MARCH 2005 AGM FEB. 22 IN BURNABY

AUCTION MARCH 3

BCER PHOTOS DONATED

WCRA News, Page 2 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING NOTICE

The Annual General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at the Rainbow Creek station, Willingdon at Penzance in Burnaby, starting at 1930 hours. The membership will be asked to approve the integration of the 374 Station Society into WCRA, the 2004 Financial Statements, the 2005 Budget, an increase in board size to 16, and to approve the slate of Directors for 2005. The AGM will be followed by the regular February General Meeting.

Entertainment will be a short video of the Royal Hudson by Mitchell Kezin, entitled “Steam”.

ON THE COVER

BC Electric Railway PCC car #415 stops en route Stanley Park, operating the #10 Victoria line in Vancouver in the 1940’s, The photographer is Tom DesNoyers of Illinois. This is just one of a collection of BC Electric photos donated to our archives by the Minnesota Transportation Museum recently. See page 8 for more details.

MARCH CALENDAR

• West Coast Railway Heritage Park Open daily 1000 through 1600k • Saturday, February 26—Celebrate Heritage Week with tea at the Brightbill Heritage House, call 604-898-9336 for reservations (recommended) - cost $5.50 per person. • Thursday, March 3—Rotary / WCRA Auction, 1800 hours, Italian Cultural Centre • Saturday, March 12—Newsletter deadline for the April issue of WCRA News • Sunday, March 13—Western Rails 2005, Cameron Rec. Centre in Burnaby, 0900—1600 • Thursday, March 17—Tours Committee meeting—contact Bernie at 604-325-0923 for location. • Sunday, March 27—5th annual Easter Scavenger Hunt at the Heritage Park—1200 to 1500 hours, admission by donation, Easter treats. • Tuesday, March 29—WCRA General Meeting, 1930 hours, Rainbow Creek Station in Burnaby.

The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of British Columbia 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 Canadian charity. Individual membership in the WCRA is $50.00 per year, family membership is $60.00. Other membership categories are: - Junior Member (age 16 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., Vancouver, B.C., V6B 3X2. WCRA News, Page 3 EDITORIAL

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING—AN IMPORTANT ONE TO ATTEND

The Annual General Meeting of the West Coast Railway Association is slated for Tuesday, February 22 at Rainbow Creek Station. I hope that as many members as possible will be able to attend. After all, it is your association!

The Annual General Meeting of any society is always an important date, as it is the time when the membership, the true roots of the organization, give their approval (or disapproval) to the leadership in their goals and direction for the coming year. As every year, the membership's approval is required for the financial statements from the previous year, and various people will comment on what was and wasn’t achieved. Then there is the presentation and approval of the budget for the coming year—a chance for all to hear what our plans are and how they will be carried out. Members will also be asked to approve the slate of directors for the 2005 board.

There is a little extra this year, as we will seek membership approval to integrate the 374 Station Society into WCRA, which will allow us to begin operating the 374 Pavilion in Vancouver later this year. We believe this to be a great opportunity for more Vancouver presence for WCRA, as well as for us to contribute more directly to the preservation of the most historic locomotive in these parts—CPR #374, the little 4-4-0 that pulled the first train into Vancouver in May of 1887. As part of that package, we will seek approval to increase the board of directors by one seat to a total of 16.

2005 is shaping up to be our most exciting year ever. The Royal Hudson repairs will get underway with our project team, the business car Alberta #8 restoration is also underway, we plan to restore RDC-1 BC-33 to service, and there are a host of other major events and projects planned.

So, come to the Annual General Meeting and learn what is coming up, and be a part of helping us move forward with the next year.

OFF AGAIN FOR A WHILE

Travel has taken a bit of a respite through December and January, but it is not staying that way. Another busy year is coming up—with a trip to Boston and back to Northern Ireland in February that will see me away for 2 1/2 weeks. We’ll see what rails we can discover on this one, and if they are good, there may be another travel story in the making.

Don WCRA News, Page 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS

FROM THE JANUARY GENERAL MEETING

Chair Colin Dathan called meeting to order with 45 members and guests present: • Don Evans gave the Executive Director’s report and answered questions • Jim Brown gave the Operations report, noting the weather challenges at the Heritage Park in January and the guest visit total of 45,503. He also advised that the finances were in good shape and financial statements / budget were being prepared for the Annual General Meeting • Colin Dathan appealed for members to submit their volunteer hours • Paul Roy noted that the mini rail gang was finished with Christmas and now starting to get ready for Thomas in June • Jeremy Davy noted a slight membership increase in recent months • Bernie Tully advised members of the upcoming Mount Pleasant model RR show February 13, and Western Rails in March • Gordon Hall noted the Great Northwest Railroad Show, to be held in Monroe, WA • Ron Anstey gave the collection report, noting the donation of the Peter Cox Archive and updating members on the progress on the Car #8 Alberta, Royal Hudson, and other projects underway • Bill Johnston gave the tours report, noting good pickup on the Spirit of Washington tour and strong booking start on the Fraser-Skeena tour to Prince Rupert in May. • Don Evans encouraged everyone to attend the Annual General Meeting February 22 • Eric Anderson donated $19.55 in Canadian Tire money for the Heritage Park • Ryan Cruickshank and Bill Marchant gave their Trackside Reports • Tom Pruden updated us on the recovery progress of his dad Walter following his heart bypass surgery • Visitors were welcomed • A 50/50 raffle was won by Harold Holtby (who donated the proceeds to the Royal Hudson Fund) • Don Evans presented a slide show of travels to Istanbul Turkey, Cologne Germany, and the 2004 ARM Conference in Utah and Nevada.

WCRA TRIVIA # 193 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank

Who were the original singers of the following sings?…… a) Take the “A” Train b) Last Train to Clarksville c) This Train is Bound for Glory d) Midnight Special e) Choo Choo Ch’boogie f) The Locomotion (for answer, see Credit Lines) YOU KNOW YOU’RE A RAILFAN WHEN……. ……….your interpretation of a red light over green turn arrow is “diverging route clear”

WCRA News, Page 5 NEW MEMBERS

The WCRA welcomes new members: C. Afelskie-Borley & family of Whistler, Patrick Hosford of Victoria, Nimejit Thandi & family of Squamish, Barrie Wright & family of Garibaldi Highlands, and new Life Members William Davies of Bideford, Devon, UK and Dave Lane & Family of Garibaldi Highlands. (J.D.)

Remember to watch the renewal date on the mailing label of your newsletter—if it says 1/31/05 your membership has now expired, and those saying 11/30/04 or earlier are receiving their last issue of WCRA News. Please renew today and continue your support. Thanks.

MEMBER NEWS

Our sympathies are extended to Jeremy Davy and Donna Simon on the passing on of their stepson way down in Ecuador. Our thoughts and best wishes are with you in this difficult time.

On the brighter side, congratulations to member Henry Ewert on being selected the winner of the CRHA Lifetime Achievement Award for 2004. The award is in recognition of Henry’s contribution in recording and sharing Canadian railway history, specifically the heritage of the BC Electric Railway.

Our best wishes also go out to Walter Pruden as he recovers from a double—triple bypass. Walter is still in Royal Columbian Hospital as we note this in late January, but he has a room overlooking the tracks and reports seeing lots of interesting action going by—at least he has something to watch!.

Former WCRA member and long time railroader Gordon Ritchie passed away in Vancouver on January 27, 2005. Gordon joined the Pacific Great Eastern Railway in 1954 and retired as a senior vice president of successor BC Rail in 1987. A celebration of Gordon’s life was held February 3 at Ryerson United Church .

VOLUNTEER HOURS

This is the last call to submit your volunteer hours for 2004. This year has to be a record year, we would expect, as we have had incredible support as well as major events such as Day Out With Thomas and Christmas events in both Vancouver and Squamish.

With a million dollar fundraising goal for 2005, we need your volunteer help. Volunteer hours count as matching contributions for many grants that we apply for, and also add to our overall credibility in the not for profit field. Any activity at or on behalf of the WCRA counts, including meetings—the only ones that do not count are the regular WCRA General WCRA News WCRA News, Page 6

Meetings. So, if you have been a tour guide on a WCRT tour, if you have attended committee meetings, if you have volunteered at the Heritage Park in any capacity etc. we need to know!

We want to count you in for 2004. Please send your volunteer hours to Colin Dathan at [email protected], bring them to a meeting, send them in the mail, or call Colin at 604-298- 3734. Please add your hours to the tally, no matter how few or how many. Every hour contributed makes a difference—it is all of you who make the WCRA what it is today. (C.D.)

WESTERN RAILS 2005, SUNDAY MARCH 13

Canada’s largest Railroadiana Show, Western Rails, is having its 23rd Annual Show Sunday March 13th 2004. The show now operated under the umbrella of the WCRA, continues to be managed by the long standing Western Rails Committee currently under the Chairmanship of Jeremy Davy.

As it has for the past many years, the show will be at the Cameron Rec. Centre in Burnaby, and will feature some 200 tables of exhibitors and sellers. The WCRA will have an exhibit. In addition the tremendously popular West Coast Mini Rail will once again a featured attraction. Admission is Adult $3, Student or Senior $2 and a Family $6. The hours will be 0900 to 1600 hrs. Mark the show, March 13th, on your Calendar now.

