[?]

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society 7/27/2024

Elizabeth and I arose at the Holiday Inn and did our regular morning routines before driving the short distance to Coast Country Diner where we sat with Stephen Plant, Director of Guest Experience for the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society and enjoyed a good breakfast. We then drove around to the station and parked in the Clover Square Village parking lot.

For Elizabeth, this was her return after four-and-a-half years. From May 2014 to December 2019, she volunteered here usually twice a month, on the station side, becoming a Station Master then Station Master Coordinator. In 2018, she joined the Board of Directors as Director of Communications and maintains a very active role to this day.

We walked up the ramp of the station and were greeted by David Hobson, Station Master (and Coordinator) and then by other volunteers who knew Elizabeth well. I had been here in August 2017 and it was nice to be back, and was introduced to David and others.

British Columbia Electric Railway Cloverdale replica station built in 2013. On July 1, 1910 when the British Columbia Electric Railway began passenger service through Cloverdale from New Westminster to Jardine on its new 64-mile electric interurban line to Chilliwack, Cloverdale quickly became the dominant community in the Fraser Valley, with residents enjoying a state-of-the-art travel experience to downtown Vancouver, via Cloverdale Station, in an hour- and-a-half.

Based on an idea by, and personal funding of $25,000 from Mr. Jim Wallace, a commissioner with the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission (SHAC), a feasibility study was undertaken between 1996 and 2000 to ascertain the feasibility of reactivating the old B.C. Electric Railway line in the Fraser Valley for passenger service.

Based on that study a recommendation was made to Surrey City Mayor and Council at least two original interurbans could possibly be repatriated from their US museum owners and that reactivating the interurban line through Surrey was feasible. Surrey Council requested that a not-for-profit group be formed to undertake the repatriation, rehabilitation and return of original BCER Interurban cars to the original Fraser Valley line for use in a heritage tourism initiative.

In 2001 the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society was formed to acquire, restore and operate the remaining BCER Interurban cars. The original Fraser Valley rail line still exists in the valley from New Westminster as far East as Chilliwack. Some adjustments to the tracks have been made in the past 50 years, but most of the original track is still there. The Fraser Valley interurban line last carried passengers in 1955, a special trip from Chilliwack for Miss J. E. Fowlie and her grade 3 class from Yarrow. The original BCER Fraser Valley line remains a forgotten jewel in the valley.

The BCER was incorporated on April 3, 1897, under English laws, with head office at Threadneedle Street in London, England.

It was not just an amalgamation of existing street car lines, but of an interurban line from Vancouver to New Westminster developed by the Westminster & Vancouver Tramway Company on October 8, 1891. Although the idea of servicing the Fraser Valley had been considered in the 1890s, it was not until the Fraser River Bridge was built and in operation until June 1904, that the BCER could attend to developing its Fraser Valley Line. That was completed in 1910 and passenger service was inaugurated on October 3rd.

When completed, the BCER ran from downtown Vancouver out to Chilliwack. There were up to four complete round-trip runs each day. Carrying not only passengers, it also provided a fast method for moving freight, the mail and gossip.

Another goal of completing the rail line was to electrify the valley. Modern conveniences, such as electric light and telephones, came to the valley as the rail line spread up from the Fraser river and through settlements. Over time these settlements grew into the town centers and cities we find today: Whalley (Surrey City Center), Newton, Sullivan, Cloverdale, Langley, Abbotsford, Sumas, Yarrow and Chilliwack.

The original Fraser Valley rail line still exists in the valley from New Westminster as far east as Chilliwack.

Part of the retail area in the station.

First place in the Photography and Digital Art category in the 2022 Paint the Train judged arts competition, by Society member Helmut Gruntorad, who donated it to the Society.

The winner of the inaugural Paint the Train in 2018, "River Bend" painted by volunteer Colin Pronger.

The picture and the painting together.

Today's Crew which includes my wife, Elizabeth as she was sharing the station masters duties with David Hobson.

The station platform.

The patio where the Cloverdale Summer Music Festival performances take place. To accommodate increasing numbers of visitors, a platform expansion became necessary. In 2020, the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society was successful in being awarded a heritage infrastructure grant from the provincial government that has made possible the construction of various new projects at the Cloverdale campus, including completion of the Cloverdale Station platform/patio to accommodate a two-car consist.

