BC
Rails 2-8-0 #3716 is on point in front of 4-6-4 #2860. The reliefs have
lifted and my ears ring just thinking about how loud they were.
Last updated 12/26/00
Most of the information in the page hasn't changed much in the year and a half since my last visit to North Vancouver with one very significant exception. The "Royal Hudson" was withdrawn from service for the 2000 operating season. I've been told that it is in need of extensive boiler work that the province of British Columbia has not yet appropriated funds for. I'm told that the #3716 has taken over the #2860's duties on BC Rails steam powered excursion trains.
...
When asked to name the class I railroads in North America with active steam programs, most folks can come up with Union Pacific. Think farther north. BC Rail, has the distinction of being the only North American class I railroad that operates it's steam locomotives in regularly scheduled, albeit seasonal, service. Departing from BC Rail's North Vancouver station, the Royal Hudson pulls excursion trains along the shores of the spectacular Howe Sound to the town of Squamish.
I was tipped off by Gordon Hall about a rare BC Rail steam double header to be run on June 17, 1998. As I recall, the 16th was one of those Kodachrome days and I was very excited. The 17th was solid overcast. The weather did not improve during the drive north from Seattle to Vancouver. Much of the day was spent standing around in the rain waiting for the train. However, living in the Pacific Northwest, standing around in the rain is something you soon take for granted. Luckily I had several rolls of high speed professional film with me. My mistake was trusting my favorite camera store to do a 1-hour job on the film. It could have been worse, but I've used this film enough to know that the color should have been better. Oh well, maybe there'll be another double header next year...
During the return trip from Squamish to North Vancouver, the Hudson blew a boiler tube and 2-8-0 #3716, which is usually the relief locomotive, wound up perfoming the Hudson's duties for the remainder of the 1998 season. I've been told that once they got the 2860 into the shop the BC Rail steam crew decided they might as well do the whole job and began a complete overhaul since the locomotive was due for re-certification anyway. The Hudson is expected to be back in service for the 1999 season.
CPR (Candian Pacific Railway) made a deal with Steamtown in 1998 and is now in the posession of 4-6-4 #2816. The 2816 is now in Vancouver and is expected to make it's debut as a CPR excursion locomotive in 2001.
For information on rail tours in Canada, and British Colombia, you'll want to check out Gord's Rail Tours. More information on the 2860 and 3716 can be found on Greg Chadwick's pages.
BC
Rails 2-8-0 #3716 is on point in front of 4-6-4 #2860. The reliefs have
lifted and my ears ring just thinking about how loud they were.
In this and the next photo you can get an idea of how close the tracks are
to both the highway and to the water.
Here 3716 leads 2860 and the train off the wye and into Squamish. In the back
ground you can see some of the magnificent granite cliffs which surround
Squamish. If you've ever been to Yosemite National Park in California, you'll
have an idea of just how spectacular Squamish is, even in the rain.
Lunch break. 2860 has been watered and lubed and will be backing up to the
train in a few minutes.