Volunteers are needed both to assist with the set-up, operation and take down of the Show (Mar 12 & 13) as well as staffing the WCRA Booth. To help with the show Saturday &/or Sunday call Jeremy at 604.540.4483 (Western Rails). If you would like to help out at the WCRA booth let Bernie know at 604.325.0923.

Both Bernie and Jeremy will have a volunteer sign up sheet at the Feb 22nd AGM/General Meeting. (J.D.)

NEW BCR BOOK BY TIM HORTON

Newly released from the British Railway Modelers of North America (BRMNA) in Calgary is The British Columbia Railway (Volume Three) by Tim Horton. Covering the last 15 years of the railway to its acquisition by CN in 2004, the book features high quality photographs with comprehensive text, as in all the BRMNA publications. There are several mentions of the West Coast Railway Association and page 28 has a great shot of our FP7A #4069 hauling the Hudson Excursion train along Howe Sound in 2000. More info at www.brmna.com

374 STATION SOCIETY UPDATE

Thanks to Howie Biehl for updating your editor on more details regarding the 374 Station Society and the Pavilion that currently houses historic locomotive #374. As you will recall WCRA News, Page 7 from last month’s newsletter, the membership will be asked to approve the integration of the 374 Station Society into the West Coast Railway Association at the WCRA’s Annual General Meeting scheduled for February 22.

As most of you know, CPR #374 pulled the first passenger train into Vancouver on May 23, 1887. This event was key in the Province of British Columbia joining the confederation of Canada, and fulfilled the promise of the transcontinental railway. Engine 374 continued in CPR service until retirement in 1945. It was then donated to the City of Vancouver.

#374 then went on display in Vancouver’s Kitsilano Park, where it was played on by many of Vancouver's children for years - including your editor! In 1983, the locomotive was in pretty rough shape, and Expo 86 was coming up. The historic engine just had to be displayed there, so she was moved to a site on Granville Island where members of the West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) and the Canadian Railway Historical Association (CRHA) worked on her restoration. The work was funded by the Heritage Brick Program and other fundraising sources, and she was put on display on the turntable in front of the Roundhouse for Expo.

After Expo she was stored in the roundhouse, but the community centre development threatened this as a permanent home. Along came the Vancouver Central Lions Club with their 75th anniversary project—to create a permanent home for Historic 374. Doug Starink was the project chairman. The 374 Station Society was formed as a charitable organization, and the Lions Club raised funds which resulted in the construction of the 374 Pavilion that we have today. The Pavilion was dedicated August 22, 1997 and is now 374’s home, adjoining the Roundhouse Community Centre.

Today, the locomotive remains a City of Vancouver artifact, the Pavilion itself is part of the Roundhouse Community Centre complex and is owned by the Vancouver Park Board, and the pavilion operation as a heritage attraction display is operated by the 374 Station Society.

It is this latter role that will integrate into the WCRA. The 374 Station Society currently has nine members, with four of them—Howie Biehl, Walter Pruden, Jan Seckel and Bernie Tully are also current WCRA members. Jack Volrich, a former Mayor of the City of Vancouver, is the Society’s Chairman. With membership approval on February 22, the WCRA will gain five new members and will assume operation of the 374 Pavilion for the public on July 1, 2005 with Matt Christianson as our Manager—374 Pavilion and Administration. WCRA intends that the 374 Pavilion operation change very little—it will remain a free admission attraction and be staffed by volunteers.

THANKS

• To Joan Gibbs for the donation of hard cover railway books from Dave Gibbs collection • To Eric Anderson for his continuing donations of Canadian Tire money WCRA News, Page 8 COLLECTIONS

B.C. ELECTRIC PHOTOS DONATED

Thanks to the Minnesota Transportation Museum for sending a collection of black & white photos of BC Electric Railway in both Vancouver and Victoria our way. The museum was working to focus its collection on its own mandate and area, and was looking to place some of their miscellaneous photo collections in museums that were of the area represented. The photos in this collection were shot by various US photographers, and while not all are dated, most appear to be from the 1940’s

BCER cars and equipment in the photos are: • Victoria streetcars 225, 252, 401, 404 • Vancouver streetcars 83, 90,152, 220, 242, 297, 315, 374, 390, 705, 714 • Vancouver PCC’s 400, 412, 415 (cover photo), 419 • Interurbans 1004, 1009, 1203, 1225, 1235, 1236, 1234, 1301, 1309, 1312, 1313, 1319, 1400, 1402, 1600, 1706 • Freight Motors 962, 990 and Line car L 2

Above, BC Electric car #242 on the #5 Robson run—does the Roselawn Funeral Home give away the location of this shot? (photo by Robert Hanft, undated)

We’ll have to invoke the aid of Henry Ewert to help identify locations and other details that are missing from most of the photos. Thanks to MTM and Aaron Isaacs for thinking of us and our archives to house these photos. WCRA News, Page 9 SLIDES DONATED

A book with several pages of colour slides of railway subjects has been donated to the West Coast Railway Association by the Canadian Museum of Flight. The Langley based museum was cleaning out it’s archives and discovered the railway subjects. Thanks to the museum and Executive Director Sandy Siderhoff for sending these our way.

BUSINESS CAR ALBERTA PROJECT MOVING ALONG

The project to restore the CPR business car #8 Alberta into a working first class car for the excursion train and for private use, is moving along well. The work is being done in the Carshop at the Heritage Park in Squamish. Randy Shimmell is the lead hand on the project, with assistance from Tomo’o Oshikawa and volunteers Kevin Smith and Randy Lucas.

The car was first gutted of the walls and interior items that were added by the restaurant overtop of the original interior mahogany (left) that remains in the car from the 1920’s. Our plan calls for the repair and restoration of as much of the original wood as is possible. Many panels are still in place with their inlay intact, but new wood will be required for several areas of the car. (below). Photos by Randy Shimmell)

It has been a big project already disassembling the car and discovering some of the modifications that were made (some concrete floor sections, for example) while the car was a restaurant in Gastown. The disassembly has uncovered some of the major jobs to be done in the rebuild of the car in including some steel floor sections to be replaced where rust has set in. The work plan is progressing under the guidance of Collections Director Ron Anstey. WCRA News, Page 10 SNUG INSIDE THE FORMER BCR SHOPS

Covered storage for our collection remains a challenge, but things took a step forward in January when the WCRA leased the former BC Rail Motive Power Shop #1 at Squamish. Inside went a number of our operating heritage rolling stock, including FP7A #4069, power car 9622 Macdonald Creek, three coaches, open car 598 Henry Pickering, and RDC-3 BC 33. In this photo by Tomo’o Oshikawa, we see the Budd car and the open car snug and dry.

WORK KEEPS PROGRESSING ON S-3 #6503

Work continues steadily on the full restoration of our ex-CPR S3 #6503. Work schedules have prevented the team from getting up to the Park as a group, but team members are carrying on with individual projects. Last November Greg Robertshaw and Richard Courage completed the installation of a battery-charging receptacle on the locomotive. This is essential in an operating environment such as ours, in which a unit sits shut down much of the time but must continue to be available as required. The batteries are holding their charge well, however, despite the unit’s having been shut down for some time now.

As of December 21, most of the cab glazing had been replaced, with exception of the left- hand side window, which is awaiting further body work.

Presently the crew is working repairing and reinstalling the radiator shutters. The shutter control mechanism has been disconnected for some time, and we have had to fabricate some new parts to make the shutters operable. Thanks go to Martin Jergens of Burrard WCRA News, Page 11

Mechanical, who has donated parts and labour for this phase of the project. Meanwhile, Richard Courage has been painstakingly taking apart the shutter assemblies, removing every slat, cleaning and priming everything, and then reassembling the works. At the time of writing, one of the shutter assemblies is ready to be put back together.

Visitors to the Park over the next few months should notice some changes to the locomotive’s appearance as we begin to put things back together and repair damaged body work in preparation for painting. (M.B.)

ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION & FUND

ROYAL HUDSON IN THE PROVINCE

The Royal Hudson and plans to bring her back to steam were featured in a full page story in The Province newspaper’s January 9, 2005 edition. A great photo of member Henry Reimer in his best conductor’s garb centred the article. Thanks to Henry for coming up to do the interview and pose for the photographer, and to Province reporter Damian Inwood and photographer Jason Payne for a great article and photos.

ROYAL HUDSON FUNDRAISERS

Here’s a letter we received….. Dear Conductors:

I saw the story on the news about the restoration of the Royal Hudson. I saw that it could be running if you received enough money to fix it.

Ever since I was just a small boy I have liked trains. I used to watch the Royal Hudson when I was playing at the park in West Vancouver. I read a lot of books about trains and I like building my Lego electric train. My dream one day is to go on the Royal Hudson. It looks like it would be a lot of fun.

I hope you get enough money for the Royal Hudson. I collected some money by phoning around. I phoned my grandparents and my great grandparents and asked them to donate. I also gave some of my allowance. I have collected $45 which is enclosed.