Frank Horne Discovery Center with the wildflower meadow in the foreground.

Stephen Plant and Barb Ducharme raising the flags of Canada, Fraser Valley Heritage Railway and the Province of British Columbia.

The ramp, constructed by volunteers in 2023, was the final item which now makes the Cloverdale Campus completely accessible.

The Bee Hotel, the one and only such structure, built by volunteer and former director Harry Taylor, to complement the bee hives in the wildflower meadow, a partnership with the Honeybee Centre.

Close-up of a bee trying to enter his room.

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Fairmont speeder 2 operated today by David King.

Speeder carriage 12.

The accessible speeder carriage built by the organization's skilled craftsmen and brought into service on July 31, 2023.

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway speeder carriage 11.

The original speeder which I rode at Sullivan in June 2011.

A Skytrain speeder.

Parrish and Heimbecker TP56 5601 built on the frame of Canadian Pacific SD40-2 5805 by Tractive Power in 2013. It is being stored here pending sale by Parrish and Heimbecker.

Volunteers gathering for the morning safety briefing. We went into the station.

David Hobson, Station Master, welcoming Elizabeth back and explaining that she would be looking after trains 2 and 3 while he would take care of trains 1 and 4.

One of this season's new volunteers, Andrew Pickell, a former Southern Railway of BC engineer, had expressed interest in becoming a Station Master. He took to the position immediately and his presentation of a green Station Master hat and station keys was postponed two weeks until Elizabeth was present. Here, David and Chairman John Sprung present Andrew with his hat and keys and welcome him as the newest Station Master. Five of the seven Station Masters were in attendance this morning.

John addressing the volunteers.

Elizabeth receives her ten-year volunteer pin from John. While such pins are normally presented at a special event, since we live out of the country, this presentation occurred today.

John Sprung and Barb Ducharme kindly presented Elizabeth with two bags of souvenirs, one for each of us, which were received with surprise, appreciation and thanks.

Mannequin of Frank Horne, a BC Electric motorman and one of the society's earliest members.

The newly-updated monitor in the museum room, on which one can choose to see current photographs or watch a video of past history.

BC Electric Railway had three lines - Central Park, Fraser Valley and Marpole-Steveston - and photographs from each line are displayed in the museum room. Also here is the original timetable from the Marpole station.

HO scale models and memorabilia of the British Columbia Electric Railway. We all went outside.

Five of the seven Fraser Valley Heritage Railway station masters. From left to right: Andrew Pickell, Elizabeth Guenzler, David Hobson, Barb Ducharme and Alan Cumberlidge. Missing are Kyra Dutton-Piskorik and Shane Suter.

At the Volunteer Appreciation Dinner in 2018, Harry Taylor (also responsible for the bee hotel) introduced his newest masterpiece - a one-of-a-kind ticket collection box representative of an interurban car. This was received with much admiration and awe and since 2019, has been in constant use and replaced a small plastic container. The open compartment is for the ticket stubs which are collected when passengers board.

The ticket container and B.C. Electric Railway interurban 1225.

The author aboard car 1225. The ride today was part of the Heritage Rail Adventure, a "ride-everything" concept that was developed in spring 2023 and based upon the organization's school tours. Since access to the Southern Railway of BC mainline to Sullivan was not possible at this point in time, a new offering was cultivated making use of all aspects of the Cloverdale Campus.

Train attendant Bob Storey told us the history of this car. When 1225 was being restored, the rattan upholstery was needing to be replaced. The society had to order Transit Weave, a special diagonal weave, whose source was only found in Indonesia, so the upholstery did not snag those expensive silk stockings of yesteryear.

Motorman Dave Baker, a volunteer from Bellingham, Washington.

The Southern Railway of British Columbia mainline, formally BC Hydro Railway and originally BC Electric Railway. At the time of our visit on July 27th, we could not operate on the mainline so the journey on 1225 was on our mile long spur. Upon our arrival back at Cloverdale station, the tour guides met everyone and we were taken to the Discovery Centre for the next portion of the Adventure.

