WCRA NEWS MAY 2006 WCRA CELEBRATES 45 YEARS! WCRA News, Page 2 GENERAL MEETING NOTICE The April General Meeting of the WCRA will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2006 at 1930 hours at the Rainbow Creek Station, Confederation Park in Burnaby. Entertainment will be the Last Runs on Vancouver Island DVD by Hugh Fraser. ON THE COVER Inside the boiler of the Royal Hudson, shiny new flues and tubes glow in the light! This photo, taken by Don Evans on March 29, 2006, shows Doyle McCormack, Bob Florence and Trevor Mills as they insert the copper sleeves and roll the new tubes to a perfect fit. The exciting news is that by the time you receive this newsletter, all the tubes and flues should be installed and, perhaps, even hydro tested. The work is progressing too fast for this slow medium—but watch www.wcra.org for details as the work progresses. MAY CALENDAR • West Coast Railway Heritage Park Open daily 1000 through 1700k • Monday, May 1—Special salute to the inaugural run of the Whistler Mountaineer, trackside, West Coast Railways Heritage Park, 1000 hours (see page 19) • Thursday, May 4—Deadline for items for the June 2006 WCRA News • Sunday, May 14—Celebrate Mother’s Day at the Heritage Park—cake at noon. • Tuesday, May 16—Tours Committee meets, contact Bernie at 604-325-0923 • Sunday, May 21—Annual Celebration of the arrival of CPR 374 at Vancouver, 374 Pavilion at the Roundhouse in Yaletown, 1200—1400 hours • Tuesday, April 25—WCRA General Meeting, 1930 hours, Rainbow Creek Station 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. New! E Members (electronic newsletter) are $35 individual and $45 family. 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 45 YEARS AND COUNTING The month of May heralds yet another milestone for the West Coast Railway Association, as we celebrate our 45th anniversary. And while 45 years may not be as significant as some in numbers, for example we look forward to our 50th in 2011 which will be a huge splash, 2006 may well prove to be our most exciting year ever. Headlining the accomplishments planned for this year, the completion and steaming of the Royal Hudson #2860. As we write this newsletter (well ahead of distribution due travel schedules, I’m afraid) we are moving forward at full steam towards completion of the reassembly of the boiler. At the moment, in the early stages of tube and flue installation, we are projecting completion of this work by the end of March and a hydrostatic test of the new installation by mid April. All going well, we may well be ready to announce the first steaming of this classic locomotive for a date in May, 2006! It’s hard to say exactly where the work will be when you receive this issue of WCRA News— we encourage you to watch www.wcra.org or make sure you are on our electronic distribution list (e mail executivedirector@wcra.,org ) as the work and event scheduling will be quite dynamic. We welcome back passenger rail to the former BC Rail line and the Sea to Sky corridor as the Whistler Mountaineer takes to the rails, with a new daily service between North Vancouver and Whistler. We are also pleased to be a part of the new operation, with the provision of our heritage open observation car Henry Pickering, which will be part of the train consist. A WCRA Salute to the new train is planned for Squamish on the morning of May 1, to greet the newcomer to the rails that go right by the WCRA’s MP shops and the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. We wish our friends at Rocky Mountaineer Vacations the best of success with their new services that start May 1 and May 2. We need to recognize our volunteers and staff at this juncture of the WCRA. 45 years is quite an accomplishment—but think back even just ten years and where we were with one full time staff and a fledgling seasonal attraction. Thanks to all of you for getting us to 2006! Meanwhile, after a month at home with much catch up time, your editor is off and traveling again in April. The next two months have me scheduled in Shanghai, China for two weeks, then short trips to Kamloops and Denver, and in May to Florida and Toronto. So, we should well have some travels to report on in the next few issues, and some new railway experiences behind us. Don WCRA News, Page 4 ASSOCIATION NEWS FROM THE MARCH GENERAL MEETING 40 members and guests were present, the meeting was chaired by Colin Dathan: • The meeting opened with a moment’s silence in honour of member Tony Fedyna who passed away recently • Don Evans provided a number of updates, including the Executive Director’s report, noting several new grant submissions and asks made during March. He also reported on the Heritage Park, noting the success of the first week of Speeder rides and other current improvements and activities. The start of work on the turntable construction is imminent now that the District of Squamish has given the go ahead for this part of the project. • Don reported also re the collection, noting the RDC-1 BC 21 has now been returned to service. Next up for the Budds will be the repainting to PGE, although some funds will be needed before this progresses. • Jeremy Davy reported on mini rail, noting that improvements in the trackage at the Heritage Park have been made. It was also noted that Canada Place has requested mini rail for Canada Day this year, plans are being made and the times will be 1000—1900 on July 1, 2006. Plans are also being made for both mini rail and speeders at CN Family Days in September. • Bernie Tully reported on Western Rails, noting that WCRA was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for their work and display on the Royal Hudson. Bernie thanked those who helped, Ryan Cruickshank, Lisa Flatla, Jim Saunders, Bill Marchant, Bernie Tully and Lee Holtby (who sold some of her late husband Harold’s memorabilia to benefit the Royal Hudson). We all thank Jeremy for a great organizing job of this event. • Bill Johnston gave a tours update, noting good sales on the Spirit of Washington and White Pass tours (both sold out) as well as the West Coast Vancouver Island and Fall Steam / Okanagan trips. Changes have been made to some other itineraries—see Tours Section of this issue, page 11. • Bob Hunter reported on the work in the archives being done by he and Bill Marchant, as they sort and organize the David Wilkie Collection. He also offered the DVD Last Runs on Vancouver Island for sale to members. • Colin Dathan noted that the latest edition of the Heritage Park’s Inside Track newsletter was available. • Howie Biehl showed the recent Canadian Rail magazine, which headlines an article on CPR’s Royal Hudsons and WCRA’s #2860. He had several copies available which he offered for a $20 donation, which Howie matched personally. • Bill Marchant gave his Trackside Report • Guests and Visitors were welcomed • The raffle was held • Entertainment was a great slide show by Bill Johnston of his years doing civil work on the CN during the late 1950’s and 1960’s. WCRA News, Page 5 WCRA TRIVIA # 208 - by Ryan D. Cruickshank During October 3-4, 1873 the Grand Trunk Railway converted track gauge of its line between Stratford and Montreal from 5’ 6” to standard gauge 4’ 8 1/2” in 24 hours with only a 16 hour interruption to the mainline service. How many miles of track were changed over? (for answer, see Credit Lines) YOU KNOW YOU’RE A RAILFAN WHEN……. ………..you say you’re going for a drink with the guys, when really you’re going to your favorite railfanning spot. NEW MEMBERS The WCRA welcomes new members Don Behmer & family of Squamish, George Bergson of Penticton, Daniel Campbell & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Hugh Collett & family of Squamish, Jeff Corness & family of Vancouver, Jack Fieldhouse & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Mardi Maynard & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Tracy Pascuzzi & family of Squamish, David Price & family of Squamish, Brian Rode & family of Whistler, Ross Sherlock & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Nelson Winterburn & family of Garibaldi Highlands, David Sochowski of Vancouver, and Janna Woodard & family of Squamish. We welcome back David Cox & family of Squamish, Mike and Marg Cleaver of Maple Ridge, Pat and Roz Gilbert of Squamish, Jeff Heikoop & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Elisa Ogura & family of Garibaldi Highlands, Bruno Orlandi & family of Port Coquitlam, and Heather Parker & family of Squamish. (J.D.) MEMBER NEWS Congratulations to Director Grant Ferguson ( and Marilyn) on the birth of their Granddaughter Danika on January 19, 2006.