With all of the changes in the railway scene in our neck of the woods in 2002, a shift in strategic direction became necessary, and the WCRA took it. First it was the Royal Hudson, and the decision by the Province of BC not to fund its restoration. No sooner was the Hudson secured, than the decision was made by BC Rail to exit the passenger business entirely and dispose of all its equipment. Once again, we had to respond and act quickly or risk not being able to field some of our popular excursions in the future, or to have any sort of a train for the Royal Hudson to pull after its is returned to steam. Thankfully, the core needs to do both these important tasks have been managed, through a lot of hard work by many and the support of many as well.
By any measure, 2002 was a landmark year for us in terms of both challenge and success. Now, however, we have to get on with things and take our base framework on each of these projects—the restoration of the Royal Hudson and the readying for service of the excursion train—to completion. This is the story of the excursion train.
An operating excursion train has been a part of WCRA’s strategic plan for many years, but has always been projected to be down the road—at the end of the Heritage Park project. Little did we ever think about the situation that occurred in 2002, when suddenly our host railway exited the passenger business and put all its equipment up for sale / disposal. But here we were, having acquired the Royal Hudson and looking ahead with it, when the situation occurred that there were no Budd cars available to use on our always successful fall Northern tour. Of course, you have read in past issues how we successfully assembled a train using our F unit and open car, and leasing power car and coaches from BC Rail, ran a great tour that was a winner for all.
Now the next challenge was that the coaches and power car were for sale, and a repeat with leased equipment would not be possible. Once again, we assembled a business and operational plan and the board approved proceeding with the acquisition of enough coaches to make a viable excursion train, that would be available for some of our own tours as well as for charter operation in future years.
The process of bidding for coaches for sale by BC Rail Assets Disposal was a bumpy one, to say the least, and at one point we were not sure we would succeed at all. In the end, however, with persistence and hard work—as well as the gracious funding assistance of
Westran Services, we were able to purchase three coaches—enough to assemble the core of the operating excursion train we were after. We are still looking for a HEP solution at this point, a power-generator car is our biggest need and the former Hudson car Shalalth was sold to by BCR to someone else. This is our current biggest need.
West Coast Railway’s excursion train is currently projected to consist of our two vintage diesel locomotives (or Royal Hudson #2860), a power / generator car, three coaches (purchased from BC Rail), the open observation car and a parlour car (ex CPR Alberta, needing restoration and interior fittings).
This consist provides an excursion train with 225 coach seats, 20 first class parlour car seats, and 90 extra seats in the open observation car. Here’s what the diesel version will look like:
FP7A Locomotive CPR #4069
Locomotive #4069 is our 1952 built General Motors FP7A model, purchased by the WCRA in 1995 from VIA Rail Canada. It was restored by the WCRA 1997 to 1999 with a total of $120,000 spent, and entered service October 2, 1999. It has operated regularly since then, being leased by BC Rail for two seasons to pull its Squamish Excursion train, and leading West Coast Rail Tours nine day Northern BC tour in 2002. It operates regularly at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish.
FP7A Locomotive Algoma Central #1756
Locomotive #1756 was donated towards the creation of our operating train by Canadian National in late 2002, and is valued at an amount of $150,000 by CN. A mate to #4069, the pair of locomotives rounds out the need for motive power for the excursion train, providing a pair of mechanically identical streamlined passenger diesel electric locomotives. Having the two locomotives provides operational backup, as well as the ability to reverse the direction of the train where no railway turnaround may exist. Locomotive #1756 is fully operational, and has been serviced and tested since arriving by VIA Rail in Vancouver. It is currently in the process of being prepared for service, having an event recorder and speedometer installed.
Power / Generator Car
The excursion train needs a source of electrical supply to provide the lights, heat, air conditioning and refrigeration during the operation of the train. WCRA is currently in search of such a unit, which could come available through BC Rail as it continues to dispose of assets. Failing that, WCRA will have to acquire a generator unit and either install it in one of the locomotives or another railcar. Leasing a power car in the short term could also be an
option. This one important missing piece at this time is currently being sought as our single biggest priority.
Day Coach (Available for naming, former BCR Chasm)
Day Coach (Available for naming, former BCR Capilano)
These two cars are 75 seat coaches that have been purchased from BC Rail and will move to the Heritage Park in early 2003, probably by the time you receive this newsletter. These 1954 ex CN ex VIA Rail cars were part of the former Hudson Excursion train, and are in good condition with full interiors, and can be immediately serviceable.
Day Coach (Available for naming, former BCR Porteau)
This is an identical car to the other two day coaches, but comes to us without its coach seats. WCRA has coach seats available for it in another car at the Heritage Park, however they will require upholstery work after installation.
Open Observation Car #598 (Available for naming, presently Mount Garibaldi)
The open observation car #598 has been part of the WCRA vintage collection since 1964. With over 90 seats, this car is a highlight of the excursion train, allowing passengers to enjoy the outdoors while travelling on our tours. The seats in the open car are not generally sold as revenue seats, rather as room to move for the guests aboard the train as a great place for open air photography, nature viewing and the fresh air. It is a truly unique piece of operating vintage railway equipment.
The #598 received a major rebuild to current railway standards in 1999 – 2000 at a cost of $125,000, and then entered service on lease to BC Rail on the Squamish excursion train. CPR has also leased it twice for use with their steam program, making round trips to Calgary and back in both 2001 and 2002. It made the WCRA North tour as well in 2002.
Parlour Car CPR #8 (available for sponsorship and naming)
The parlour car is former Canadian Pacific Railway business car #8 Alberta, which was converted to a restaurant and sat in Gastown for almost 30 years. In 2002, the WCRA was donated the car and it was put back on rails and moved to the Heritage Park in Squamish. It has been upgraded operationally with roller bearings etc., but needs to be restored and furnished for its new service. The car will become the first class (extra fare) car in the proposed excursion train consist and will operate at the rear of the train. It is expected to be added to the train upon completion of restoration in 2004. The car will feature its original wood interior with parlour seating, a galley, and dining / meeting area. A major sponsor is
being sought to help with this project.
INFRASTRUCTURE FOR EXCURSION TRAIN
To provide storage and support infrastructure for the excursion train at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, as the train’s own home base, some construction work needs to be completed. All necessary facilities are already in the Heritage Park development plan. The key pieces now to be done are the completion of the station garden tracks and the installation of a 480v power source to allow the train to be “plugged in” to shore power when it is not operating. The power will be adjacent to the station, so that the excursion train can base itself on the Heritage Park mainline.
COMPLETING THE EXCURSION TRAIN
We acknowledge the gracious assistance of Westran Services, in advancing funds to allow us to complete the coaches acquisition. We are now working hard on funding through several sources, including current grant applications in progress and the name the coaches fundraiser, to allow us to complete the assembly of the train, pay the debts and get the train into serviceable condition.
This is a major step forward for us, but a necessary one. By taking it, we will now have an operable excursion trainset for some of our tours and for charter, as well as a base trainset for the Royal Hudson to pull when it is returned to steam. But there is much to do yet. We ask the support of all our members in this endeavour, and are particularly grateful for those who have helped us to this point.