B.C. Electric interurban 1207 built by the railway in the New Westminster shops in 1905 to inaugurate service from Marpole to Steveston. Originally named the "Steveston", it was destined, along with three other cars, to close out the same line on February 28, 1958, bringing to an end all electric rail passenger service in British Columbia until the introduction of SkyTrain in 1986.

1207 languished in storage for more than four years in the barn of the Downtown Historic Railway in Vancouver after 13 years of service on that line. It was donated to the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society by the car's owners, Byron and Diane Cole of Seattle, who had stored it at the Snoqualmie Falls Railway Museum, and arrived at our Cloverdale facility on January 28th, 2016.

BCER 1207 is unique among the remaining BCER interurbans, as it has a raised roof known as a clerestory, where the middle section of the roof is raised 18 inches. Along with increased headroom down the centre of the car, a row of narrow windows set on each side, along both, more light into the car, and greater ventilation as they can be opened.

The interior of 1207 which is used as the theatre car where an eight-minute video is shown which highlights the car's history, last run and current use.

Car Barns and Sullivan station.

British Columbia Electric Railway Routes.

BC Electric Interurban Car 1304, The Connaught, story board.

BC Electric Interurban Car 1225 story board.

BC Electric Railway Steveston Line story board.

BC Electric Interurban Cars 1207 and 1231 story board.

British Columbia Electric Railway in the Fraser Valley is celebrating 100 years 1910 to 2010.

Riding with Pleasure and Let's Go to Vancouver! story board.

Interurban 1231 and The Interurbans and the Car Barn and story board.

Let's Go to Vancouver! and Streetcars shaped Vancouver story boards.

Interurban 1207 story board.

British Columbia Electric Railway models.

Lanterns hanging on the wall.

British Columbia Electric 1304 story board.

Anna Meyer giving us directions on how to ride the velocipede.

The author riding the velocipede, his first time. This is part of the Heritage Rail Adventure.

The velocipede at rest.

Additional Equipment story board and local businesses who have supported the society.

British Columbia Electric Railway artifacts.

Elizabeth enjoying her turn on the velocipede.

British Columbia Electric Railway 1304 "Connaught" built by the railway at the New Westminster shops in June 1911, as part of the three car Fraser Valley interurban work order, patterned after the existing set of 1300-1302.

From "The Story of the B.C. Electric Railway Company" by the Society's historian-in-residence, Henry Ewert published by Whitecap Books in 1986 is the following: "How the B.C. Electric prepared for royalty! For the visit of their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their daughter, Princess Patricia (the Duke was then Canada’s Governor-General), the company decorated its head office building with a blaze of lights and royal motifs. (This was their second visit. What changes they must have observed since their first trip in 1890.) But the company outdid even itself. Selecting one of its New Westminster-built Fraser Valley branch interurban cars, the fifteen-month old 1304, the company sent it back into the car shops for an extraordinary transformation, and when it reappeared, it had been freshly painted; it also bore the royal coat of arms, twice on each side, the name “Connaught” and the company’s name in full, both delicately, but boldly, lettered in gold on each side."

"Its interior, with seats and partitions removed, resembled a well-appointed living room, with carpet, curtains, and upholstered chairs, mostly in cream and green. The orange glass of the upper arches of the windows was masked by the curtains, and red light bulbs were strategically installed elsewhere to resemble an open fire in a grate."

"… Car 1304 soon reverted to normal life and service, its transformation having been quite magical and certainly short-lived. It is the only Fraser Valley interurban still in existence today."

(September 16, 1945) "…interurban 1304, the former ‘Connaught car,’ caught fire near Cloverdale while making its way west from Chilliwack, the last car of an empty three-car train. Only a virtually destroyed shell was left by the time the train’s crew realized what was happening behind them and a brave, though futile, attempt was made to extinguish the blaze. It was not to languish long as a bizarre floor on wheels outside the company’s Kitsilano complex; since passenger vehicles were still in great demand, the shops, busy with street car refurbishing and rebuilding, got to work, constructing a beautiful, new interurban car, its exterior patterned after the 1309 – 1311 series. Dark leather, foam-filled, flip-over seats were installed; walls of dark varnished mahogany and a cream painted ceiling clinched its unique handsomeness. For the second time in its career, car 1304 was an attention-getter. Its return to action on December 29 was an unqualified triumph, denizens of Carrall Street viewing with some amazement and pleasure a prime example of the car builders’ art at its best, something the company’s shops might have turned out in 1910, and could still do thirty-five years later. ‘Built at Kits. Shops Jan. 1946’ proudly lettered over a vestibule door, 1304 quite possibly was the last wooden interurban car built in North America."

