Guests aboard the excursion train will depart North Vancouver at 1000 hours, as in past years. Consist will be WCRA’s FP7A #4069, leased power car Shalalth, three leased “Hudson” coaches, WCRA’s Mount Garibaldi open car, leased concession car Horseshoe Bay, and three more leased “Hudson” coaches for a total ten unit consist. The train will operate direct to the BC Rail Squamish station, where guests will disembark and walk (or shuttle bus) over to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, now home of the Royal Hudson. At the Heritage Park, included with the event price, is full admission to the Park (an $8 value), sandwich lunch with table seating in a large tent, and live music featuring recording artist Dave Baker and other entertainers all positioned alongside the world famous Royal Hudson #2860. Guests will be able to have their picture taken professionally with the Hudson, and will be able to visit the locomotive's cab where a “real Royal Hudson engineer” will provide interpretation. In the station building, a new Royal Hudson exhibit will chronicle the history of this famous class of CPR locomotives, and a Royal Connection display will tell the story of how the engines became “Royal” and feature some artifacts from the 1939 Royal Train. This is currently being assembled.

Guests will then return to the train at the station, ready to depart back for North Vancouver at either 1415 or 1430 hours (operational details still being finalized). On the way back, they will all receive a Royal Hudson souvenir as a memory of their day. Pricing for this event will be $87.50 adult, $75 seniors and students, and $37.50 children—all inclusive of travel, destination, food, entertainment and contribution to the Royal Hudson Preservation Fund.

It has been quite a process getting to this point. Of course, it all started with the Task Force to Save the Royal Hudson, and the final package which was presented to the Minister and others in Victoria on January 30, 2002. In our presentation, we made the pitch to both preserve the Royal Hudson locomotive as well as to operate the excursion train and keep the tourism benefits flowing to both Vancouver and Squamish tourism operators. While we awaited the decision of the Province (as the Royal Hudson was key to the whole package), a core team started work on the operational proposal. Consisting of Don Evans, Bill Johnston and Colin Smith, the group started working on various business diligence items and financial pro formas to scope out what this might look like and how it might work. There were, of course, many unanswered questions but a basic contract management business model was developed as the most likely way to proceed. Craig McDowall joined the group and work continued.

The next step was to do some marketing diligence—what could we package and how should it be presented and sold? We sought advice from many who helped us out immensely—including Peter Armstrong, Bob Griffiths, Hal Kalman, Rick Antonson and many others. We received valuable guidance and the all inclusive package developed. BC Rail was cooperative and provided guideline order of magnitude contract numbers on which we could develop our business plan. All we needed was the decision that the Hudson was coming our way and we were set to go the next step. That, of course, occurred April 3, 2002. BC Rail confirmed their contract pricing soon after, and the final pro-formas were done which we were comfortable made for a viable operation. Now all we had to do was put an operating package in place and start trains running June 26!

Ready to go, the proposal was presented to the WCRA Board at their meeting of April 10. There was lots of good discussion, and many pieces of advice and guidance, then the board gave unanimous endorsement for us to proceed. Bill Watson joined the core team, which now became the Save the Royal Hudson Excursion task team. Others came on board — Andy Preddy to help with operations, plus staffers Natalia Bouvier and Sherry Elchuk as this now became a major focus for WCRA’s 2002 year. Weekly task team meetings got underway. The timeline is tight, but we are all convinced it is doable. Many key starting decisions had to be made on the fly, but we were on our way. The WCRA membership received a full presentation on April 28 and also unanimously endorsed the plan.

So, as we go to press May 12, here is where we are with our key issues:

1. Structure / Funding  The Royal Bank is providing debt financing up front sufficient for us to pay our deposit to BC Rail, develop and print our brochures, and start paying staff. Revenues from ticket sales will start to flow June 26 from TicketMaster. The team has incorporated a limited company for operations (it provides a fire wall to protect the society’s assets in case of a catastrophe) - this is in place as of May 8, 2002. Craig McDowall is President, Don Evans Vice President, Bill Watson Secretary and Colin Smith Treasurer. All time is volunteered, and all net proceeds from the operation will go to the Royal Hudson Preservation Fund.

2. Marketing  A critical area and off to a great start. We are most fortunate to have Vicky Haller agree to join in and help us out—we have known Vicky for years at Rocky Mountaineer, from where she is now semi retired. Vicky knows who to call and is working her magic opening doors for us that would take us ages if we were to cold call. Tourism Vancouver and Vancouver Coast & Mountains Tourism have both stepped in to help in a big way, both Rick Antonson and Kevan Ridgway were members of the Hudson task force. We participated in Tourism Vancouver’s Clefs d”Or show and got excellent response from other local tourism operators. Many are stepping up to help with awareness and brochure distribution to help fill the trains, including the Vancouver Trolley Co., Gray Line, Pacific Spirit Tours, Perimeter Coaches, International Stage Lines and more. Amtrak Cascades will help as will Rocky Mountaineer, and work is underway with VIA Rail and as many other operators as we can get. Our key issue in the first stage is awareness that the excursions are running—this will the be followed with advertising and brochure distribution.

3. Brochure / Advertising  Natalia Bouvier is prime on this and is working with Eye Design on the actual brochure. We will print 100,000 and get them into distribution by May 24, 2002—the day that we hold the Royal Hudson welcome event for the media and others at the Heritage Park. We have drafts of the brochure as of May 10. Advertising will follow as we move towards start of sales June 1.

4. Sponsorship / Media  We are delighted to have the services of Patsy Worrall from Quay Strategies to assist us with our media and sponsorship packages. A sponsorship package has been created and is currently being worked with several potential sponsors who will come on board with extra services, media coverage / contests / broad distribution or marketing. Our focus is on getting the information out to fill the trains.Don Evans is working extensively on this, Craig McDowall and others are also helping out. As we go to press, Rocky Mountaineer is first on board with the donation of a marketing / sales resource in June to help us sell and market the train. Many others are scheduled for meetings and presentations. The first major press release will be with the Welcoming Event on May 24 at the Heritage Park

5. Train Operations  We have hired David Taylor as our train manager, he will start working with us in May and move to full time by June. David will be responsible for the train operating manual, hiring of on board attendants, and being the on board guest services manager and BC Rail operations liaison. David has performed this role before as the train manager for the Hudson excursion with BC Rail in past years. The on board attendants will also assist at the Heritage Park with the guests from the train.

6. Contracts  Craig McDowall is prime here with the help of Don Evans, Colin Smith, and Bill Watson. Deposits will be paid to BC Rail May 15 to get the servicing of the coaches to be leased started. BC Rail will be contracted for the operating crews, train storage and station usage, track slot usage, coach leasing and maintenance, and coach cleaning—much the same as always, except we pay the bills! Our only direct staff will be the on board attendants. TicketMaster will be contracted for ticketing and have generously donated their usual vendor back charges for this excursion event. Bill Watson is handling the arrangement of operating liability insurance.

7. Heritage Park  Sherry Elchuk is prime, and a whole host of activity is underway. A 40’ x 60’ tent with sides has been purchased (a great deal) as the venue for the lunch and entertainment. The centre court area of the Heritage Park (across the mainline from the station) is being cleaned up and will be graded and filled for the tent base. Alpine Paving has agreed to pave our entry way before the guests start walking to the site June 26. We hope to have the District of Squamish paint a marked walkway along Government Road to the entrance to help with the guest movements to and from the station. The entry way will be re-fenced and decorated with flowers to improve the appearance on arrival.

   New lighting and security system wiring will be added to provide better security for the Hudson as well as for the tent and equipment that will be in place. A hired security guard is contemplated for the duration. The Royal Hudson historical exhibit and Royal Connection display will be created in the station.

Well, if that doesn’t paint the picture, I don’t know what will. There is a tremendous amount of work to be done, but the enthusiasm of the team and the community is exciting. Work will continue and you, our members, will see this shape up. We need your help too. Tell your friends and families about the excursion, encourage them to come along for a great day out for a good cause. This is a 2002 plan only, as we do not know what the future holds for the consist, or for future operations of BC Rail passenger services at this time. For sure, next year the Royal Hudson will be in the shop and not set up as an attraction as it will be this year.

So come along for a great day on the rails, good fun, food and entertainment, and help Save the Royal Hudson in the process. We need everyone of you on board.