Simon Finnie (6 years old) , West Vancouver

Our thanks also to member Gordon Hall for his work helping raise funds for the Royal Hudson—he has supplied the Heritage Park with DVD”s of the Hudson and also produced a colour calendar. These are available from the Heritage Park gift shop. WCRA News, Page 12

ROYAL HUDSON 2860 HITS MUD SLIDE IN BURNABY (IN 1956!)

One never knows what will turn up as the history of our Royal Hudson #2860 continues to be researched and grows with new stories like the on presented here. Thanks to Tim Horton for bringing the following article to our attention:

VANCOUVER SUN—September 26, 1956

A Canadian Pacific Railway train plowed through a 40 foot long mudslide in Burnaby Tuesday night (September 25, 1956). The locomotive (#2860) was derailed after the train was broken in two by a huge stump that tangled in the car wheels. None of the crew members or the dozen passengers aboard were injured.

The slide occurred at Barnet, about nine miles east of Vancouver, about 9 PM. The engine of the derailed train straddled both CPR tracks, delaying the departure of the transcontinental passenger trains The Dominion and The Canadian by several hours. The derailed train was en route to Montreal. One track was cleared to allow the fast passenger trains to leave for Eastern Canada. Work crews are repairing the other track and righting the derailed locomotive (it did not roll over) today.

Seconds before the train hit the mudslide, engineer Cyril Hawkins of Vancouver told his fireman Hardy Weber of Burnaby to “start praying”. CPR officials said it was a miracle that the engine and part of the 14 car freight and passenger train did not overturn and plunge into Burrard Inlet. The mound of mud, rocks and stumps was washed down from above onto the tracks by heavy rains, at a location just east of the Shell refinery. Most of the debris was from construction of the Barnet Highway.

Said engineer Hawkins, “I gripped the throttle and told my fireman to start praying. It’s hard to say what it felt like when we hit the slide. I guess the big stump we hit jammed between two of the freight cars. The coupling broke and we took off with four box cars still hooked on.”

The engine traveled another 150 yards, Fireman Weber said, before the heavy branches, stumps and mud jammed under the engine and “practically lifted it off the tracks. It continued bumping and swaying along the ties. Cyril and I looked at each other and tried to say “jump” because we were sure it was going to turn over. But we couldn’t decide which side to jump out or whether it would be safer to stay in the cab. So we both stayed, and it was lucky because we would have been cut to pieces on the rocks”.

The Canadian, due to leave here at 9:00PM, finally departed at 3:00AM today and The Dominion left at 3:40AM—over seven hours late.

WCRA News, Page 13

The photo that goes with the article (poor photocopy only, the original photo has long since been disposed of) shows #2860 with her pilot all bent into the wheels, covered in rocks and mud, and the piping around her smokebox all messed up. A welder is at work cutting away front end pieces to free the wheels. For some reason, though, even with the dieselization, she was repaired and is reported to have returned to service on the Prairies for two more years. September 25, 1956 appears, however, to be her last trip from Vancouver in CPR service.

ROYAL HUDSON PRESERVATION FUND

Our Royal Hudson Preservation Fund continues to grow, thanks to a stream of continuing donations. We acknowledge our monthly contributors Dave Walker and Richard Tubbessing, Mountain Retreat Hotel & Suites $128.60, Simon Finnie $45, Mel Bishop $100, Ken Moir $50, Jack Wallace $500, Noel Holley $125 and Harold Holtby from the General meeting draw $51 plus the donations from our Annual Direct Mail Campaign which are at $20,363 bringing our total to $70,555 raised to date. Remember, you can make a donation on line through www.wcra.org . Then add in the Western Economic Diversification Canada grant and our total leaps forward to $180,555.

FUNDRAISING

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT – JANUARY 2005

January was an exceptionally busy month as we worked hard to get several proposals and asks out before the travel schedule picks up again in February.

Funding Asks Made • Further work on Roundhouse proposal and grant application updates, helped developed budget and construction estimates working with professional firms • Auction Committee work, Day Out With Thomas work • Worked with Jim Watson and Matt on several foundation asks which will be going out through February

Major Funding Received • $4,191 for Royal Hudson • $6,793 direct mail returns for Royal Hudson • On Track Management (Jim Watson) for Royal Hudson $1,531 • $75 In Memoriam Chris Moodie • $20,000 new debentures Month Total $32,590 Year to Date Total $191,436 (Year end objective $1,000,000) WCRA News, Page 14 Other Significant Activities • Prepared third report to WD on Royal Hudson, revised cash flows due slow progress on materials orders, submitted to WD Canada. • Much work on Roundhouse proposal, meetings and documentation assembly and submission • Wrote new proposal package for possible acquisition of Motive Power Shops complex in Squamish as a new Museum of Railroad Technology • Drafted Day Out With Thomas 2005 Marketing Plan and Flyer text

ROTARY / WCRA CENTENNIAL AUCTION MARCH 3, 2005

Thursday, March 3, 2005 is a date for your calendars as we join with the Rotary Club of Vancouver once again for a giant auction. The event will mark the Centennial of Rotary as an organization, and will be held at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver. WCRA’s share of the proceeds will go to the restoration of the Royal Hudson.

We didn’t have an event like this last year, so we are very pleased that it is back for 2005. WCRA needs to pull out all the stops to support the event so we continue to have these successful fundraisers in the future. There will be lots of fun, fine food, and great auction items for purchase.

Price is $100 per couple ($50 single) and includes full dinner with wine as well as souvenir etched wine glasses. Details are now posted on www.wcra.org or call Matt at the office, 604- 681-4403. Tickets are now available—come out for a great evening of food and fun.

WEST COAST RAIL TOURS

2005 TOURS PROGRAM

West Coast Rail Tours is now well into our 2005 program of rail tours. Check out the pages that follow in the newsletter for some great opportunities to ride the rails. There are some new tours this year, as well as some repeats of old favourites, something for everyone and every budget. New this month—day segments with CPR #2816 steam.

This year’s signature tours will be two repeats of last year’s North Country Tour , featuring WCRA’s F units and open car. These will operate in both the north direction (May) and the south direction (October) as the North Coast Explorer cruise ship train positions to and from its summer base in Prince Rupert. These will be called the Fraser-Skeena Heritage Railtour this year. Dates are set for a May 15, 2005 departure north and an October 9, 2005 departure south from Prince Rupert. Mark the dates on your calendars now. Also note that there are shorter segment tours that also use this train as part of their itineraries. WCRA News, Page 15

Remember that West Coast Rail Tours can book all your travel plans—just call us, we can help with a winter sun cruise or flight, as well as Rocky Mountaineer’s winter trains and Amtrak / VIA Rail Canada year round. Give us a call. (B.J.)

FRASER-SKEENA HERITAGE TRAIN RAILTOURS FOR 2005

Make you plans now to join us for the greatest tour of the last few years, our Fraser-Skeena Railtours in 2005. Following the successful operation of the tour in September from Prince Rupert to Squamish, we are set to do the trip in both directions for next year. These tours accomplish the ferry moves of the North Coast Explorer consist from the Lower Mainland up to Prince Rupert for the cruise season and then returns it at season end.

Consist will be WCRA’s FP7A units, GCRC coaches and WCRA’s open observation car 598 Henry Pickering. Read the coverage of this year’s trip in the November 2004 News or on our website www.wcra.org and you know you will have to be aboard.

• Sunday, May 15—Start from Vancouver up the Sea to Sky to Squamish for a tour of the West Coast Railway Heritage Park and lunch. Board the train for the spectacular run up the Cheakamus Canyon to Whistler. • Monday, May 16—Depart Whistler for the great ride through the coast mountains and along the lakes into Lillooet, then the spectacular climb up the Fraser canyon walls to 100 Mile House in the Cariboo. • Tuesday, May 17—follow the former BC Rail route to the Central British Columbia city of Prince George. Enjoy the Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum. • Wednesday, May 18—Head west on CN’s northern BC line through the Bulkley Valley to the mountain setting of Smithers. • Thursday, May 19—the tour continues through the Northern scenery along the Skeena River through Terrace and into Prince Rupert • Friday, May 20—return to Vancouver via a number of options that include air, Inland Passage ferry / Vancouver Island rail etc.

Options from Prince Rupert back to Vancouver include everything from direct flights to an Inside Passage cruise to Vancouver Island, then an island trip by motorcoach and VIA’s Malahat day liner—call us for details and for a detailed brochure on the tour.

The tour runs again in October and follows a similar itinerary but with the train southbound, starting with arrival in Prince Rupert on Sunday, October 9 then departing Prince Rupert on October 10, arriving back to Vancouver on Friday, October 14th.

Prices: $1,492 (double occupancy, single supplement $408). GST and return option pricing additional. Includes transportation, hotels, transfers and most meals. WCRA News, Page 16

SHORTER OPTIONS USING THE FRASER– SKEENA HERITAGE TRAIN

SEA-to-SKY HERITAGE RAILTOUR Sunday, May 15th, 2005 Daytrip

West Coast Rail Tour's Special Train to Whistler, travelling with the Fraser-Skeena tour on its first day itinerary with F units, comfortable coaches and open car.