(Saturday, September 20, 1950) "… much special activity was occurring, adroitly stage-managed by interurban superintendent Mouat and chief dispatcher D. W. Stearman." Car 1311 left from Chilliwack in the morning heading west. Cars 1310 and 1307 departed New Westminster with a full load of officials, seniors and retired Chilliwack line employees. These trains met at Langley Prairie at noon, touched cowcatchers and then the passenger service on the Fraser Valley line ended. At the conclusion of these ceremonies the three cars of the two trains were joined together and deadheaded to the New Westminster yards; all officials and guests completed their journeys on the buses.

"Within a week … with a view to the possibility of their giving longer-term service on the Central Park line, should that be necessary, the two ‘newest’ interurban cars, 1304 and 1321, had their toilets removed in favour of seating space."

"At 1:30 a.m. on July 16, 1954 the last interurban train operated from the Carrall Street Station on the Central Park line. Reaching Park Avenue at 2:10 a.m. it then proceeded to the New Westminster barn. Closing down sixty-three years of passenger service on the Central Park line was an interurban train consisting of cars 1316 and 1304. Car 1304 was saved from the scrap yard being declared the system’s official standby coach. This decision enabled the car to survive until to today."

"Interurban car 1304 had not been out on the Chilliwack line for almost five years, but when Yarrow teacher Miss J.E. Fowlie wondered in a letter to president Grauer if her grade three students might not have a train ride to round off a study unit on transportation, it was as good as done. One of the diesels hauling a freight train brought 1304 to Chilliwack, where the thirty-eight students, with their teacher, boarded it for a forty-five minute ride to Yarrow. After the students had inspected the train’s caboose, the freight train continued on its way to New Westminster, leaving behind a class of bubbly, still side-eyed children."

A reunion was held in the summer of 2015 of the riders of this last run.Car 1304 left Canada in 1955 and moved to Glenwood, Oregon to reside at the "Trolley Park" of the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society. It was returned to Canada, to the FVHRS in 2009.

For several years, 1304 sat six feet in the air for ease of crew to work under the car. Finally, the area was cleared and the trucks (wheels and motor assemblies) were moved into place and lined up with the king pin to connect the car to the wheels. Hydraulic jacks were inserted at critical points, and activated with precision to allow for the removal of the wooden support piles until the steel I-beams could be removed and the car settled back onto its trucks, an operation of several hours.

On September 9, 2017, the Connaught Car 1304 was officially lowered back onto her trucks and reinaugurated into heritage service, with Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon launching the day's event.

A lady from Australia was in our group and it was her turn to ride the velocipede.

Everyone in the group had the opportunity to ride this unique car.

The quad car, built by Terry Nichols and other members of the restoration crew, is part of the Heritage Rail Adventure.

Another family rides the quad car.

The wildflower meadow and the Cloverdale station.

A family on the quad car.

Elizabeth in the accessible speeder carriage.

The ramp of the accessible speeder carriage. The fourth and final ride that makes up the Heritage Rail Adventure is a ride on the Honey Bee speeder.

The power car for the trolley is a Cummins diesel generator since there are no overhead wires.

British Columbia Electric Railway 1225 waiting for the next departure.

View from our speeder carriage back to the boarding area.

The Honey Bee speeder and carriages. We then had lunch at KFC (Elizabeth had been looking forward to an egg salad sandwich at Subway, an offering only available at the Canadian version of the chain, but the Subway at Clover Square Village was closed for a few days of renovations.

I went myself to the Museum of Surrey across the road as Elizabeth had to be station master on the 1:30 train.

An organ in this museum.

A upright piano.

The car is king. I returned across the road for the next train ride.

The spur track used by the trolley.

The Honey Bee Speeder and trailer set out on another run.

