About the WCRA

The origin of the West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) can be traced back to 1958 when the steam engine was in its last days. As history was passing before their eyes, the pioneers of the Association, ten in all, began meeting on a regular basis and started acquiring a collection of rail cars and artifacts. Over the years the Association has grown and evolved but its purpose remains the same: to collect, preserve and restore railway cars and artifacts and operate a licensed railway. The passion of the Association is the enjoyment of the railway by sharing experiences through the Heritage Park, railway excursions and railfan fellowship. To members of the Association, railways are not in history books or in glass cases - they are a joyful and exhilarating experience.


WCR #16 2-8-2 on a rail excursion at Porteau
Cove. August 30 1964

The West Coast Railway Association has an impressive history. In its thirty-five years since it was incorporated it has amassed the largest collection of railway rolling stock and artifacts in Canada outside of Quebec. Since 1990 the Association has been awarded a Bronze Level Quality Award from the Quality Council of British Columbia, the first non-profit to receive one; opened a 12 acre Park in Squamish, British Columbia, to showcase its collection; received two preservation awards for its volunteer managed restoration of the 1890 Canadian Pacific business car British Columbia; received the 1994 Volunteer Achievement Award from the Heritage Society of British Columbia; and operated a balanced budget without direct government funding.
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