We arrange pickup at your hotel or designated pickup points in the Greater Vancouver area and transfer you by motorcoach to our West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish for lunch and a tour. After lunch we board our private train and depart via spectacular Cheakamus Canyon for Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. We arrive in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this world-famous Alpine village. Your motorcoach service departs from the Village bus loop at 6:30 PM and returns you to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station at 9:15 PM. Return transportation is included in the total fare. Prices: Starting with pick up in the Vancouver area and ending back in Vancouver at Pacific Central Station (or Greyhound stops en route). $158 (US$139).

MOUNTAIN LAKES & FRASER CANYON HERITAGE RAILTOUR Sunday, May 15th, 2005 - Two days

West Coast Rail Tour's Special Excursion to the Fraser River at Lillooet, Returning Home via its Spectacular Fraser Canyon, travels with the Fraser-Skeena heritage train to Lillooet. • Day 1. Sunday, May 15th We arrange pickup at your hotel or designated pickup points in the Greater Vancouver area and transfer you by motorcoach to our Railway Heritage Park in Squamish for lunch and a tour. After lunch we board our private train and depart via spectacular Cheakamus Canyon for Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. We will arrive in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this world-famous Alpine village and enjoy one of its many fine restaurants of your choice. • Day 2. Monday, May 16th Departing Whistler in our private train we plunge through the coastal mountains, skirt isolated Seton and Anderson Lakes and stop in Lillooet. We have lunch here and are transferred by a local bus high along the banks of the Fraser to the village of Lytton where we visit the local museum and vintage caboose. Late afternoon we board our motorcoach service for Vancouver via the Fraser Canyon. Connections are also available for residents on the north side of the Fraser River from Mission to Coquitlam. Arrival in Vancouver is at 9:00 PM after a brief rest stop in Chilliwack.

Prices: (Not including GST) starting with pick up in the Vancouver area and ending back in Vancouver at Pacific Central Station (or Greyhound stops en route). Shared hotel room: $429 (US$369). Single Supplement $51 (US$41)

WCRA News, Page 17

MOUNTAIN LAKES, CANYONS, & CARIBOO HERITAGE RAILTOUR Sunday, May 15th, 2005 - Three Days

West Coast Rail Tour's Special Excursion to Williams Lake, a rare opportunity to explore central British Columbia by passenger train, all of it on the former BC Rail line from Vancouver to Williams Lake.

• Day 1. Sunday, May 15th We arrange pickups at your hotel or home in the Greater Vancouver area and transfer you by motorcoach to our Railway Heritage Park in Squamish for lunch and a tour. After lunch we board our private train and depart via spectacular Cheakamus Canyon for Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. We will arrive in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this world-famous Alpine village and enjoy one of its many fine restaurants of your choice. • Day 2. Monday, May 16th Departing Whistler 8:00 AM in our private train we plunge through the coastal mountains, skirt isolated Seton and Anderson Lakes and pause for a stop in Lillooet. Leaving Lillooet we cross the Fraser River and climb almost 2000’ along the walls of its canyon to the Cariboo Plateau. We finish the day in the heart of the Cariboo ranching region at 100 Mile House. • Day 3. Tuesday, May 17th We leave 100 Mile House at 8:00 AM and snake our way through the southern Cariboo arriving at Williams Lake at about 10:30 AM. We get off the train here and are transferred to the Williams Lake bus depot for lunch on your own. At 12:30 PM we board a scheduled Greyhound service for Vancouver via the Fraser Canyon. Connections are available for residents on the north side of the Fraser from Mission to Coquitlam as well. Arrival in Vancouver is at 9:00 PM with a rest stop in Chilliwack.

Prices: (Not including GST) starting with pick up in Vancouver area and ending back in Vancouver at Pacific Central Station (or Greyhound stops enroute), based shared hotel rooms. $639 (US$548). Single room supplement $81, (US$69).

EX-BC RAIL HERITAGE RAILTOUR Sunday, May 15th, 2005 - Four Days

West Coast Rail Tour's “Rare Mileage” event to Prince George. This is a rare opportunity to explore central British Columbia by passenger train, all of it on the former BC Rail line from Vancouver to Prince George • Day 1. Sunday, May 15th We arrange pickups at your hotel or home in the Greater Vancouver area and transfer you by motorcoach to our Railway Heritage Park in Squamish for lunch and a tour. After lunch we board our private train and depart via spectacular Cheakamus Canyon for Whistler, home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. We will arrive in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere of this world-famous Alpine village and enjoy one of its many fine restaurants of your choice. • Day 2. Monday, May 16th Departing Whistler 8:00 AM on our private train we plunge through the coastal mountains, skirt isolated Seton and Anderson Lakes and pause for a WCRA News, Page 18

• stop in Lillooet. Leaving Lillooet we cross the Fraser and climb almost 2000’ along the walls of its canyon to the Cariboo Plateau. We finish the day in the heart of the Cariboo ranching region at 100 Mile House. • Day 3. Tuesday, May 17th We leave 100 Mile House at 8:00 AM and stop for a brief visit at the excellent Quesnel Museum. We arrive in Prince George mid afternoon and tour the popular Prince George Railway and Forestry Museum to round out the day. Dinner is your choice. • Day 4. Wednesday, May 18th We leave Prince George by any of the options shown below (page 17) after a restful night in a comfortable hotel

Prices: (Not including GST) starting with pick up in Vancouver area and ending at Prince George hotel Wednesday morning, May 18th, based shared hotel rooms. $739 (US$629). Single room supplement $149, (US$129). Prices include transport, transfers, hotel, most meals Returning from Prince George - Options: Fares start at $170 taxes included for air, and are subject to: option chosen; booking date, (air); 60+ Senior (VIA Rail); number of extra hotel nights required; and other factors. Phone for details. • Air Canada from Prince George Airport May 18th at 9:30 AM or 12:20 PM • WestJet Airlines from Prince George May 18th at 7:20 AM or 10:25 AM • VIA RAIL Canada’s “Skeena train” to Jasper departing Prince George Thursday, 19th staying 2 nights in Jasper and arriving in Vancouver off “The Canadian” Sunday, May 22nd. Sleeping accommodation and meal package is available on “The Canadian”. • Greyhound Coach Lines Depart Prince George at 8:45 AM for Vancouver. Connections are also available for residents on the north side of the Fraser from Mission to Coquitlam. Arrival in Vancouver is at 9:00 PM with a rest stop in Chilliwack. (Fare about $110).

Malahat Circle Trip (RVI) Daily except Saturday - throughout the year

Depart from Pacific Central Station at a time of your choosing aboard Pacific Coach Lines scheduled service to Victoria. We supply vouchers and taxi fare to take you the Best Western Carlton Plaza Hotel. You are on your own for dinner. We supply breakfast in the adjoining restaurant served at 7:00 am. At 7:45 am we ask you to check out and walk the three blocks west to the VIA Rail station. Board the train for an 8:15 am departure to Qualicum Beach where it arrives at about noon. Enjoy this quaint town with its interesting beaches and restaurants. After lunch (on your own) we ask you to board the train at 2:30 pm and get off at Nanaimo at 3:45 pm. A waiting 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. Arrive at Pacific Central Station at 7:15 pm. $224; Children 2-11 $186; BC Seniors (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays only) $186. (Otherwise $224) Single supplement $71 WCRA News, Page 19

WHITE PASS & YUKON ROUTE RAILROAD STEAM EXCURSION Weekly, on Thursdays - June to August - Four Day Trip This excursion package is custom designed for rail enthusiasts and those who wish to experience the excitement of both diesel and steam-hauled passenger service on “The Scenic Railroad of the World”. We make all arrangements for you and supply tickets and vouchers as needed. Departures are on Thursdays, June 2nd through to August 25th, from Vancouver BC (or other destinations if desired) to Whitehorse, Yukon where we spend an afternoon visiting the museums and historic sites in this Territorial Capital. We stay in a high quality downtown hotel. We have Friday morning free and after lunch, walk to the old WP&YR depot where we board our motorcoach for the transfer to Fraser BC. Here we board the diesel-hauled excursion train over the White Pass summit and down to Skagway. Our destination hotel is a short walk from the depot. On Saturday morning we leave our baggage in the hotel and take our cameras to the depot for an 8:00 AM departure behind steam locomotive #73. This is an 8½-hour return trip to remote Lake Bennett, the end of the Chilkoot Trail. During the 2-hour layover, we may participate in a walking tour with a Park Historian, explore the area’s artefacts and tour the historic displays in the 1903 station. Lunch and run-bys are included. On Sunday we ascend the White Pass on the Klondike Highway through completely different terrain for Whitehorse airport and our afternoon return to Vancouver.