Back in the station, this is "Royal Lullaby" and was produced by Isabel McCurdy. It won third place in the Photography and Digital Art category of the 2023 Paint The Train juried arts competition.

One of a series of British Columbia Electric Railway story boards "The Third Section: Logistics".

The Heritage Rail Adventure pull up banner.

The Society has partnered with the Honeybee Center, located at Fry's Corner, for several years.

Cloverdale Station Summer Music Festival pull up banner June 29 through September 1.

Another of a series of British Columbia Electric Railway story boards, The Third Section: Construction.

Continuing the series, The British Empire.

Continuing the series, What Became of the BCER?

Two of the beautiful hanging baskets at the station, donated by Dave Baker of Bellingham, which are hooked up to the automatic watering system for the enjoyment of everyone throughout the season.

Dennis and Joni, today's duo at the Summer Music Festival. Dennis Pook and Joni Anderson play music with a big emphasis on "Vocal Harmonies". They have been performing together for close to 20 years using their two guitars and their two voices to entertain audiences young and old. They play a range of material from folk, country, blues, to pop and draw from a wide range of songs from the last 50 years!

The generator trailer for 1225.

BCER 1225 started another trip.

Car 1225 returned to the station, after which I went back to the car barn.

British Columbia Electric Railway 1304.

The Canadian flag in the breeze

BC Electric Railway Interurban 1225 was built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1913 and served the BCER in Vancouver, Steveston and Burnaby until the end of operations, making the last run on the line on February 28, 1958. In early 1950’s, as the BCER was being wound down, many of the cars were decommissioned. Most ended up being burnt at the rail yard under the Burrard Street bridge. Some were purchased and moved to museums south of the border. 1225 was sold to the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, California and travelled south to California on its own wheels in a freight consist, making some operating appearances en route.

In August 2005, BCER 1225 returned home to Canada. After a 50 year absence, the car came back on two flat bed transports from PCC. The trucks came on the other flatbed trailer. There was some excitement when loading the car at the Orange Empire Railway Museum. In an email from Perris on August 7th, Bob Ashton (former FVHRS chairman) told us that: "BCER 1225 left Perris at noon today. We suffered through a small Tornado yesterday, which caused havoc here. Tore the roof off one building that housed all OREM old blueprints and other paper goods. This might have been OK but the rains were something I have never experienced. Then the hail. At the end trees were down and major flooding. What about 1225: Stood up well got a good soaking. Length of time we sat out of harm’s way was about 2 hours. Amazingly, after it was all over the sun was back out and the temperature back to 104 degrees."

The car arrived at the border and was helped through the formalities with the assistance of Dave Bucholtz from Pacific Custom Brokers. With the paperwork out of the way, the car crossed the border and officially returned home. We celebrated the return home with a big party on September 17th. The official ribbon cutting in the Carbarn brought many smiles to the officials and to members of FVHRS.

Over the course of five years and 20,000 volunteer hours 125 was completely restored and refurbished.

BC Electric Railway 1225 story board.

The trackmobile used to move equipment around the shop.

The Honeybee Speeder and trailers.

British Columbia Electric Railway car 1304 "Connaught".

British Columbia Electric Railway artifacts cabinet.

The signal shack from Clayburn, formerly located at the diamond crossing and used for many years by the British Columbia Electric Railway where its tracks crossed the Canadian Pacific Railway lines. After decommissioning, it was donated to the FVHRS by Southern Railway of BC. It is one of the very few complete remaining signal structures and systems. We relocated it to the rail yard of the Cloverdale Heritage Rail Centre. Over the past three years, we reinstalled the signal levers and connecting mechanisms to the two sets of semaphores (signal arms). Visitors will be able discover how trains were controlled in the pre-computer days and experience the delight of actually being able to change the signals themselves.

British Columbia Railway Car 1225.

The retail area, also known as Bill's Corner Store, after the late Bill Robinson, a long-time volunteer. We bought some souvenirs as new items had been introduced in recent years. I now own two pairs of interurban socks, a first for me in all my years visiting tourist trains and heritage railways. I can attest to how comfortable they are.

We returned to the hotel then had dinner with Allen and Liz Aubert at Milestone's Restaurant in South Surrey and watched the Summer Olympics later in the evening.

RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE