WCRA NEWS JUNE 2009

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS ALMOST HERE! ROYAL HUDSON STORMS OVER SRY MAY 2 & 3 WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE

The General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 1930 hours at Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby, Willingdon at Penzance.

Entertainment will be a slide show of treasures from the archives collections, vintage greats from the Grant Ferguson and Wilkie Collections and more.

ON THE COVER

BC Electric Railway interurban car 1304—”Duke of Connaught” is about to start its journey back to and the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway. Here we see the car loaded aboard a truck at Brooks, Oregon on April 24th for the start of its journey north. Story on page 34 (photo by Laddie Vitek)

JUNE CALENDAR

• West Coast Railway Heritage Park open daily 1000 through 1700k • Saturday June 6 / Sunday June 7—Day Out With Thomas at the Heritage Park, 0800— 1830k each day • Tuesday, June 9—WCRT’s Coast Cariboo Circle tour departs • Friday, June 12—Deadline for items to be included in the July 2009 edition of WCRA News • Saturday, June 13 / Sunday June 14—Day Out With Thomas at the Heritage Park, 0800—1830k each day • Saturday, June 20—WCRT’s Alberta’s Steam Trains and Highlights tour departs • Tuesday, June 23—Tours Committee Meets • Tuesday, June 30—WCRA June General Meeting, Rainbow Creek Station, 1930 hours

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 (except Special Events), 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

ROYAL HUDSON PERFORMS—AND SHOWCASES OUR RAILWAY HERITAGE

We are sometimes asked why we invest so much time, energy and funds into the Royal Hudson #2860. It costs a lot of money, and takes a tremendous amount of effort to put together trips as we did in May. Why didn’t we just restore the glorious locomotive esthetically and display and interpret her on a static basis?

To understand the answer, one needed only be lineside on the morning of Saturday, May 2 as #2860 steamed grandly up to the boarding area to load for her first public trip of 2009, and her first of two trips on the Southern Railway of BC line. There were oohs and ahhs from the crowd, and comments of wonderment as the magnificent mechanics that make a steam locomotive what it is arrived. Many of the crowd had never ever even seen a live steam locomotive—it was quite a sight.

For the crowd on the trains, the experience was heightened as they witnessed the grand locomotive conquer the grades and work hard to lift the consist to the top of the hill and on to the Fraser Valley. It was a great example of what railways in British Columbia had to contend with in choosing routes that could be effectively operated in our difficult terrain.

And that’s what it is all about. After all, it was steam power that transformed our country by providing economical and efficient land transportation for the first time, tying our vast geography together, opening communities and industries for business, and enabling the development of our great land.

Steam represented the first effective transportation that was not powered by animal or water power. It enabled fresh crops to get to markets far away. It sped silk worms from Asia across the continent to textile mills in the east. It opened the mountains to tourism. It was the technology that propelled us into the 20th century and helped develop us forward as a nation.

To see and experience steam locomotion in action is an educational experience like no other. West Coast Railway Association is proud and delighted that we are able to participate in this role in showcasing our heritage live, creating a real experience that can not be duplicated in film or display. When we do get out there, as we did on the three trips in May, the hard work involved in preparing the equipment and making the many needed arrangements is suddenly all worth the effort.

To our railway partners - CN, Southern Railway of BC, and Rocky Mountaineer Vacations we thank you as well. You are enablers in helping us deliver this tremendous experience to so many, and without you our ability to deliver this experience would be lessened. Don WCRA News, Page 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS

FROM THE MARCH GENERAL MEETING

Chair Colin Dathan called meeting to order at 19:30K at Rainbow Creek Station, Burnaby with a quorum present of 40 members and guests: • A moment of silence was held in recognition of the passing of long time member Doug Sexsmith. • Don Evans provided the President’s Report, noting fundraising for the month. He also talked about the White Rock Museum’s upcoming rail exhibit and a photo that will appear in the SOO Magazine of the Royal Hudson. • Susan Steen provided a Heritage Park report and thanked all who helped with the clean up weekend event and the mini rail work party. She also noted that Fred Dannells and his team had been up and worked on the RPO car. • Susan provided an update on the planning for the Day out With Thomas event. • Craig McDowall talked about advertising and promotion for the Thomas event. • Don Evans provided an update on the CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre construction as well as fundraising. He thanked those who have invested in debentures. • Jim Brown updated the membership on the status of financials as at end February. • Jim provided a report on the 374 Pavilion and the upcoming anniversary event planned for May 17. He noted that the locomotive will be cleaned and polished prior to the annual event which celebrates the anniversary of its 1887 arrival into Vancouver. • Dave Emmington talked about the Min Rail operation at the new Convention Centre for the Canstruction event. • Dave talked about the upcoming Royal Hudson trips and clarified the car attendant plans. • Don Evans provided a collections report, noting that the open car 598 was getting painted, the Alberta work continued to progress. He also noted that CPR 8000 was being readied to move west, as were two of the CN coaches currently in Ottawa. It was also noted that BC Rail caboose 1859 is going to get a new two tone green BCR paint job. • Bob Hunter gave an archives report, noting the new computer that was donated and that website work is underway with a goal of making the Wilkie Collection more widely known and accessible. • Bill Johnston gave an update on the two upcoming Royal Hudson trips on SRY. He also noted that our two coaches will be able to be sold as part of the May 12 Whistler Mountaineer trip. • Ryan Cruickshank gave his Trackside Report (7th anniversary of this meeting feature) and was followed by Bill Marchant who provided some excerpts from his North Bend log book from 1964. • Mayo Lumber Shay #3 is reported to be heading to Duncan from Summerland. • Eric Anderson donated some Canadian Tire Coupons. • Guests were welcomed • Craig McDowall showed videos of various steam subjects, incl. 4449, 6060 and 2860 WCRA News, Page 5 WCRA TRIVIA # 245 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank

Colonel Cyrus K. Holliday founded what railroad in Kansas in 1850? (for answer see Credit Lines, page 35) MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS

Memberships dated 04/30/2009 have now expired, and if your membership expired 02/28/2009, 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.

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 West Coast Railway Association welcomes new members Jeff Benson & family of New Westminster, Brad & Richard Best of Burnaby, Jane & Daren Clark & family of Squamish, Nirpjit Dosanjh & family of Surrey, Dave Hoard of Squamish, Shanms March & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Denis Mazerolle & family of Squamish, Warwick Patterson of Squamish, Leslie Rutherford of Coquitlam, Keith Robinson & family of Mount Albert, Ontario, Jason Sherman & family of Squamish, Tim Schoults & family of Squamish, and Paul Riley of Peabody, Massachusetts. (J.D.)

We welcome back Greg Martin & family of Garibaldi Highlands.

MEMBER NOTES

Best wishes to Donna Simon who fell and broke her wrist in Comox (right outside the hospital!). She is now healing but in a cast for six weeks.

Best wishes as well to Bernie Tully who ended up in Vancouver General Hospital with some bleeding after a surgery a few weeks ago. Last report he was stabilized, but may have further surgery in his future. He was most disappointed to miss the May 2 / 3 Royal Hudson trips. Best wishes from all of us, Bernie. (May 9 update—Bernie back home and doing well, B.J.)

WCRA News, Page 6

Congratulations to member Henry Ewert on his being named recipient of the Historical Award of Merit by the Vancouver Historical Society. The award is given annually to “persons who have made significant contributions to the understanding and appreciation of Vancouver history”. His recognition was, of course, for his meticulous and expert work on the history of the BC Electric Railway, a topic of several books and frequent lectures.

Congratulations to Henry Remier on the occasion of celebrating his 80th birthday! Congratulations also to Bill & Sylvia Johnston on their becoming grandparents on May 8— daugter Jen had a baby boy who has been named Tanner.

MINI RAIL RUNS AT CANSTRUCTION

The West Coast Mini Rail operated in late April / early May at the new Vancouver Convention Centre as part of the annual Canstruction display. This event, which features creations made from cans of food, is also a fundraiser for the Vancouver Food Bank. Dave Emmington and Colin Dathan headed up the event after Jeremy Davy had to leave for home when Donna broke her wrist. (Photo from Dave Emmington’s camera but photographer unknown) WCRA News, Page 7 COLLECTION

OPEN CAR GETS NEW PAINT—OUT FOR ANOTHER SEASON

WCRA’s open observation car WCXX 598 Henry Pickering shone on the two Royal Hudson trips May 2 and May 3, resplendent in fresh Tuscan red paint. Though not yet lettered, she looked great in the consist and will be an asset to the Whistler Mountaineer once again for its 2009 season. Thanks to Ron Anstey for organizing the painting, to Southern Railway of BC (SRY) for allowing the use of their “tent” as a painting location, and to Kerschbaumer Coatings for doing the job promptly and professionally. Letting should be applied by the time the May 12 Whistler Mountaineer inaugural trip goes.

HELP US MOVE OUR CN SUPER CONTINENTAL TRAIN

We need your help—we must get our CN Super Continental train moved from Eastern Canada and we’re having trouble. While a gracious benefactor stepped forward and purchased the five units of the former Waterloo & St. Jacobs train for us back in late 2006, we have had no funding for its move west. We have tried twice to get assistance from CN with this move as an in-kind or partial in-kind donation, but to no avail. The price tag for the move is basically $20,000 per unit, and that’s what we must come up with. Meanwhile storage charges also continue to pile up—we must act now as there is not only significant cost to moving them, but also to leaving them where they are.

We need this train and we need it here. The coaches are intended to fill out our coach seating capability when we run the Royal Hudson or other trips (this past weekend we had to again ask Rocky Mountaineer for help and they graciously loaned us three cars) and we need them for things like Day Out With Thomas so we can have the capacity to sell more tickets and increase the contribution to our collection and facilities. The CN Super Continental is also in our collection plan as our consist to illustrate the streamliners of the 1950’s, and it s our planned opening experience for the ARM 2009 conference in September.

This is our most important collection project at this time. So—we need your help here. Some thoughts: • Donations towards the cost, of course, tax receiptable to the donor • Sponsor a coach—or an FP9A unit. This program has worked well for us and would be very timely now, as the coaches will go into immediate use on our Thomas trains and with our ARM Conference operations. There are two coaches available (one has already been spoken for and will become the William & Dorothy Lahr). Would you like to have an FP9A unit carry your name of the name of a loved one? We will script a name below the cab windows (as is often done) and thus name the locomotives as well as the coaches. • Third option—a targeted debenture would also be useful as we need the funds to make the moves. WCRA News, Page 8

As we go to press, we are starting work to move two coaches from Ottawa to Squamish, but do not have enough available cash to move the two locomotives or other coach as yet.

For information, please contact Don Evans for further details. Come on, CN fans—what would be nicer than a classy green, black and gold CN streamliner finally making its appearance at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. Call me at 604-988-3435 or e mail [email protected]

SPEEDER DONATED

Thanks to Norm Witzell of CN Police for seeing through the donation of a speeder to WCRA. The “Man Hauler” is in operational condition but requires quite a bit of cosmetic work. Some of our volunteers in Squamish have undertaken the completion of the job, which was started by a group of CN Employees some years ago.

CPR 8000 ON ITS WAY TO SQUAMISH

As we go to press, Canadian Pacific Baldwin locomotive #8000 has been released from Alyth shop in Calgary and has been waybilled for delivery to West Coast Railway at Squamish. It departed Calgary on CP train 403 of May 9, powered by CP 8884 / CN 5552 / CN 2604, destined North Vancouver via Thornton. We look forward to receiving this historic locomotive (which has been donated to WCRA by CPR) and to preserving it for future generations. (K.P.)

FUNDRAISING

PRESIDENT’S REPORT – APRIL 2009

April was a busy month and we moved forward with several debentures for the roundhouse project, allowing limited roundhouse construction to continue.

Major Funding Received • Roundhouse Donations $1,500 • General Donations $8,500 • Roundhouse Completion Debentures $240,000 • United Way designated donation $600 • New debentures $2,000

Month Total $252,600 Year to Date Total $1,724,345 • General purposes $328,845 • WCR Endowment Fund $637,000 • Roundhouse $658,500 • Alberta Project $100,000 WCRA News, Page 9 Other Significant Activities • Work on Royal Hudson trips activities and arrangements • Work on move of two coaches on CN • Reworked Roundhouse “Sales” document for new naming sponsors

CN ROUNDHOUSE & CONFERENCE CENTRE

HELP US COMPLETE THE ROUNDHOUSE

While progress has been moving along on our signature new structure, we still need some help getting the job done. We continue to seek the funds needed for completion, so we have launched a final push for help from our friends and members.

The CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre is our largest project to date and the most significant in terms of the future of WCRA, the operation of the Heritage Park, and the protection of our precious collection. We have attracted many new constituents to our group through this project, and we have many groups just waiting to be able to use the new facility. The CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre will transform our site forever.

The new facility will be our first climate controlled top quality exhibit building, offering year round protection for our seven most precious pieces of the collection. No longer will we have to “hide” vulnerable units across the street at the MP Shops in the winter away from the enjoyment of our guests. Imagine having the fragile wood cars like the business car British Columbia inside in a year round comfortable temperature. And, with seven track stalls, this means seven more pieces of our collection get indoors from outside.

Operationally, this also pays a major role for our future. The building itself will generate new funds and bring new sets of visitors to our site. So, it plays a huge marketing role in attracting groups who would not have come to see us as a railway heritage site, but while there they will discover us—and away we go.

It is also the third phase of our deliberate business plan design, and will take the operation of the Heritage Park to break even or better, thus ending the need for operating donation funding as we have needed since we started our project. More donations in the future will then be able to be directed to the collection, our core purpose.

The bottom line to all of this, is that we still do not have all the needed funding to complete the project. We are still working hard right now to have a Federal Government component to match the Province and private funds which we have already raised (and are using to date on construction). This support would be the assurance we need for completion.

Two new programs are now being offered to close the gap of approximately $1.3 WCRA News, Page 10 million to completion.