Prices: $1195 based shared accommodation, Single Supplement $215. Fares are subject to availability of early booking airline discounts. Phone 604-524-1011 for more details. PORTLAND, OREGON + LEWIS & CLARK TRAIN to ASTORIA Thursdays through Sundays - Three Days We leave by motorcoach from Vancouver’s Pacific Central station at 8:45 AM for Seattle’s King Street station where we join Amtrak Cascades train 507 for Portland Oregon. Pickups are available in Richmond and Surrey. We arrive in Portland at 5:15 PM and check into a good hotel downtown. The next morning we transfer to Portland’s Union Station for a departure on the Lewis & Clark Explorer Train for Astoria. This train consists of the “Budd” RDC cars formerly used on the BC Rail line to Lillooet and Prince George. This scenic route follows the Columbia River down to its mouth arriving about noon. We have the afternoon free in this interesting historic seaside town and even ride the historic trolley car. We return to Portland at 4:45 PM arriving back at out hotel at about 9:30 PM. The next morning we depart Portland’s station at 8:45 AM on Amtrak Cascades #500 for Seattle where our transfer bus takes us back to Vancouver arriving at 5:00 PM. If you wish to spend the day in Portland you may take the 4:05 PM train, which with transfers gets into Vancouver at about midnight. You may also want to stay an extra night in Portland, which we can also arrange. This tour runs from end of May to end of September. Phone 1-800-722-1233 for fares and more details. WCRA News, Page 20 SEATTLE - ON THE SPIRIT OF WASHINGTON DINNER TRAIN AND AMTRAK CASCADES Saturday, April 16th, 2005 Daytrip

We depart Vancouver by motorcoach with pickups in Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey. On arrival in Renton, we board the "Spirit of Washington" Dinner train for a noon departure in the scenic dome car. A gourmet lunch is served while the train skirts Lake Washington's scenic eastern shoreline, en route to Woodinville. On arrival, the Columbia Winery offers a tour and tasting before the train departs for its return trip when coffee and dessert are served. From Renton, our coach takes us to Seattle for a trolley ride to King St. Station where we board the Amtrak "Cascades" train. This modern innovative European-style train leaves Seattle for Bellingham, skirting Puget Sound and affords stunning views of the Olympic Peninsula and the ocean. Snacks (your cost) are available in the “Bistro Bar” car. From Bellingham, our coach returns us to Vancouver. All other tour and train expenses included. As this trip usually sells out we suggest you book early. Prices: $180 for all; scenic dome car seating with a great 360° view.

VANCOUVER ISLAND’S WEST COAST via “Lady Rose” plus PORT ALBERNI Tuesday, June 28, 2005 Four or Five Days STEAM We leave Pacific Central Station by motorcoach with pickups in the West End and West Vancouver, and then sail by BC Ferries to Nanaimo. On the Island we drive to Port Alberni and enjoy a dinner at a seaside restaurant. On Wednesday we enjoy a half-day cruise on board the coastal supply vessel, Lady Rose (or Frances Barkley) via Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound to the West Coast village of Ucluelet. Our motorcoach meets us and transfers us to our accommodation in Tofino. On Thursday we tour in Pacific Rim National Park and return to Port Alberni for the evening. On Friday morning (Canada Day) we board the Historic Steam Train, which takes us to the McLean Mill, (last operating steam-powered lumber mill in Canada). We then head back to the east coast of Vancouver Island with stops for a tour of Cathedral Grove and Coombs Junction market, followed by a ride to picturesque Qualicum Beach. Here we board the newly restored VIA Rail Malahat Dayliner for a ride along the Strait of Georgia back to Nanaimo where we transfer to BC Ferries for an early evening arrival back into Vancouver. You may choose to stay on the train south to Victoria and add a day in the provincial capital with its many attractions. Prices: For the 4 day option: $698, (BC Seniors $668) Single Supplement $212. For the 5 day option with the longer train ride and extra night in Victoria, including transfers back to Vancouver (unescorted): $798, (BC Seniors $758) Single Supplement $282

WCRA News, Page 21 FRASER VALLEY BY RAIL AND FIRST NATIONS HISTORY Wednesday, July 13, 2005 Daytrip

We travel on the modern double-decker afternoon commuter train, West Coast Express, from Vancouver’s historic Waterfront Station to Mission following the scenic shores of Burrard Inlet and later the Fraser River. With views of the Coast Mountains you can enjoy a snack in the Cappuccino bar. In Mission we are transferred to the Xa:ytem Longhouse Interpretative Centre, for an interesting hands-on exploration of the First Nations peoples’ history and culture of the valley. This is followed by a traditional salmon bake. Our chartered coach returns us to Vancouver with drop-offs available in the eastern suburbs. Prices: One low price for everyone: $66 includes salmon dinner, train and motorcoach. VICTORIA, DISCOVERY COAST, CHILCOTIN, CARIBOO &KAMLOOPS STEAM Tuesday, July 19th, 2005 Seven days Our "Cariboo & Chilcotin Regions, Discovery Coast & Vancouver Island" trips have been our most popular trips in the past few years. This route covers some of the finest scenery in British Columbia through a very remote region with little traffic and a once-a-week daytime coastal ferry trip. Our tour this year runs clockwise with Vancouver Island first, north on the ferry, then east across the Chilcotin, then south to Vancouver via Kamloops. We start by making our own way to Victoria on Pacific Coach Lines at a time of our choosing, with coach/ferry vouchers supplied, and stay at the comfortable Carlton Plaza hotel. After breakfast on Wednesday (supplied) we transfer to the VIA Rail station for departure on the Malahat Dayliner. We are met at Courtenay by our chartered motorcoach, have lunch and continue on to Port Hardy for the evening. On Thursday we depart on the Queen of Chilliwack for Bella Coola, arriving late in the evening. On Friday we tour the area. On Saturday we depart by coach, east along the Bella Coola River valley stopping at fish pools, then up the infamous "Big Hill" through the Coast Mountain Range and on through the wild Chilcotin region to Williams Lake for overnight. On Sunday we follow the Cariboo Highway to 100 Mile House then head east across the remote Bridge Lake Road region to Little Fort for lunch. Here we turn south to Kamloops for the evening where we hope to ride behind the CNR restored steam locomotive #2141. Next morning we head to Cache Creek and on to Vancouver. Included is lunch at Ashcroft Manor, the incredible Fraser Canyon, Hell’s Gate Airtram, and stops at historic railway overlooks. We stop to let off passengers at convenient places en route to Vancouver‘s Pacific Central Station. Prices: Adults $1128, (BC Senior $1098), Single supplement $292. SUNSHINE COAST and PORT ALBERNI STEAM Wednesday, August 17, 2005 Three or Four Days

We leave from Lower Mainland destinations and Pacific Central Station at 9:45 AM for the WCRA News, Page 22

Horseshoe Bay to Langdale ferry. Once on the Sechelt peninsula we will stop at Gibson’s Landing, home of “The Beachcombers” for a little tour and then continue on to Davis Bay for its beachside ambience. After a short stop here we go through Sechelt and pause for the ferry at Earl’s Cove. Once this inlet of the sea is crossed we arrive in Powell River at 6:00 PM where we have dinner available. The next morning we get up early and board our coach for the short ride to the ferry terminal at Westview. We cross the Strait of Georgia to Little River, near Comox and make our way through Courtenay to Qualicum Beach. We will have a chance to enjoy this picturesque village before going to Cathedral Grove to admire the giant trees of this coastal rainforest. We then head west to Port Alberni for lunch at a seaside restaurant. After lunch we go to the Alberni Pacific Railway station and board the steam-powered train to McLean Mill (only steam-powered sawmill in the country) for a tour and entertainment. We return late afternoon and retire to our hotel for dinner, (supplied). On

Friday morning we leave our hotel at 9:30 AM and head back to the east coast of the Island. A stop will be made at Coombs Market with its goats on the roof. Once we leave this unique attraction we offer two options to our passengers.

Option “A” – We ride another train. Our coach drops us at Parksville to catch the northbound Malahat Dayliner at 11:40 AM. This train arrives in Courtenay at 12:50 PM where snack lunches are available in the station. The train departs for the south at 1:30 PM and arrives in Nanaimo at 3:30 PM where we are transferred to Departure Bay for the 5:00 PM sailing to Horseshoe Bay arriving in Vancouver shortly after 7:00 PM. Option “B” - For those that would like to stay on the train to Victoria we arrive at 6:00 PM and transfer to our partner hotel near the station. We overnight here and return to Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station by any Pacific Coach Lines and ferry hourly service of our choice on Saturday, August 20th. We supply vouchers for this comfortable through service. Fares: Phone for detailed itinerary and fares based on option chosen, whether BC senior, and date of booking.

OKANAGAN WINE, FISH SPAWNING and KETTLE VALLEY STEAM Friday, September 16, 2005 Three Days This is a comfortable unhurried coach tour to the Okanagan valley with a trip on the Kettle Valley Steam Railway near Summerland. We leave Vancouver at 8;00 AM and stop in the eastern suburbs to pick up as required. We pause for coffee at Manning Park lodge and continue on to Keremeos for a tour of the Historic Grist Mill. We stay two nights at the beautiful Penticton Lakeside Resort and Casino on the banks of Okanagan Lake. On Saturday morning we supply a breakfast buffet and then head up to Summerland where we join the Kettle Valley Steam train for its morning excursion. After lunch (supplied) we follow the shores of Skaha Lake to Okanagan Falls and visit the Hawthorne Mountain Vineyard for a tour and tasting session. We return to Penticton and stop at the SS Sicamous Lake steamer, a beautifully preserved steamboat filled with interesting artefacts and history. After a breakfast buffet on Sunday we follow Okanagan Lake to Hardy Creek Park near Peachland where we WCRA News, Page 23 will see thousands of salmon spawning. This is an incredible sight that only happens once a year and only at this time of year. We stop for lunch at the Hainle Winery above Peachland. You are welcome to taste (and buy) their products. From Peachland we join the Okanagan connector and continue on to Hope on the Coquihalla Highway. We stop for an early-bird dinner in Abbotsford before finishing the day back in Vancouver.

Prices: One low fare for all: $458, Single Supplement $132

VANCOUVER ISLAND & "QUEEN OF THE NORTH", REPOSITIONING CRUISE &"E&N DAYLINER" Thursday September 29th, 2005

Make your own way to Victoria on Pacific Coach Lines at a time of your choosing, with coach/ferry vouchers supplied, and stay at the comfortable Carlton Plaza hotel. Go early and enjoy Victoria or later to arrive in time for dinner. We have a welcome dinner laid on at a beautiful restaurant close to the hotel. After breakfast on Friday (supplied) we transfer to the VIA Rail station for departure on the Malahat Dayliner. We have lunch on the train and are met at Courtenay by our chartered motorcoach, where we continue on to Port Hardy for the evening. Rising early we are transferred to Bear Cove for the 7:30 AM sailing of the Queen of the North for Tsawwassen. On arrival at 8:30 PM our chartered coach returns us to Pacific Central Station, with possible stops en route. A great little circle tour! This tour sold out last year, so book early. Prices: Adult: $478 , BC Senior: $458 , Single supplement $112

CPR #2816 STEAM—DAY SEGMENTS WESTBOUND / EASTBOUND

GW Travel of the UK has organized a round trip excursion from Calgary to Vancouver and return in June / July 2005, featuring Canadian pacific Railway’s restored Hudson steam locomotive #2816. The Canadian Rocky Mountains Steam Express tour is available at $529 per day segment ($439US). Each day includes train travel, lunch, runbys and other. The train will carry day coach and ex California Zephyr dome equipment.

Segments are as follows: Westbound, Calgary to Lake Louise June 29, Lake Louise to Revelstoke June 30, Revelstoke to Kamloops July 1, Kamloops to Vancouver (Waterfront station) July 2.

Eastbound: Vancouver (Waterfront) to Kamloops July 13, Kamloops to Golden July 14, Golden to Fort Steele July 15, Cranbrook—Crows Nest—Lethbridge July 16, and Lethbridge to Calgary July 17.

Call West Coast Rail Tours for more details and to book your space. WCRA News, Page 24

MAKE WEST COAST RAIL TOURS YOUR FULL-SERVICE TRAVEL AGENT!

Our West Coast Rail Tours travel agency continues to grow. With our IATA status, we can handle all your bookings for air travel (we are now agents for Air Canada, Harmony Airways, Westjet, Hawk Air and Pacific Coastal Airlines) as well as cruises, hotel accommodations and—our specialty - rail. As a WCRA member, we ask you to choose us as your travel agent. Commissions earned on all travel bookings go straight into the WCRA bank for our preservation projects.

Occasionally we are able to offer and notify you of tour specials or unique tours with very limited space, often with significant savings. If you have an e-mail address please add your name, etc. to our “subscriber list” at www.wcra.org/tours and sign up for our e-mail service. We will notify you right away when any new, or last minute specially priced tour is offered. You may also be able to view and print your own detailed brochures and maps from our web site as more information becomes available. Also remember we "guarantee share", which means that single tour participants willing to share a room pay no single supplement. We find a roommate or absorb the single supplement if a suitable partner cannot be found.

Contact Bill toll free at 1-800-722-1233, or locally at 604-524-1011 or by e-mail at [email protected] for more information, details and bookings. (B.J.)

West Coast Rail Tours - The “Rail” Way to go

WEST COAST RAILWAY HERITAGE PARK Home of the Royal Hudson

HERITAGE TEA HEADLINES HERITAGE WEEK

Heritage Week is February 20 – 27, 2005, and we invite you to celebrate it with a visit to the Heritage Park. On Saturday, February 26 we will offer a special opportunity – a Heritage Tea served up old-fashioned style in the Brightbill Heritage House. Experience what it would have been like in 1937 as our servers, dressed for the period, offer up sandwiches and goodies with fresh tea in this classic setting. Price is just $5.50 per person; you can reserve a time by calling 604-898-9336. You may also just drop by – we’ll fit you in as best we can.

2004 SETS RECORDS AT HERITAGE PARK

The results are in and the West Coast Railway Heritage Park set new records in 2004 in every facet of its operations. The tenth anniversary year of the Park was an exciting one, and WCRA News, Page 25 as people came from all over to see events like the first ever Day Out With Thomas in Canada, it was evident that this would be a year like none other in the Park’s history.

With the books now wrapped up, here are just some of the statistics for 2004: • Guest visits were 45,503 for the year (up from 30,735 in 2003) • The 250,000th guest was welcomed during the year, growing total visits since opening to 268,500 by year end • The tenth anniversary celebration in July saw the first two concerts in the Park • The Heritage Park contributed a record $1.2 million to the Squamish economy • Nine person years of direct employment hours grew, with 8 regular staff plus seasonal • The WCRA’s vintage excursion train entered its first season of operation and made its first arrival in Squamish in September

Yet, even after all this 2005 is poised to continue our growth and more new records. (S.E.)

WIND, THEN SNOW, THEN WATER, THEN….?

Weather is always a challenge in the Squamish winters, and this one has battered the Heritage Park in just about every way so far. After a relatively normal winter in December, January started out with a fury. A wind storm the weekend of January 8 and 9, while it was bitterly cold, caused some damage as tarps were ripped of roofs of cars under restoration and protection, fences blew over and debris was scattered. It even snapped off the gate arms of the new crossing signals at the Heritage Park entrance, and stripped a piece of board siding off PGE caboose 1821.

While recovery was underway, the cold snap broke—but with a heavy and deep fall of snow. Getting around became difficult, then the snow turned to rain—torrential rains. The deep snow became heavy slush, thankfully Rick Hunter came by and dug a path in to the park. The rains continued and Squamish went onto flood alert, but things stood up pretty well as the Squamish river raged by. A small bit of seepage water into the station basement, but pumps kept ahead of it. The mini rail was closed for a while, a tree fell across the tracks.

The site looked to be back to normal by January 21 as the rail abated for a day, the water table dropped, and the site surface puddles disappeared. Another period of “highly unusual weather” as characterized by the weather, but for the most part the Heritage Park survived well once again.

PLEASE RESPECT WORK SITES AT THE PARK

A reminder to all of our members about the need to respect work areas at the Heritage Park, where major projects are underway. Members need to be diligent and compliant with safety WCRA News, Page 26 rules in effect in work areas. Membership does not give us the privilege to enter work projects without proper safety equipment and the guidance of the work crew.

One such example right now is the work going on in the shop on business car #8 Alberta. While the car is in disassembly and early stages of work, it is full of hazards such as upright nails, decayed floor sections etc. The work crew is making great progress on this project, but we need to be mindful that the projects underway in the shop are restricted access projects. We are under jurisdiction of WCB and all regulating bodies relating to workplace safety. The carshop floor area and cars / locomotives not open to the public are reserved for volunteer and paid crews working on those projects, or invitation to board by the crew who can cover off the hazards and show you to the safe areas. Please respect our good safety record when you visit the Heritage Park. (S.E.)

EASTER SCAVENGER HUNT—MARCH 27, 2005

The fifth annual Easter Scavenger Hunt is on at the Heritage Park on Sunday, March 27th. Admission is by donation from 1200 hours to 1500 hours, and participants will get a set of clues that will take them on a fun and educational journey around the Heritage Park site. As you explore history dating back to 1890, you will check off each point. Return your completed sheet to the Mac Norris Station and receive and Easter Treat! This is a great family activity for Easter Sunday afternoon—hope to see you all there. (S.E.)

FEATURE ARTICLES

FIRING CPR’S DITCHER #2 Part 2 - By Bill Yeats. Ed. Note—when we left Bill’s story last month, he had completed his first two trips firing the CPR Ditcher unit. February 2005’s WCRA News has this story. The return trip to Alyth, on a freight train, was uneventful. The next day, Thursday, a work train was made up with assigned train and engine crew and a smaller “D10” locomotive plus this time a cook car, complete with a cook, was to be part of that consist. The locomotive engineer’s name was George Law and his fireman’s was Jim Scott both who lived in Calgary but the train crew were from Medicine Hat because this Langdon Subdivision was part of their territory. After the necessary brake test and with the required train orders, the train proceeded eastward over the Brooks then the Strathmore subdivisions then we turned off at Langdon and entered the territory where we were to start cleaning out any ditches that tended to be partially filled in. This was necessary to allow water to flow freely and not damage the roadbed. Just east of the small town of Carbon Alberta was where our heavy digging would start, but first we had to enter the 44 car siding there to clear the Kneehill Mixed, a westbound second-class train that made the trip into this territory once a week (as WCRA News, Page 27 described in my past story about mixed trains). This was the only train that we would have to clear until the next Monday because all other freights were run during the night The westbound Kneehill Mixed passed while all the crew were enjoying a hot lunch in the cook’s car, and then the heavy shovelling would begin east of Carbon. A long slide, just past the siding, had to be cleared. With no trains to meet, and being able to cast the excavated material over instead of having to load it into the air dump cars, it was steady going for “Ditcher No. 2” for the rest of that day. Dave had to slow down or stop frequently in order for me to catch up just like when casting over west of Calgary. Later that day I traded jobs with the locomotive fireman, Jim Scott, and that is when we found out that even an experienced fireman like him also had to play “catch up” at times. At seventeen o-clock all the work stopped and our train proceeded to east for nineteen miles to Nacmine where there was a Chargehand stationed that would look after the ditcher’s fire and also refuel it and fill the water tank. They would also look after the locomotive for George Law and Jim Scott. The engine crew also had a bunkhouse at that point in which they would stay in overnight. Bright and early next morning (six o-clock) we were up and at it. First a substantial breakfast in the cook’s car then I was up on the ditcher by seven to clean and prepare the fire while Dave oiled up his machinery as the train proceeded west to where we he left off working the previous day. It was the same boring thing all that day except that the “Jordan Spreader” had to be used frequently as the trackside material piled up. That gave me a chance to again clean the boiler’s fire and cast the hot ashes over onto the bare ground where there was no chance of starting a fire. Sometimes, while at the working point, only one man was needed on the locomotive at a time so either George or Jim would wander back along the right of way, with a shotgun under his arm, looking for Pheasants to shoot. It was early fall and there were lots of game in that part of Alberta. They had supplied themselves with basic cooking equipment on their engine and were able to prepare and cook up a storm with any game they had shot. It was not in the engine crew’s contract to have meals provided but they could purchase dinners from the cook if desired. Instead they decided to have their royal feasts in the, not too deluxe, comfort of the engine’s cab. With fresh prairie game available and with vegetables bought from local farmers, they weren’t going hungry. In the late afternoon the tempting smells drifting over from that locomotive made the rest of the work train’s crew look forward to the supper hour. One morning when we arrived at a working point I climbed up on the engine to see what they were cooking for a late breakfast and saw that Jim had placed some hot coals, from the fire, on the steel deck of the tender and with a cast iron frying pan on the coals he was preparing a large mess of bacon and eggs. Tough job on those work trains! Saturday was the end of our work train’s week, or so I thought until Dave informed me that instead of going to church the next day He and I would be busy draining and washing out the small fire tube boiler that powered our steam shovel. To do this the steam shovel was positioned beside the locomotive where there was a good supply of hot water at high WCRA News, Page 28 pressure for this job. After everything had cooled down I was shown how to remove the boiler washout plugs and, with the necessary tools, scrape and wash out the sludge and scale that had accumulated over the past few days because the available water in that area was not the cleanest nor the best that could be used for generating steam. Grease plugs also had to be filled and some clamps tightened on parts of Dave’s machinery and then adjustments to be made to some of Dave’s controls. By the time that all this work was finished it was nearly noon and we were both wet and grimy so I informed Dave that train and engine crews that worked out of Nacmine often went over to a wash house at the pithead of a nearby coal mine to use the showering facilities that the miners used after each shift of digging dusty coal. If those showers could get those “black daddies” clean they could certainly get both of us looking more presentable when we showed up at the cook’s car for lunch. Part of the afternoon was spent filling out our time sheets and I was required to estimate and report the amount of coal that the Ditcher had used each day for the previous week. So you can see that we really had to work seven days that week even if Sunday was only about a six-hour day. Monday and Tuesday were much the same but on Wednesday we were scheduled to return to our terminal at Alyth roundhouse. We worked at ditching for only a short while between Nacmine and Sharples and before leaving there Dave and I chained everything down, removed the smoke stack extension for the last time, closed all the ditcher’s steam valves and pulled the fire. This train was scheduled to go to work west of Lethbridge on the Crowsnest subdivision on Monday with an engine crew and ditcher fireman from that terminal. Shortly after leaving Sharples a funny thing happened. I was riding in the caboose cupola with the tail end crew and the train was sailing along at the top speed of fifteen miles per hour, which was the limit for that crooked stretch of the Langdon subdivision, when I saw either George Law or Jim Scott point a shotgun out of the fireman’s side of the locomotive and I them fire at a some target beside the track. The train then came to a sudden stop and one of the engine crew, either George or Jim, jumped down and ran back to pick up the Pheasant that he had shot. I suppose that it was to be cleaned and plucked away ready to be added to their stock of game they were taking home. The abrupt stop didn’t go over with the work train cook because it caused the pot of soup that had been prepared for lunch, to be spilled over onto the floor so it was to be cold sandwiches for lunch that day instead of the tasty hot soup. There was a comfortable seat for me in the caboose cupola during the eighty mile run westward to our final destination at Alyth where we arrived before the supper hour so, after reporting in at the locomotive Foreman’s office and arranging for my next assignment, I headed for home for a bath, clean clothes, and a taste of mother’s great home cooking. Firing that Ditcher’s boiler had been a good experience for me, a young fellow, only WCRA News, Page 29 eighteen and just out of school. It was forty two years later that I retired from the CPR and my last steady job was that as the Locomotive Engineer on passenger trains running on the main line both east and west, out of Calgary Alberta. My last run was made July 15th 1984 on train Number 2, the eastbound Canadian, from Field B.C. to Calgary.

A (THURS)DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE NORTH COAST EXPLORER - By David Walker , photos by H.A. (Fred) Stewart Ed. Note—Our Prince Rupert member David Walker sends this account of a day in the operation of the North Coast Explorer (which operated Thursdays in 2004), on which WCRA partnered with GCRC. David worked the train as one of the guides. The operation will run again in 2005, with an expected three days a week service based on planned cruise ship arrivals in Prince Rupert.

What an incredible summer in Prince Rupert this summer past. The new cruise ship facility at Atlin Terminal was completed just as the Norwegian Wind was cruising down the harbour on her first official visit, literally. Thursday June 10th., was a glorious summer day on the north coast as was every Thursday until September. The cruise ship made a beautiful sight gliding down the harbour toward the Atlin Terminal. It appeared as just about every resident in town was on the waterfront to greet the vessel!

Throughout the summer the Thursday routine remained the same with the odd glitch that kept us all on our toes. During the rest of the week the consist was stored in a secure area at the Fairview Terminal out of harms way. Thursdays, the tour guides reported for work at Fairview Terminal approximately 1100 hrs. We got everything ship-shape. Windows spotless, carpets cleaned and condiments put out for our guests. The maintenance crew were busy getting the mechanical and electrical equipment all tuned up for the days work. The train looked absolutely spectacular in the blazing Prince Rupert sunshine!

Time to reposition the train to Atlin Terminal. This is about a two-mile cruise along the Prince Rupert waterfront with the little CN GMD-1,1437 doing the honours. We always made sure that we had everything ship shape before we left Fairview so we could relax for a few minutes in the Henry Pickering open car as we cruised the waterfront. The Canadian National head end crew were called for 1300 hrs. Our days work was underway. We would arrive at Atlin Terminal at about 1400 hrs. just as the cruise ship was docking. The addition of the Henry Pickering made a huge difference to the operation of the train. (Once she arrived after her unscheduled tour of the province!) She was a big hit.

Approximately 1500 hrs. and it was time to get underway with our guests from the cruise ship on board. There was one guide assigned to each coach while Chris Woods supervised WCRA News, Page 30

the train. Eagles everywhere! On one trip, I actually saw one eagle wander in to a fish reduction plant, help himself to a beak-full of goodies then fly off to enjoy the fruits of his raid. The rail trip between Prince Rupert and Tyee on the Skeena River is about as spectacular a journey as you will see anywhere. The trip was about ten miles out, ten miles back. WCRA’s CPR 4069 pulled us there, while the "little-engine-that-could" CN GMD-1-1437 pulled us back to Rupert. At Tyee, there is a series of Native pictographs painted on the rock face. They have been there over one hundred and fifty years. From that point, it was back to Prince Rupert with a stop at North Pacific Cannery Museum for a half hour visit. This is the last of the old canneries on the north coast. It was built in 1889. Then non-stop to Prince Rupert returning our guests to the waterfront by about 1630-1700 hrs.

Having bid our guests farewell and smooth sailing, it was time to clean up and put everything away as #4069 pulled us back to Fairview Terminal. So ends our day’s work for the week. This summer, 2005 we expect to be working three and possibly four days per week. Really looking forward to the prospect.

The repositioning trip back to Squamish was an interesting exercise. While I did not ride the train, I spent quite a bit of time on the computer "talking" to Dave Emmington, Dave Thethi and Bill Johnston getting the trip organized. Too many "Daves" on line! No one knew which "Dave" they were talking to. So my byline became "DJ". Not to worry, from what I hear It was a great trip that was thoroughly enjoyed by all. WCRA News, Page 31 THE RISE AND FALL OF A PRAIRIE BRANCHLINE TOWN -by Dave Emmington

This is a story of Dunblane on the C.N.R.’s Conquest Subdivision, Saskatchewan District; it came and vanished with the fortunes of the C.N.R.

