For Immediate Release:

Vancouver, BC, September 8, 2007 - The world famous Royal Hudson steam locomotive #2860 will operate under full steam at a gala public event on Saturday, September 29, 2007, to celebrate the first anniversary of her return to steam. The site will be the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, BC. Admission will be free to allow access to this unique opportunity to see the beautiful steam locomotive in action.

A number of special activities are planned, including:

• The Royal Hudson will exchange whistle salutes with the Whistler Mountaineer train as it passes the Heritage Park site at 10:00AM and 4:15PM
• Climb aboard for a short ride on the steam train, regular departures from 11:00AM through 3:00PM (fare $5)
• Photograph the steam train as it passes selected photo spots
• Visit the engineer in the cab and blow the whistle ($5 fee which will be donated to the locomotive's continued preservation)
• Ceremony and free cake at 12:00 noon
• Live steam operating on the Heritage Park's miniature railway all day
• Access to all of the Heritage Park's regular exhibits

Royal Hudson #2860 carried tourists between North Vancouver and Squamish from 1974 until 1999, becoming one of the Vancouver area's top attractions. She was pulled from service in winter 1999 and set aside for needed boiler work, but then put up for disposition by the Province in 2002. A joint proposal from the West Coast Railway Association and the District of Squamish was made and accepted, and #2860 moved to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in that year. Fundraising got underway and the repairs were completed by 2006, with the Grand Steam Up held September 28, 2006.

The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is a project of the West Coast Railway Association, a private not for profit charitable organization. The WCRA presents Western Canada's largest collection of heritage railway equipment, and is "Home of the Royal Hudson". The Heritage Park is open daily year round and hosts 40,000 guests from all over the world each year.

More information at www.wcra.org , or call:
Don Evans, Executive Director
604-681-4403 office
Email