser River to arrive at Steveston on September 28th.

Funds will also be set aside to be available to communities along other CN corridors for aiding local celebrations. (from CN Release)

CP TO OPERATE BC SPIRIT OF 150 RAIL TOUR

Canadian Pacific, The Province of British Columbia, and the Royal BC Museum held a joint announcement on Friday, February 1 at the Waterfront Station in Vancouver to announce that the railway will operate a BC 150 Rail Tour around the CP lines in the province in June of 2008. The train will be powered by CP’s #2816 Hudson locomotive—The Empress.

The assembled crowd on the platform at Vancouver was treated to a train arrival to start the events, with BC Premier Gordon Campbell riding on the front platform as it pulled into the station, and CPR president Fred Green in the cab. The consist was CP’s “heritage” GP 38-2 #3084, tool car CP 96, sleeper H B Bowen, coach Dominion, and business car Mount Stephen. Backdrop to the arrival was one of ’s trains, so a real railway atmosphere was present.

The BC Spirit of 150 Tour will start on June 1, and run through the end of the month. No itinerary was announced. The 2816 and its support cars will pull a train of a heritage baggage car converted into a travelling museum car, a stage car for entertainment, two heritage coaches and a business car.

All will come from Canadian Pacific’s fleet of equipment associated with The Empress and operations. WCRA News, Page 29

Canadian Pacific ES44AC’s 8862 / 8867 at Mission West—Dave Emmington photo

RANDY POWELL APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF ARMSTRONG GROUP

There is a new face at the executive table at the Armstrong Group (and Rocky Mountaineer Vacations). Randy Powell has been appointed President of the Armstrong Group (and Rocky Mountaineer Vacations). He brings over 20 years of business leadership to the company, and most recently was President & CEO of two divisions of Foods. Prior to that he was President & CEO of Second Cup Coffee Co. and President of S.C. Johnson and Sons. He has been recognized in the Business Hall of Fame at Sheridan College in Ontario and has been a Financial Post “Top 40 under 40”.

Peter Armstrong, now Executive Chairman and CEO of the company, says that he welcomes Randy to the company and asks him to view the company and its operations with a fresh set of eyes for the future. A key responsibility will be leading the development of a strategy for the future for the Armstrong Group.

WCRA News, Page 30

ROCKY MOUNTAINEER EXPECTS MILLIONTH GUEST IN 2008

The Rocky Mountaineer expects to hit a significant milestone in 2008, when it welcomes its one millionth guest aboard one of its trains. The service has won many awards since its first trips in 1990 after acquiring the fledgling service from VIA Rail Canada. Watch for a special commemoration of this important milestone for the company as it celebrates in 2008.

GREEN’S THE COLOUR FOR ROCKY MOUNTAINEER IN 2008

The Rocky Mountaineer and Whistler Mountaineer trains are greening up in 2008—not in the colour of their paint, but in how they are operated with a view to improved environmental sustainability. Several new or improved initiatives are to be established this year to expand beyond efforts already in place:

• On board recycling will increase with a goal of cutting waste in half by 2009 • Introduction of re usable trays in Red Leaf service to reduce waste • Focusing on water conservation through things like low flow dishwashers, auto tap shutoffs in washrooms, recycling of bottled water containers • All RMV locomotives have now been equipped with Smart Start technology which reduces idling time for locomotives, saving fuel and reducing emissions • A goal to be the first rail passenger service in north America to operate a hybrid locomotive

Rail travel is already the most environmentally sound method of transportation, with these initiatives Rocky Mountaineer intends to be at the front of the pack. (RMV Release)

NO WINTER ROCKY MOUNTAINEER TRAINS FOR 2008

“We don't say goodbye, we say s'long."

I have started this post a few times, forgotten to save it and lost the draft. Maybe an omen. Ten years ago, we introduced a cool (no pun intended) concept - run the Rocky Mountaineer train in the winter time and create a travel experience that could not be duplicated. When you combine "the land of million Christmas trees" with the magic of the Canadian Rockies and a train called the Rocky Mountaineer, we had the core elements to launch our new winter product.

A week or so ago we made the difficult decision to not run the 2008 Winter Rail program for the Rocky Mountaineer. We were caught in a difficult dilemma - expand the program considerably to gain efficiencies and distribution support or collapse it. With only four departures available in the month of December, the program was not able to gain broad distribution outside of the peak season of Christmas when airfares and room nights were WCRA News, Page 31 high. And it became apparent that we would be unable to expand the season, not because the demand was not there, but rather because we do not own the tracks we operate on. The opportunity to expand the winter rail program simply was not available.

Unlike a retail store which can move to a different location when expansion is warranted, we did not have that luxury. It doesn't mean that we are abandoning the concept of running trains in Canadian winters, rather we are back to the drawing board to introduce another creative tourism product. If you were one of our guests over the last ten seasons, we hope your memory of the Canadian Rockies in all their winter glory are still with you. (From Rocky Mountaineer blog)

NEW LONGER SCHEDULE FOR PLANNED FOR THE CANADIAN

VIA has advised travel agents (including the WCRA) of a planned change in timetable for The Canadian starting December 1, 2008. The new schedule lengthens to trip considerably, and the Vancouver—Toronto journey will now be four nights aboard the train.