The Canadian government had offered free land to settlers; 160 acres of land that often proved to be marginal at best to produce crops. Captain John Palliser had concluded in 1857 “that the short grass prairie of Western Canada would never support viable agriculture”. Farmers fought scorching winds, blowing dust, the drought, hail, frost, grasshoppers and rust in the Palliser Triangle.

The land was broken and cultivated, producing good crops and increasing production as more and more land was broken. The railways constructed more than one thousand miles of branchlines in Saskatchewan prior to WW I. The rail line came to Dunblane in 1914, remaining the end of steel for quite some time before track was laid to Birsay and Beechy. The harvest of a bumper crop in 1915 meant farmers would travel 8 to 10 miles to the station instead of the 25 or 30 miles they previously traversed to pick up supplies and take their grain to market. The Federal Elevator was built in 1915, followed by the Central, the Anchor, the Sterling elevators and the Home Grain Company elevator. The town now boasted of several stores, a café, a poolroom, a butcher shop, a boarding house and a Ford dealership. “Tin Lizzies” sold by the freight carload. There were serious crop failures in 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920 but the town continued to flourish. In 1919 the Dunblane Rural Telephone Company was formed, a church and manse and an open-air rink were constructed in 1922. Electric power was provided from the roundhouse.

In 1925, three hundred men descended on the village for the construction of a dual railway and vehicle bridge across the South Saskatchewan River between Dunblane on the west and Elbow on the east. The bridge would shorten the grain and coal haul from southern Alberta and Saskatchewan to the eastern ports. A camp of several buildings was constructed of rough hewed timbers, including two Sleeping Camps, a Cookhouse and Dining Hall. To control the possibility of the sandy river bottom from being scoured from around the bridge piers by the river current, immense quantities of fieldstones were placed around the piers. Throughout the summer of 1925 farmers in the vicinity gathered up stones from their land. The stone was hauled to the bridge site or to railcars for delivery to the material yard. The bridge was 1771 feet long consisting of 10 spans.

Sir Henry Thornton opened the bridge on November 15, 1926. The text of the C.N.R. press release stated, “In the annals of engineering triumphs of the Province of Saskatchewan, the construction of this new bridge, for immensity, design and excellence of detail, has never been equaled.” Lady Thornton received a bouquet from seven-year-old Irene Emmington. Trains had arrived from Saskatoon, Regina and Moose Jaw bringing more than 300 WCRA News, Page 32 dignitaries, guests and press to the gala affair. George Emmington, the Boarding Car Supervisor for the Saskatchewan District, was in charge of a luncheon of roast beef and buffalo steaks.

Three trains of Turner Valley crude oil were hauled through Dunblane daily to Moose Jaw and Regina refineries. The population of 300 remained stable until a pipeline stretched across Canada reducing train service to one lonely train each week. The population declined as the railway activity diminished and preliminary work was being done for the Gardiner Dam. The roundhouse was demolished in 1932. By 1940 test drilling and dam surveys were complete and full-scale decline in population was held in check by the construction of the Gardiner Dam commencing in 1959. The population had tripled by 1964.

The Dunblane Bridge was removed in 1964, as the water of what today is Deifenbaker Lake was rising behind the nearly completed dam. The town population collapsed at the end of construction. In 1969 there were twenty houses occupied, seven school-aged children and a population of fewer than fifty.

The Gardiner Dam was a realization of a dream of irrigation for people who suffered the trauma of the 30’s------depression and unemployment sharpened by drought and successive crop failures. Houses were plucked from the streets of Dunblane to be moved to new locations and commercial buildings demolished for the materials. By 1980 little remained but a bold station name sign declaring “DUNBLANE”. A town, and most of its history, had disappeared.

Information sources for this article are from the author’s personal files, “Echoes of Coteau”, a history of area residents and “Men Against The Desert” by James H.Gray. More information on the Dunblane Bridge and the C.N.R’s practice of applying the “Courtesy and Service” slogan on bridge spans can be found in C.N. Lines, Volume 12, Number 4.

RAILWAY NEWS

P32’s AGAIN ON AMTRAK CASCADES

Some of Amtrak’s GE P32 locomotives are showing up again on the Seattle—Vancouver, BC Amtrak Cascades trains. January 25th’s train arrived with P32’s #507 / 511 on each end. Speculation is that the railroad might consider the P32’s better in case of further mudslides along BNSF’s line, such as those that occurred Jan. 20 near Lake Samish and Jan. 22 near Crescent Beach. (B.M.) WCRA News, Page 33

DELTAPORT CONTAINER BACKLOG

CN has taken some heat recently in the press for a backlog on container shipments out of Delta Port. A number of customers are receiving late shipments due the congestion. The troubles, however, go back to labour problems in the late fall at the Port that backlogged unloading, as well as a high bunching of ships early in 2005. TSI, the operator of Deltaport, has limited berthing at the port for the time being.

For its part, CN says it has enough rail cars in the system and has implemented some extra cars and trains to help catch up with the 110,000 feet of containers awaiting transport east as of late January. CN has: • Provided an increase of 50,000 feet of container platforms since early December • Implemented a winter operating plan with shorter trains, but more of them • Increased car supply again, with an additional 11,800 to 14,000 feet daily • Implemented an aggressive management plan for cars and movements to and from Deltaport • Added a new Deltaport—Chicago train

MOTIVE POWER NOTES

CN’s motive power retirements in recent months include former BCOL CRS-20’s #602, 623, and 626 and B36-7’s #3613 and 3625. (TJ)

MOVIE EQUIPMENT

Great Canadian Railtours sold five surplus poor condition pieces of passenger equipment for use as movie props. A train wreck site was set up along the side of CN’s Craik Subdivision between Lumsden and Disley, Sask. Sold were café coaches 3201, 3238, coaches 5531, 5729 and generator car 15435. Watch for them in Tide Land, starring Jeff Bridges and directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame. (TJ)

DIRECTOR—SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT HIRED

Great Canadian Railtour has appointed a new Director—Sustainable Development. Ian Robertson is a native British Columbian with 25 years business experience in sales, marketing and training management roles. He will be responsible for the development of sustainable partnerships that result in sound economic, heritage, environmental and social programs for the company. WCRA News, Page 34

MALAHAT DAYLINER DERAILS IN SNOW

VIA’s Malahat Dayliner derailed the morning of Monday, January 10, 2005 just north of Victoria as the single RDC car headed out as train #199. The car stayed upright and there were no injuries, and the likely cause is ice on the tracks, VIA said. (TOL)

CANADIAN DERAILED BY LOGGING TRUCK

VIA’s flagship train The Canadian was broadsided by a loaded logging truck at Mackay, Alberta (west of Edmonton) around 1330 hours on Monday, January 31. The truck slammed into the side of the baggage car, derailing the entire train of two F40PH-2 locomotives, baggage car, coach, skyline dome, sleeper, diner, three sleepers and Park observation car. None of the cars tipped over, and—remarkably—there were no injuries to passengers or crew. The truck driver was flown to Edmonton with non life threatening injuries. The westbound train was due in to Vancouver on the morning of February 1.

GENERAL NEWS

PRAIRIE DOG CENTRAL #3 TO STEAM AGAIN

Prairie Dog Central 4-4-0 steam locomotive #3 is getting ready to steam again, according to reports out of Winnipeg. The historic steamer, dating back to 1882, has received her new boiler and work is underway now to install it. #3 is expected to return steam service to the operation this summer. (B.M.)

KETTLE VALLEY RAILWAY STEAMS UP FOR THE 2005 SEASON

The Kettle Valley Steam Railway gets off to an early start this season with an Easter train at 1330 hours on Saturday, March 26. Next run is on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8th, and then the season starts with both 1030 and 1330 departures May 21—with operations set for Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays through June 27, then Thursday through Monday service June 30 through September 5. The season rounds out with Saturday through Monday trains September 10 to October 10, then Christmas trains at 1330 on December 17 and 18. Check out details at www.kettlevalleyrail.org (check out our website links for direct access) and, while you are at it check out our other steam partner the Kamloops Heritage Railway - again linked directly through www.wcra.org

All aboard for steam in 2005!

Myra Canyon—new release now available at hobby shops and fine galleries, or through the West Coast Railway Heritage Park gift shop. Order your print today, call us at 604-898-9336.

CREDIT LINES ISSN 1204-072X Vol. 44 Issue 3

Editor Don Evans Distribution Jeremy Davy & Donna Simon

Contributors:

M.B. Michael Batten C.D. Colin Dathan J.D. Jeremy Davy S.E. Sherry Elchuk B.J. Bill Johnston J.M. Jim McPherson

TJ Tempo Jr. 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

TRIVIA ANSWER

A) Duke Ellington B) The Monkees C) Peter, Paul & Mary D) Sister Rosetta Tharpe E) Louis Jordan F) Little Eva