1. New Naming Opportunities—these will name specific exhibit areas in the building as well as the plaza out front, and suggested amounts are indicated. • Heritage Plaza (centre court in front of the building, around the turntable) - suggested naming sponsorship amount $500,000. This will be a major plaza area and scene for many activities such as introduction of new rail restorations, outdoor concerts, vintage car shows etc. • Upper Level Viewing Deck and Gallery—this is the indoor / outdoor deck on the upper level of the building, which will provide great views over the Heritage Plaza of the event site as well as the Mac Norris Station main track. Suggested naming sponsorship $250,000 • Special Exhibitions Gallery—This area, off the main entry lobby, will be used to exhibit special collections , art shows or photography. Exhibits will change regularly, suggested naming sponsorship $100,000 • Tracks 1 through 7—each of the seven exhibit tracks will carry a sponsor name, each track will house one of our collection’s prize pieces of rolling stock, suggested naming sponsorship $50,000 per track

Work to find these sponsors is getting underway now, if any of you have interest in such a permanent legacy or know of someone who may, please let us know. Contact Don Evans at 604-988-3435 or [email protected]

2. A New Roundhouse Completion Debenture Program

A new series of Roundhouse Completion Debentures is immediately available, and we are pleased to report that close to $300,000 has been received / committed. These will operate in a similar way to our current very successful debenture program, but with a few differences: • Interest rate will be 6% annually (a great rate given current markets) • Term of two years • Minimum amount $10,000 • Complimentary membership in WCRA for the term • New debentures only (current debentures not to be converted as we need the new funds to get the construction done) • Offering to be closed once needed funds are achieved

Now we need you! Investments in the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre project by you or your company, or anyone you might know who would be interested to help, are needed immediately. Please contact Don Evans at 604-988-3435 or Colin Smith at 604-649-8464 if you can help us with this urgent need. Note that we need a total of $1.3 million through the combination of Naming Opportunities and Debentures—the more successful we are with the naming support the less we need in debentures, however the debentures can generate the short term funds we need to keep the project active and on schedule. We really need the CN WCRA News, Page 11

Roundhouse & Conference Centre for this fall as we have ARM 2009 booked. Help us make sure that we do get this over the top—and the roundhouse completed by this fall.

Meanwhile, construction progresses—as of May 1 the roof is complete, the walls are studded and boarded, the floor has been prepared for concrete with the geo-thermal system piping in place, the tracks have been installed. (Photo below, Norson Construction May 1, 2009)

CARDINAL CONCRETE MAKES DONATION

We offer our thanks to Cardinal Concrete and the generosity and support of Bob Fast for the donation of 36 cubic metres of concrete for the floor of the new CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre. This is very much appreciated and at the perfect time as we are currently pouring the main floor of the new building.

WEST COAST RAIL TOURS

2009 TOURS SCHEDULE

Following is an outline of the tours for the coming year. Detailed WCRA News, Page 12 itineraries with photos are available for all tours by calling 604-524-1011 or e-mail to [email protected] Plan now for some great rail travel in 2009.

We are pleased to announce that our tours operations are now operating out of the WCRA’s office at 4529A Hastings St. in Burnaby. This has enhanced our office operations with regular phone answering now for both tours and WCRA Administrative functions, call and say hello to Aileen de la Torre—and book some great rail travel while you are at it. (B.J.)

Coast to Cariboo Circle Tour – Tuesday, June 9th – 8 Days This is an improvement on previous such tours with an extra day added to visit Barkerville. Passengers join the tour in Victoria (or Nanaimo - one day shorter) by riding the Malahat Dayliner then chartered motorcoach to Port Hardy. Next it’s the all-day Discovery Coast ferry to Bella Coola for 2 nights, where local history is absorbed. This is followed by a ride up The Big Hill to the Chilcotin region to Williams Lake. One day is spent going to and from Barkerville. You then go to the Whistler area over the Duffey Lake Road. After a morning visit in Whistler you take the Whistler Mountaineer train service to the Vancouver area and your home. Fare: $1,742, BC Seniors only, $1,692.

Alberta’s Steam Trains and Highlights – Saturday, June 20th – 5 Days This is a new tour featuring visits to Drumheller’s famous Royal Tyrell Dinosaur Museum, the Alberta Prairie Railway, West Edmonton Mall and Fort Edmonton Heritage Park. Visits are also scheduled to Jasper, the Columbia Icefields, Lake Louise and Calgary’s Heritage Park. The tour begins and ends in Calgary with air transport extra (about $285 – depending on date booked) to the noted fare. Some may wish to take The Rocky Mountaineer to or from Banff or Calgary to join or leave the tour. Fare: $999 plus choice of transport to Calgary.

White Pass and Yukon Steam Spectacular – Friday, July 10th – 5 days We have added a day to this itinerary to further enjoy the Whitehorse area and additional attractions. This popular tour already has already received bookings for 2009 so if you are interested we suggest an early indication of interest. It includes a steam train ride from Skagway Alaska to Fraser BC and return to Skagway and a one day trip from Skagway to Carcross in the Yukon. Ample time is available to take in the many historic and scenic attractions of this still remote and pristine area. Fare: from $1495.

Vancouver Island’s West Coast – Tuesday, August 4th – 4 days This tour sold out in 2008 so early bookings will reserve your space. Your free home or hotel pickup gets you to the 8:30 AM sailing by BC Ferries to Nanaimo’s Departure Bay where you will be transferred to Courtenay to ride the Malahat Dayliner to Parksville. Your coach meets you here for a transfer to Port Alberni. Next morning you board the “Frances Barkley” coastal supply vessel that services Alberni Inlet and continues on to Ucluelet. You then proceed north by coach to Tofino for a tour of that area. Next morning wake up and relax on the beautiful Pacific Coast before leaving the Long Beach unit of Pacific Rim National Park for Port WCRA News, Page 13

Alberni. Stops will be made at scenic overlooks. After breakfast next morning you depart for the railway station where you will board the Alberni Pacific Steam Railway train for its 10:00 AM departure for the steam-operated McLean Mill National Historic site. Have a light lunch and leave for the eastern side of the Island (Departure Bay) to catch the 5:00 PM sailing for Vancouver. (A stop at a rail station for those returning to Victoria by train is possible) Fare: $898. BC Seniors $878.

Two Steam Trains Fish and Wine – Friday, August 28th – 4 days Leave Vancouver by chartered coach for the scenic north side of the to Agassiz and the museum housed in the oldest wooden railroad station in B.C. Follow the Fraser Canyon and stop for lunch at the Hell’s Gate Air Tram then overnight in Kamloops. Next morning your coach will transfer you to the Kamloops Heritage Railway’s train with steam locomotive #2141 for a short ride and photo opportunities. Then it is off to the southern Okanagan to spot spawning fish at Peachland’s Hardy Creek Park. You stay at the Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino for 2 nights. Next morning it’s the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Our train takes you along the hills overlooking Summerland and on to the Trout Creek Bridge. You will then have lunch and tour a local winery. Next morning depart for Osoyoos where you will see the Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad. Then it’s off to a winery for lunch and a return to Vancouver via the Hope – Princeton Highway. Fare: Only $787.

The Railways of BC’s Interior – Monday, September 21st – 6 days This is a new tour for 2009 featuring BC’s excellent railway museums in Revelstoke and The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook. You will also enjoy travelling in the scenic and historic Columbia and Kootenay regions. Stops are made in Kimberly, Grand Forks and Penticton. The Kettle Valley Railway is also visited as is the incredible Osoyoos Desert Railroad. Fare: $1,274.

All tours of 4 days or more feature free pickups at your home or hotel (subject to some minor conditions.) Ask for details particular to your location.

SELF GUIDED TOURS

We also offer the following arranged tours, which you can take advantage of at any time on a self guided basis….

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

Depart from Pacific Central Station 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 station at 7:30 AM. Board the train for an 8:00 AM departure to Qualicum Beach where it arrives WCRA News, Page 14 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 supplement $71. GST extra. Low season and budget hotel bookings save you more.

THE GREAT PLAINS and ROCKIES by TWO NAME TRAINS — 6 days, all year.

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 Alberta’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, settle into your sleeping room and start of your westbound trip. 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. WCRA News, Page 15

TWO GREAT CITIES BY THREE FAMOUS NAME TRAINS - Any Sunday, Tuesday or Friday – all year

This is a unique chance to enjoy travel on three great name trains from the comfort of your own sleeping car, dining car and lounges, first to on The Canadian then on the Lake Shore Limited, and from Chicago on The Empire Builder. You take the 4-day and 4-night trip to Toronto on VIA Rail’s flagship train and spend a day or two in Canada’s largest metropolis. A scheduled motorcoach from Toronto to Syracuse NY’s Amtrak station at noon will give you plenty of time to catch the overnight Lake Shore Limited train for Chicago. Spend a day or two here or transfer the same day to the Empire Builder for its westbound journey across the plains and Rockies of the northern states. It arrives in Seattle 3 days later where you transfer back to Vancouver or overnight and take the morning Cascades train service back to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station. This tour can be run in reverse if desired. Phone the tours office for a more detailed itinerary.

TOTAL FARE: From only Cdn $1,575 per person including train sleepers and a hotel night. Note: Fare depends on number and ages of guests travelling together, type of sleeping accommodation booked, date of booking, number of hotel nights used, date of travel, etc. Our fare is guaranteed to be lower than you booking this for yourself. Early booking is essential to guarantee the type of sleeper you want and to take advantage of early booking discounts on both Amtrak and VIA Rail.

CALIFORNA ZEPHYR RAILCARS—4449 STEAM TRIP OF A LIFETIME X 2!

WCRT is now working with California Zephyr Railcars, a group that has four private cars that can travel together and a good set of itineraries through 2009. This group offers the unique experience of travel in a small group aboard beautifully restored private railcars, and all-inclusive packages to special destinations.

California Zephyr Railcar Charters announces a ‘twice in a lifetime’ opportunity to ride our ‘Silver Fleet’, supplemented by former Pennsylvania sleeper-lounge Colonial Crafts, in first-class luxury between Portland, OR and Minneapolis, MN on a train pulled by the sole remaining Daylight steam locomotive—the famous #4449. We will have Silver Lariat, Silver Rapids, and Silver Solarium aboard the train, giving guests the opportunity to see the beautiful Empire Builder route from end to end in daylight, from a Vista-Dome.

Dates for this extraordinary adventure are: • Eastbound, Portland-Minneapolis July 3-9, seven days • Westbound, Minneapolis-Portland October 13-20, eight days (Fall Colors)

In addition, guests wishing to book on the following segments may do so: • Oakland-Portland June 30-July 1 (2 nights aboard the private cars) WCRA News, Page 16

• Minneapolis-Chicago-Emeryville (Oakland) via Amtrak #5, July 10-13 (4 nights aboard the private cars) • Portland-Oakland October 21-22 • Emeryville-Chicago-Minneapolis via the California Zephyr, train 6, October 8-11 (Fall Colors) Single day segments on the Portland-Minneapolis portions of the trip are also available. The train will overnight for servicing at Spokane, Whitefish, Havre, Minot, and Fargo.

All guests will enjoy our famous superior service, with meals prepared fresh on board by our chefs and served in one of our Vista-Domes. Of course, our bar is complimentary. In addition, overnight passengers will stay aboard in our sleepers, and enjoy the attentive service that people have come to expect when traveling with us.

Pricing for this adventure is as follows ranges from a high of $7,000 US (full one way trip, seven days, drawing room) to $499 for the one day segments. Call West Coast Rail Tours for further details and make your booking for this steam adventure across the old Great Northern route.

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, Amtrak, the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad and the Alaska Railroad as full-service agents for those lines. Rocky Mountaineer Vacations 2009 tours are now available; call for information and book with us. We also have the 2009 Trafalgar Tours brochures ready to send. They include the following destinations: Europe & Britain, Australia & New Zealand, USA & Canada, and River Cruises. 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.

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 17

WEST COAST RAILWAY HERITAGE PARK Home of the Royal Hudson

DAY OUT WITH THOMAS—June 6, 7 and June 13, 14, 2009

Day Out With Thomas returns to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, with four event days set—Saturday, June 6 / Sunday June 7 and Saturday June 13 / Sunday June 14, 2009. Your Thomas team is hard at work preparing, marketing and planning for the event, which promises to be a great one. Now we just need you to be there!

Tickets for Day Out With Thomas—Hero of the Rails Tour are on sale through TicketWeb (note, this is not TicketMaster and does not have the same fees) - price is $20 and they can be accessed through www.wcra.org or by calling 1-888-222-6608. You need to get yours now as the event operates only two days each weekend this year, so is expected to sell out. So, get in there now!

The event will feature many exciting activities, and transforms the Heritage Park into a Thomas the Tank Engine theme park for the four days. There will be an appearance by Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller, there will be story telling and videos along with the theme music from the classic storybook and cartoons. Imagination Station will feature lots of crafts for the family, toy Thomas trains to play with, Lego construction and live entertainment. The Patricia Anne model railway car will be in operation, and the mail car will feature Letters to Thomas (which will all be answered after the event). Of course, your ticket also includes a 25 minute train ride with Thomas, departing from the Mac Norris Station. Parking will be free and right across the street at the MP Shops property, so no shuttle buses needed this year.

Also available (not included in ticket price) will be food, balloons, and the West Coast Mini Rail train rides, so it will be a happy and fun place all day.

Once again we will need lots of volunteers, and our volunteer coordinator Donna Fourchalk is hard at work filling shifts to this year’s event. The good news is that we are only operating two days at a time this round, much easier on volunteers than in past times when we have had three days consecutive to staff. In addition, due changes at the site both Imagination Station and the merchandise will be in the PGE carshop, much more comfortable regardless the weather than in a large tent.

Day Out With Thomas—Volunteer Notes (Donna Fourchalk / Nathan Pinfield) • Will schedule for 6hr or 12hr shifts—please consider volunteering • Contact Nathan Pinfield at the Heritage Park 604-898-9336 WCRA News, Page 18

Day Out With Thomas—Marketing Notes (Craig McDowall) • Posters and Rack cards printed and are being distributed • Members encouraged to take some to Hobby Shops etc. • Media Spots running on CTV and QM-FM and contests • Ads in local newspapers throughout the area

Day Out With Thomas—Overall Coordination (Bill Watson) • Car Shop will be used for Retail and Imagination Station – no need for large tent • Will negotiate hotel rates, volunteers pay on own and submit for tax receipt • Food (Donated) will be supplied to volunteers

So, plan now to come and take in this event with the whole family, or to volunteer and help make this event a great one for our guests.

HERITAGE PARK CLEAN UP WEEKEND

Thank you to all those who came out to do a clean up of the park the weekend of April 18th and 19th; it was a good work weekend. Fay and John Lighthall, Craig McDowall, Irena Erdos, Don Baumeister, John Jellis, Gary and Lolita Turner, Howie Biehl, Marian Mills, Karen Moodie, Susan Steen, Sally Berry, Keith Magee, Mary and Paul Roy, Ruth and Doug Fenton, Jeremy Davy and his crew for the mini rail (I don't have that complete list). Thank you to the staff for having coffee always brewing for us. Susan Steen had her Train Wrecker Beans on Sat. and Karen Moodie had her Chili on Sun.; Tomo’o Oshikawa for having equipment ready. There is a list posted in the gift shop if any members want to come and do some volunteer work. If I have left anyone off the list I apologize. (D.F.)

HERITAGE PARK NOTES

Sunday, April 26 saw the Royal Hudson steaming out of Squamish to the delight of many rail fans in town and along the route to Vancouver…a bunch of us met up in Britannia to send it on its way from Sea to Sky country to Vancouver. A real thank to the crew, staff and volunteers who made this happen – she was sounding good, looking spiffy as she left our site and the bell, which someone had shined to a dazzling hue, looked wonderful.

For those who enjoyed my version of train-wrecker beans, the recipe follows: • 1 pound hamburger (use the best ground sirloin) • ½ pound bacon (not smoked) • 1 medium onion chopped • ½ Cup diced celery • 1 can lima beans, drained WCRA News, Page 19

• 1 can kidney beans, drained • 1 can pork and beans with molasses • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Sauce: • ½ cup catsup • ½ cup brown sugar • 1 teaspoon dry mustard • 1 tablespoon vinegar

Cook bacon and crumble into small pieces. Fry hamburger, onion and celery until meat is no longer pink in color. Drain if needed, and put in pot (either a crock pot or on the stove). Add beans, and crumbled bacon. Make sauce by warming sauce ingredients and pour over meat mixture. Heat until ready to serve.

Recipe can be doubled or even tripled to serve a crowd. Enjoy!! (S.S.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE HERITAGE PARK

We now have a job list, so if anyone has an extra hour or more and want to see the new highway (for those in Vancouver) – the coffee is always on and we will make sure there is something for you to do with supplies on hand to get you started. Now that the mini rail is back in operation, we need volunteer engineers / conductors as well.

In April Sally Berry and Nathan Pinfield attended the Tourism Trade Show at the new Vancouver Convention Centre. They spent the day promoting the Park, Day Out with Thomas (June 6 & 7 and June 14 & 14) and the Hudson trips ( May 2, 3 & 12).

STEAMFEST COMING IN JULY

In addition, SteamFest is planned for the weekend of July 11 & 12 – this marks the 15th anniversary (or birthday) of the Park. A special unveiling of a new exhibit in the Multi Purpose room in the afternoon of July 11 which will mark the occasion. We hope you can plan to join us for this two day event for both the celebration of 15 years and a grand display of operating steam—autos, traction engines, the Royal Hudson, and mini rail.

Tickets will be $20 for adults and $10. for children for each day of the event.…member discounts don’t apply for these special events, but there will be lots to see and do.

Please contact Jeremy or Susan if you have any special equipment you would want to bring up for the SteamFest weekend. (S.S.) WCRA News, Page 20

MINI RAIL TRACKS REBUILT, NEW

WYE INSTALLED

Thanks to Tomo’o Oshikawa, Jeremy Davy

and the mini rail crew, the West Coast Mini Rail has been reopened to service for its full length trip around the Heritage Park. In addition, the wye at Sweet Apple has been completely rebuilt, easing the activity there with new switches, reduced curvature and a longer tail track. This makes the track better—especially for visiting engines on event days. In addition, a new viewing area is being built for the Garden Railway, complete with a passing track at that location. (Photo by Tomo’o Oshikawa)

PASSPORT INPLEMENTED

A new passport to the Heritage Park has been designed and will be used with all guided tours around the Park. The Passport is stamped at nine different stamping stations and the booklet provides further information about WCRA, the Heritage Park, and the collection. Thanks to Nathan Pinfield for designing this and to Karen Moodie for developing the hosted tour. (S.S.)

FEATURE ARTICLES

ROYAL HUDSON STORMS OVER SRY - by Don Evans

May 2 and May 3 will be days that this writer will remember for a lifetime, as will hundreds of others who rode with the 2860 or witnessed her passing lineside as the Royal Hudson worked two spectacular excursions between New Westminster and Cloverdale. The route, today’s Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY), is the former BC Electric interurban line with its grades and right of way designed for an interurban electric railway back in 1910. It has been a long time since a steam train rode these rails, the last being a WCRA trip in August 1962 to Abbotsford with Pacific Coast Terminals 0-6-0 locomotive #4012 and later the BC Museum train with 2-6-2 #1077 in 1975.

The whole saga got underway on Sunday, April 30 as the WCRA consist prepared to depart Squamish for SRY New Westminster in a transfer move on CN. After a bit of a delay with the brakes on 4069 (turned out to be an electrical fault in the 2860’s “modern” electronics communications system and not the F unit) we were on our way. The train looked real pretty coming out of Squamish on the sunny morning with Hudson #2860, FP7A 4069, generator car

WCXX 9622 MacDonald Creek, coach WCXX 5652 Capilano, coach WCXX 5596 Paul D Roy, and open car WCXX 598 Henry Pickering. (Photo, Squamish Trevor Mills)

The trip to North Vancouver went smoothly, a stop to check things at Porteau revealed no problems, and the 2860 steamed along as she had done for years. The trip along Howe Sound evoked many memories, including these thoughts from Timothy Horton…

“Long gone are the days from 30 years ago when I used to watch the Royal Hudson make its way past Ambleside Park and the West Vancouver seawall each summer day, listening to its mournful whistle and waving at the passengers on board. Also long gone are the road trips with Dave Wilkie from twenty years ago when we used to chase the train along Howe Sound to Squamish and back, stopping at the Klahanie Inn for a burger and the obligatory butter tarts while the train laid over on Logger’s Lane. But this morning, I got to do it all over again.

In those days I didn’t own a car, my camera was a $30.00 Instamatic, and the highway was two lanes undivided. I found myself reflecting on the old days as I drove north to Porteau, this time in my own car, on what is essentially a brand new highway, and for the first time in my life with a decent camera at the ready. I had hoped to duplicate the B.C. Travel Bureau photograph at Porteau (a telephoto view of it coming around the bend with the snow-capped mountains behind), but where once there were weeds barely as high as the rails, there are now WCRA News, Page 22

trees as tall as the train. I would have to settle for a photo from the other side of the tracks, which was just as well because what had so often been a mid-afternoon photo was now a morning shot.

Howe Sound looked fabulous in the morning sunshine, with sparkling water and distant snow- capped mountains. Presently the track patrol came along – not the familiar putt-putt of the old Fairmont M19 speeders, but a quiet white CN hi-rail pickup. And then I heard it – that familiar whistle not heard in so long, then the plume of crisp white steam above the trees obscuring our view, and then around the bend she came, and into my viewfinder. In a moment she was past, leaving me to revel in the smell of a working steam locomotive. This time, however, something was different. As Trevor Mills would explain to me, 2860 was running on diesel fuel instead of Bunker C, and the result was very similar to the smell of the coal-burning locomotives I frequently see back in England. (photo, Porteau, Tim Horton)

After an inspection stop at Porteau the train continued on, and I caught up with it again at Sunset Beach This time I had a view of it coming towards me over some distance, and was better able to enjoy the sight and sound of a big steam locomotive out on the mainline as it advanced towards me. She was really moving this time, and all seemed well as she flew by. Then it was down to the West Vancouver seawall, the location of so many encounters with the engine over the years. No doubt many a West Vancouver resident was pleased to see and hear her once more. Finally it was off to the yard in North Vancouver, where at last I was able to see her standing still. The CN Police stood back and let us admire her up close as she basked in the sunshine, and the District of North Vancouver Fire Department topped up the tender with water. There she was, standing in almost the very spot from where she had left so often on her daily runs up Howe Sound. How ironic that everything around her seemed derelict - the passenger station and freight shed boarded up and falling apart, the Steam Shop moved away – and here once again was 2860, now in her 69th year and looking so magnificent “

Here there was a CN crew change and on to New Westminster. The trip continued as planned WCRA News, Page 23

until the New Westminster bridge, where it had been the plan to wye the consist and back in to SRY. That was not to be, however, so the train continued to CN Thornton and travelled the loop track, ending up later in the afternoon at SRY but facing in the wrong direction. That had to be corrected later in the week when SRY ran the power consist to the bridge and wyed the locos, now all was set.

Sunday May 2 dawned a nice morning, dry and just the right temperature. The train had been assembled and was being prepared, with the WCRA consist plus three loaned Rocky Mountaineer Red Leaf coaches (thanks RMV). The guests started arriving at the Fraser River Discovery Centre where Executive Director Catherine Ouellet-Martin and her staff had graciously opened early for our guests each day to let the centre serve as a check in point where our guests enjoyed the exhibits as well as muffins and coffee before boarding. At 0930 we moved outside to witness the grand arrival of the train. It was a sold out crowd of around 325 passengers plus many onlookers from the area. Among those aboard was New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright, as the event was also a part of the New Westminster 150 celebrations. Naturally he handed out pins to everyone as the trip progressed!

At 0940, right on schedule, #2860 appeared to the west, and put on a grand show as she steamed around the curve and into place along the Front Street Parkade for boarding. Many photos were shot here, the overpass afforded a great view. (Photo May 2, Deb Sankey) WCRA News, Page 24

Train Manager Dave Emmington and his on board crew had things well organized, and we were ready to go just before 1000. The “good to go” word was given and at 1000, steam swooshing, #2860 started to move her consist forward. Consist was Royal Hudson 2860, FP7A 4069, power car 9622, coaches WCXX 5652 and 5596, Open car WCXX 598 in fresh paint, and Rocky Mountaineer coaches RMRX 5558, 5716 and 5707.

Across the Fraser River, and the show began as we dropped to the Scott Road crossing, then began the assault on the Kennedy Hill—with its grade to 2.8%. There were throngs of onlookers at every vantage point, The 2860 slipped a couple of times, then dug in to chug up the grade with stack talk that railfans said was louder than they ever heard her before. (photo back cover, Trevor Mills) The skill of the steam crew (Mark Liggins, Jim Bogdan and Andy Faris) got us up the hill—and with quite a show! (Photo, May 3, Ken Storey)

As it turned out, the F unit had some loading problems so was only partly helpful in assisting the grade, so the 2860 worked extra hard. Crowds were awed at the sound and sight of the steam engine as she crossed Scott Road again on the grade and then crested the top and picked up speed as she made her way through Surrey.

Up next was the steep downgrade of the Bear Creek Hill, 2.6%, towards Sullivan Station and then the flats on to Cloverdale. This was one of my favourite parts of the ride, as once clear of WCRA News, Page 25

the grade we picked up speed and did some real nice mainline running at track speed. Now the sounds of the steam train moving at a nice clip on the well maintained jointed rail evoked classic sounds and memories. Across the Serpentine River, and then curving across Highway 10 was particularly special as the onlookers stopped to see—and then paced us along Highway

10. (Photo May 2, Ken Storey)

Arriving at Cloverdale, we jockeyed around a bit while the motive power was disconnected and then were pushed into the stub ended track by SRY SW900 #905 to disembark. (photo, Deb Sankey)

The 2860 went a bit east of here on the track to be watered by the Surrey Fire Department. The passengers were met by former MLA Bill Reid and his crew; there were welcome bags for all, a vintage Model T Ford. While the passengers lunched and enjoyed the community, #905 WCRA News, Page 26

pulled the consist out and FP7A 4069 / 2860 were tacked on to head the return trip, and then pushed back into the siding. Now the Cloverdale onlookers could see 2860. (Photo Cloverdale,

May 2, Deb Sankey)

All aboard at 1300, and we shoved out of the siding to the mainline. Then we were off, this time a whistle symphony as the 4069’s melodic chime interspersed with 2860’s whistle – it was as if they were talking to each other. Our first stop came quite quickly as we pulled across 152nd Street for a visit to the Fraser Valley Railway Heritage Society carbarn. Our guests appreciated the way they crossed the street—SRY provided a signal maintainer and we crossed the street inside the railway crossing signals which were activated as we assembled large groups of about 100 at a time!

The FVRHS put on a really good show for everyone, we were able to see the fine restoration work on BC Electric Railway interurban #1225, as well as the very recently arrived BCER 1304 (see cover). The group’s goal is to operate interurban service in the Fraser Valley once again, starting as early as next year. (photo page 27, Deb Sankey)

We reboarded the train and headed for New Westminster. Now we had to tackle the 2.6% grade, and here it was a bit of a struggle. The 2860 worked hard with some help from the F unit, but we had not considered that, operating in reverse, the sanders on the steam loco were only partly effective. However, once again she dug in and conquered the grade, her stack talk bouncing off surrounding buildings making and incredible sound for all to hear.

WCRA News, Page 27

Now, it was time to ease down the 2.8% Kennedy Hill which was taken carefully, and we were on our last leg into New Westminster across the bridge, and arriving at 1504—pretty much right on schedule. It had been a grand day and our guests disembarked with smiles and thanks to everyone involved.

Sunday May 3 dawned a surprisingly lovely morning, as rain had been forecast and had blown through with a fury overnight. As a result of yesterday’s run, and the prospect of wet rails, a decision to add an SRY unit to the consist was made and Chief Mechanical Officer, Singh Biln, appropriately arranged for GP9 #124—the unit that was modeled in 7 1/2” gauge for our West Coast Mini Rail and built for us by Shane Carr (who was aboard on the Saturday trip).

The routine was the same as yesterday, and came off without a hitch. The train steamed in at 0940 on the New Westminster waterfront with 2860 / 4069 / 124 for power and the same consist. A sold out crowd of 340 boarded and we were off. The difference was on the Kennedy Hill where great conditions and more power saw us march up the hill at 17 mph, again the show was incredible.

Arrival at Cloverdale was a bit early, and this time the 2860 backed us right in without first disconnecting affording our passengers about 15 extra minutes for their community stop and lunch. The 2860 was watered again, and then returned to the boarding point solo on the west end of the train. When we departed, she backed us out to the mainline where SRY 124 / FP7A 4069 were added, and we were off.

Again, a good stop at the FVRHS at Sullivan, then a smooth ride up the hill, through Surrey and into New Westminster arriving right on schedule at 1500 hours. Couldn’t have been better. WCRA News, Page 28

May 3, SRY 124 leads FP7A 4069 and Royal Hudson 2860 as it approaches the Fraser River Bridge on the last leg of the May 3, 2009 trip—Ken Storey photo)

It was a wonderful two day outing for the Royal Hudson, and internet postings and video clips were already out. Comments were all good and the feedback from our guests aboard as well as those we worked with all positive. The Royal Hudson performed very well, and the braking interface problems were gone. As we go to press, the 2860 and consist are new being readied for the May 12 inaugural trip of this year's Whistler Mountaineer, which will be covered in our next issue.

There are many to thank—let’s start with our railway partners. To Southern Railway of BC, our sincere thanks for hosting these two trips. Aboard the train from SRY were President Frank Butzelaar, VP Ken Doiron, COO Dewie Knisely, CMO Sigh Biln, and VP Southern Vancouver Island Don McGregor. Of course, SRY pilot crews also operated with both trips and they were said to have had quite a “blast” with the unique assignment, and many people in the shops area got involved as well. Thanks to them all.

To CN, our appreciation for handling the transfer moves of the Royal Hudson and consist from Squamish to New Westminster on April 30, and then return from New Westminster to North Vancouver on May 10. These came under the assistance of Superintendent Charles Ables and Assistant Superintendent Bruce Feltham and their operating pilot crews. WCRA News, Page 29

To Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, thanks for the loan of the three coaches to add capacity for the two SRY trips (which we filled up with two sell outs) and appreciation to James Terry,

Gord Miller, and Hubert Wat and their staffs for helping make the trips a success as well as for the May 12 inaugural run arrangements for the Whistler Mountaineer.

To the WCRA volunteers who operated things very professionally—Bill & Sylvia Johnston / Aileen de la Torre who handled the bookings and the guest check in, Dave Emmington who handled the on board staff on the train both days, Arlone & Shawna Emmington, Gordon and Karen Hall and family Michelle, Tim and Charlotte who looked after the catering as well as on board snacks, Craig & Nora McDowall / Lisa Flatla and Karen Moodie for providing and selling the souvenirs, and coach attendants Terry Dougan, Ron Pajala, Bill Johnston, Joe and Marietta Fischer, Keith & Vera Anderson, Jim Saunders and George Massey who helped our guests have an enjoyable experience.

To the 2860 Steam Crew, our lead hand Andy Faris, engineers Mark Liggins and Jim Bogdan, Gary Faris, Richard Courage, Warren Cowan who kept the 2860 lubricated and cleaned and our technical support crew of Dave Thethi and Tomo’o Oshikawa.

And to our partners in the operations—New Westminster 150 Celebrations, The Fraser River Discovery Centre and the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society.

Now, on to May 12 and a triumphant return to Squamish!

FROM WCRA NEWS—JUNE 1974 - by Craig McDowall WCRA On Tuesday, June 11th, our mountain observation car 598 was returned from the NRHS in Portland after being utilized on the OP & E. The coach is being held in Customs Bond in Drake Street Yard. Once cleared, 598 will be sand blasted, primered and repainted CPR tuscan red and renamed ‘Mount Garibaldi’. It will join the Royal Hudson consist on B.C. Railway on a lease basis, initially on a three year contract.

B.C. Hydro Railway On May 6th, around 15:30, BCH SW900RS #906 collided with CNR SW1200RS #1282. The CNR engine was hit at right angles on the pilot by the Hydro engine. The Hydro’s front coupler punched into the CN unit’s fuel tank and the Hydro engine was dragged sideways. The CNR engine was switching with one man aboard on the ‘blind side’. The Hydro engine was approaching New Westminster from Lulu Island. Its train was caught on the bridge over the Fraser River with no power on the island to pull it back off the bridge., thus impeding river traffic. WCRA News, Page 30

The cars were eventually moved by MOW trucks. It took ten hours to clear the small wreck. The BCH unit re-appeared two weeks later with a new pilot and the CNR unit was sent to

Winnipeg for repairs on its ruptured fuel tank.

British Columbia Railway The Royal Hudson’s rebuild is now complete for service on the new daily excursion service to Squamish and return. It was steamed up on June 11th and ran light on a test run to Coquitlam and return on June12th. During the rebuild, of the 15 coaches purchased, the first six were refurbished and repainted to BC Rail livery. They are painted Tuscan Red with ‘British Columbia’ on the letter boards. Six coaches were ready for transport to the North Shore on Monday, June 17th behind #2860, which ran under her own power. She steamed through the tunnel from Drake Street and coupled onto her consist at the CPR station.

The train departed at 13:30 for Coquitlam via CPR to the Brunette Street interchange onto CN and returned west at speeds up to 60 MPH (nice debut!!) on its way to the Willingdon entrance to the tunnel en route to the new . She proceeded west on the NHB trackage to the BCR yards in North Vancouver. The Royal Hudson now has a valid boiler certificate from both the CTC and ICC. She is now owned by the Provincial Government’s Department of Travel Industry after being purchased from Joe Hussey.

On June 18th, the Royal Hudson ran a test run to Squamish with no problems. Then on Thursday, June 20th the official inaugural run to Squamish occurred where the town welcomed the dignitaries and invitees were served lunch and watched a logger show (MCM note: my wife Nora and I were invited by Premier Dave Barrett as she was his bank teller for years at the B of M at Oakridge and she told him I was a rail nut). Premier Barrett was in the cab in North Van and blew the whistle before Engineer Frank Smith took over just prior to departure. Fares for the daily departures (except Mondays and Tuesdays) will be $5 for adults and $3.75 for seniors and students. Children 5-12 will be $2.50.

The initial Royal Hudson train consist is comprised of the following former CPR cars with their new B.C. Railway names:

CPR original # Royal Hudson name 2757 (baggage) Prince George 2270 (coach) McKenzie 2241 (coach) Lillooet 2283 (coach) Squamish 2252 (coach) Clinton 2271 (coach) Quesnel (preserved at WCRHP) 2242 (coach) Lone Butte 2260 (coach) 2260 (loaned from CPR) WCRA News, Page 31

Other coaches ready for refurbishment are ex-CPR lightweight coaches 2238, 2263, 2267, 2280, 2286, 2296 and parlour cars 6600, 6601, and 6602. For extended runs, spare tender

415979 from a coal burning 2800 has been purchased, but not worked on yet. A liquor license for the parlour cars has been applied for with the LCB.

Canadian Pacific Railway CP Rail Research Department head Robert Klein spoke at our Railcon banquet on the potential future of electrification of the line from Calgary to Vancouver. Other routes being considered are Montreal to Toronto and Winnipeg to the Lakehead. Estimated return on investment would be at least 20 years. Two key factors are future traffic density and the future projected cost of diesel fuel.

If the Calgary to Vancouver line was to go ahead, it would take five years to complete at a cost of $250 million. A 50kv system is being considered as this would allow power stations to be spaced every 40 miles. Experiments with catenary supports are being conducted (excuse the bad pun!) in the mountain region. This is a cantilever style rather than a bridge style due to heavy snowfalls in the winter. CPR has been running tests in Norway using a Thyristor controlled electric locomotive. No decision has been made yet.

Misc. Items The former CPR ‘R’ Class sleeper ‘Redvers’ will be restored by the Alberta Pioneer Railway Assoc. CPR donated the 8 sections, 2 bedroom, and 1 drawing room car.

Skagit River Railway will not operate on a regular basis this summer due to problems with railway operating personnel. One trip will happen on July 4th and will run from Sedro Woolley to Concrete Washington.

Northern Alberta Railways has discontinued its passenger train from Edmonton to Dawson Creek due to low passenger volumes. This service was originally established in 1912.

374 PAVILION

The number of visitors recorded for April 2009 was 910 as compared to April 2008 at 988. The cool weather for the past 4 months has had negative on visitors to the 374. To date the visitor count is down 10.3% over last year. However, the weather is improving and this will bring out the visitors.

On Thursday April 30th a Volunteer Appreciation night sponsored by the Roundhouse Community Centre was held at the roundhouse community center to celebrate the wonderful achievements of our volunteers. The Roundhouse Community Center has over 120 active volunteers. Dinner was provided by the FUSE Café and wonderful entertainment by the Salsa WCRA News, Page 32

Estilo Cubano Band. The end of the event was topped off with some excellent door prizes. A good time was had by all and it was a great event to show recognition to our outstanding 374

Pavilion volunteers.

I am pleased to announce that Vasti Beukman will once again join us to starting May 11, 2009.The summer months are important to us with 58% of our annual visitors arriving between May and September. Vasti’s main role is assistance our core groups of volunteer’s and to ensure all guests are informed about our Heritage Park in Squamish and to encourage them to visit the park. Vasti will also manage our expanded gift boutique.

Please consider becoming a volunteer at the 374 Pavilion. There are openings available on Tuesday 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.)

RAILWAY NEWS

GE’S TO TEST ON TALGOS

Amtrak plans to test its GE P 40 and P 42 “Genesis” series locomotives on the Amtrak Cascades trains which operate between Eugene, Oregon and Bellingham, Washington. The trains only operate with EMD built F 59 locomotives at this time and these are the only locomotives approved to pull the Talgo tilt system equipment at 79 mph. Ability to use the GE’s would increase the railway’s flexibility in operations. (TOL)

NEXT CEO NAMED

CN has named Claude Mongeau as its next CEO. He will replace Hunter Harrison at the helm of the North American railway when Hunter retires at the end of 2009. Mongeau joined CN in 1994 and has overseen the railways acquisition of many lines, including Illinois Central, Wisconsin Central, BC Rail and others that have consolidated to become CN North America wide. Mongeau is a Quebec native and has been CN’s Chief Financial Officer. He was named one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 by Financial Post Magazine in 1997, and also “Canada’s CFO” by an independent committee of prominent business leaders in 2005. He is known for his active hands on approach to business. (Van Sun) WCRA News, Page 33

DENVER’S SKI TRAIN TO ALGOMA CENTRAL

Colorado’s Ski Train has abruptly stopped running and has been sold to CN, who will redeploy it to the Algoma Central Railway. The Ski Train, which operated form Denver to Winter Park, Colorado, has former Amtrak F40PH-2’s for power and a passenger car fleet of ex CN / VIA

“Tempo” equipment. (Denver Post)

MOTIVE POWER NOTES

CN has retired most of the fleet of former BC Rail SDD40-2 locomotives—gone as of March 3 are 746, 747, 751, 759, 762, 763 and 765. (BL)…...CN’s GE #2657 suffered a fire in its main generator that spread to its trucks and electrical cabinet before the crew was able to extinguish it, unit now under repair. (J.M.)

NEW PARTNERHSIP WITH KCS?

Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. is discussing a new partnership with Kansas City Southern Railway Co. aimed at granting the railways access to each other's lines, the Financial Post reports. For CPR, this would create a more direct route to the Gulf of Mexico in exchange for greater access to Chicago along its own network. Management teams from both railways are set to discuss the possibility of a deal in Calgary, a source briefed on the talks said. Such an arrangement was made possible by CPR's recent acquisition of Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad Corp., which links the two railways in Kansas City, Mo. (M.C.M.)

TRAIN OBSERVATIONS

Rocky Mountaineer ran some pre season moves this spring. On April 16, a train 610 operated with locomotive 8015 and 17 cars to Kamloops, and then with locomotive 8012 and 6 cars to Jasper on April 17th.

RMV also ran a ‘second section” with locomotives 8017 / 8016 and 8 cars, departing Vancouver at 1410 hours on April 16, arriving Kamloops at 0020 hours April 17th. This move was reported to be for a film crew—however it is not the best hours for filming. (J.M.)

RMRX Locos 8019 / 8011 were in the motive power consist on CN train 41521 from Thornton yard, lead units were CN 8857 / 8859. (J.M.)

The Rocky Mountaineer Fraser Discovery train consist will “sit out” some runs this year at the West Coast Railway Association's yard at Squamish as the run’s frequency has been cut. WCRA News, Page 34

119 LRC COACHES TO BE REBUILT

VIA’s fleet of 98 LRC coaches is to be rebuilt by Industrial Rail Services in New Brunswick . The contract, worth $100 million,

will provide another 20 years of life to this fleet, which operates on the Toronto—Montreal corridor. Also in the contract is work to modify 21 Renaissance fleet cars for disabled persons access. (TOL)

RAILPOWER SOLD TO RJ CORMAN THE CANADIAN PRESS

BROSSARD, Que. - Locomotive manufacturer Railpower Technologies Corp. (TSX:P) said it has a deal to sell most of its assets to Kentucky-based R.J. Corman Railroad Group, LLC for an undisclosed sum. Railpower, which has been operating under court protection from its creditors since early February, said the deal includes all assets except cash, the land and property located in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que. and two road switching locomotives. The deal is set to close on May 20, pending court approval.

The offer won't provide any value to shareholders, Railpower said. It also said the deal is "in the best interests" of the company. Railpower said R.J. Corman plans to hire approximately 75 per cent of Railpower's "current" workforce. Last month, Railpower shut down its active operations and cut its already diminished workforce by half, to 39 employees.

HISTORIC INTERURBAN RETURNS TO BC

One of the most historic pieces of B. C. Electric Railway history, interurban car #1304, has been returned to British Columbia (see cover photo). Car #1304, once named the Duke of Connaught, was acquired by the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society from a US owner. The car was moved by truck from Brooks, Oregon to Surrey, BC where it arrived on April 25, 2009. The car was built by the BCER in New Westminster in 1912 and was outfitted in Royal livery to transport the then Governor General and family on a tour of the Fraser Valley. It thenwent on to run on the line between Vancouver and Chilliwack from 1912 until 1955, when it was retired and sent to a museum in Oregon. WCRA News, Page 35

CREDIT LINES ISSN 1204-072X Vol. 48 Issue 6

Editor Don Evans Distribution Jeremy Davy & Donna Simon

Contributors:

J.B. Jim Brown J.D. Jeremy Davy D.E. Dave Emmington D.F. Donna Fourchalk B.J. Bill Johnston J.M. Jim McPherson M.C.M. Craig McDowall K.P. Ken Perry S.S. Susan Steen

BL Branchline TOL Trains On Line

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

ON THE BACK COVER

Trevor Mills captured this view of Royal Hudson #2860 as she tackled the famous Kennedy Hill on Southern Railway of BC on Saturday, May 2, 2009. The grade reaches 2.8% at its steepest point, as the former BC Electric Railway line climbs from the Fraser River to the top of the hill in Surrey, BC. The sound from the classic steam engine was as great as this writer has ever heard her. She dug in and conquered the grade, with much skill exercised by engineer Mark Liggins and the steam crew, to the delight of our passengers and the many onlookers.

TRIVIA ANSWER

The Atchison & Topeka Railroad was founded in 1850, four years later Santa Fe was added, which became the famous road’s moniker. Published monthly by West Coast Railway Association ISSN 1204-072X PO Box 2790 Stn. Term., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2 Vol. 48 Issue 6

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