Although VIA emphasizes that the new times are all about time keeping improvement, and that the proposed schedules are not yet fully final, it is clear that the longer schedule and the days of departure are for real. VIA’s letter says, “The proposed schedule is designed to allow longer daylight hours through the Canadian Rockies, provide better anchor times at major stations and improve the train’s on-time performance.”

The proposed new schedule has #2 departing Vancouver on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 2030k with stops of 1 hour at Jasper (1600 / 1700) then 3 hours at Edmonton (2200 / 0059), 1 hour at Saskatoon (0730 / 0830), 3 hours at Winnipeg (2000 / 2300) with arrival on Saturdays / Tuesdays / Thursdays in Toronto at 0930. Westbound, $1 will depart Toronto on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 2100k, with a massive 7.5 hours stop at Winnipeg (0630 / 1400), then 1 hour at Saskatoon (2000 / 2100), 1.5 hours at Edmonton (0700 / 0830), 1 hour at Jasper (1300 / 1400) with arrival at Vancouver at 0930 on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Total trip time is 106 hours eastbound and 115 hours westbound.

Reaction to the changes has been mixed so far. It is sad for many that a run that used to take as little as 72 hours will now take much longer. It is equally noted by many, however, that the patrons of the train today are not really time sensitive as they were in years past— predominately leisure travellers. If the changes do get the train to reliable scheduling, then the morning arrivals at the terminus cities will be able to be counted on. (B.J.) WCRA News, Page 32 OTHER NEWS

50 YEARS SINCE LAST INTERURBAN RUN

A 50 year anniversary occurred in February, as the calendar marked 50 years since the last run of a BC Electric railway interurban train. The last run operated on the Marpole— Steveston line on February xx, 1958, ending an era on one of the continent's greatest electric railway systems. 50 years later, several of the former BCER routes are now used by today’s SkyTrain. (H.E.) In 1958 it was “Rails to Rubber”, today we’re working hard to get people out of their cars and back onto effective public transit—Rubber to Rails!

NORTHWEST RAILWAY MUSEUM MOVES FORWARD WITH NEW PLANS

The Northwest Railway Museum, at Snoqualmie, WA, is moving ahead aggressively with expansion plans. A land swap was recently completed with the cities of Snoqualmie and North Bend that has resulted in the creation of the museum’s future “Campus”. The “campus” includes the new Conservation &Research Centre and now also a large ‘train shed” building that will put much of the collection under cover for the future. (SDR)

FUTURE COMMUTER RAIL STAYS IN VICTORIA HEADLINES

The Island Corridor Foundation, owners of the E & N Railway tracks on Vancouver island, and local communities are keeping alive the dreams of commuter rail in the Victoria corridor between Langford and Victoria. A recent consultant’s report concluded that such an operation was both feasible and affordable. Currently plans are underway to develop an integrated walking and cycling trail along the E & N right of way which would co-exist with the tracks. Commuter rail would augment other uses of the line, and are foreseen to use a self propelled unit such as the O Train in Ottawa. (C.S.)

CPR Selkirk 5926 at Banff, AB in October 1948.

Gordon MacLeod collect’n.

WCRA News, Page 34

Restored CPR S-3 Switcher 6503 and BCR RDC-1 BC 21 on the mainline at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in August 2007. Don Evans photo

TIME TRAVEL TOUR & TEA

Saturday, February 23, 2008 11:00, 12:00, 1:00 and 2:00

Tea and sandwiches in the opulent 1890 car British Columbia. Celebrate Heritage Week in unique style, heritage tour too.

Book now at 604-898- 9336, only $7 / person. WCRA News, Page 35

CREDIT LINES ISSN 1204-072X Vol. 47 Issue 3 Editor Don Evans

Distribution Jeremy Davy & Donna Simon

Contributors: J.B. Jim Brown C.D. Colin Dathan J.D. Jeremy Davy D.E. Dave Emmington S.E. Sherry Elchuk B.J. Bill Johnston M.C.M. Craig McDowall C.S. Colin Smith

SDR The Sounder

Send contributions to the WCRA PO Box, direct to the editor at #28 - 2133 St. Georges Ave., North Vancouver, B.C. V7L 3K5, on the Internet to , phone news to (604)988-3435(res) or fax to (604) 986-7660. Check us out on the Internet at

Contact us: Tours 604-524-1011 / 800-722-1233 Heritage Park 604-898-9336 Office 604-681-4403

TRIVIA ANSWER

The U.S. Government purchased two shortlines, the Alaska Northern RR in 1915 and the Tanana Valley RR in 1917, then built 300 miles of track to connect the two. President Warren Harding drove the ceremonial last spike on July 15, 1923 and named the line the Alaska Railroad.

BACK COVER PHOTOS

Top—Long Island RR commuter train at Montauk, NY (easternmost tip of Long Island) on a very cold January 3, 2008. Lower—Boston “T” PCC car 3268 at the Mattapan Loop, December 29, 2007.

Both Photos by Don Evans, see story starting on page 18. Published monthly by West Coast Railway Association ISSN 1204-072X PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2 Vol. 47 Issue 3

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