A Day In Greater Vancouver Featuring Burnaby Central Railway and Two B.C. Electric Railway Interurban Cars 7/28/2024

In 1913, BCER added 28 tram cars bought from the St. Louis Car Company in Missouri. Among them was Tram Car 1220, which served the local residents of Steveston to Marpole, located in south Vancouver. Painted bright red and made of sturdy steel and wood, the tram car could carry up to 64 seated passengers at a time. The Interurban line contributed to the development of Richmond’s city centre and for 55 years, provided an important economic and social connection between Richmond and the rest of the Lower Mainland. It provided transportation for workers into Steveston during the fishing and canning seasons, which is how it became known affectionately as the Sockeye Special. It also provided the municipality's farms with a reliable method of marketing and transporting their products.

As an early form of public transport, it played a significant role in the social development of Richmond. With many residents riding on a daily or weekly basis, the Interurbans and the people who worked on them became an important and cherished part of the community. It helped people to live affordably in Richmond while maintaining a job in Vancouver. The line also provided transport to and from important social events in Richmond and Vancouver.

The Interurbans did not survive the post-war prosperity that led to an increase in the number of automobiles on the roads and an expansion of new suburbs not serviced by rail. As a part of this Rails to Rubber campaign, Tram Car 1220 made its final voyage between Marpole and Steveston on February 28, 1958, marking the end of an era for the Richmond community and for transportation history in British Columbia.

After decades of being off the tracks, the City of Richmond acquired Tram Car 1220 and opened the Steveston Tram museum on May 3, 2013. Five years later, the tram made an exciting return to its former glory after three long years of restoration.

Tram Car 1220 is one of only seven remaining BC Electric Railway cars, with several "sister" trams in Metro Vancouver, as well as one in Ottawa. You can visit the other surviving BCER cars at the Burnaby Village Museum (Tram 1223) or the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society in Surrey (Cloverdale) where they offer hour-long rides to Sullivan aboard Car 1225. Car 1235 can be found Ottawa at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.

Of the 28 1220-class cars, only five remain display board.

British Columbia Electric Railway interurban car 1220, ex. Steveston Interurban Restoration Society 2006, exx. Trolleyland Electric Railway Olympia, Washington 1975, nee British Columbia Electric Railway 1220, built by St. Louis Car Company in 1913.

Motorman's controls.

The interior of this restored car.

The motorman's controls at the other end.

Display boards were set up around the Interurban. This one is titled Time Changes How We Move -- canoes, horses, trains, trams, motorboats, buses cars and Skytrain.

Try the Tram.

Nuts and Bolts.

How to drive the tram.

Find your route. This was an interactive display where you press a button and the route is lit up on the map.

This is the interactive display.

Vancouver Steveston subdivision.

Tickets of the Tram.

A colourful board of local attractions.

In front of the museum is a detailing the original stops of the Lulu Island branch of the BC Electric Interurban Railway network. The tram line, which ran on leased Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, followed the more developed areas of Richmond along the western side of Lulu Island. Based on a 1956 map of the tram route from Steveston to Marpole, it is titled "Back on Track", was created by artist Mia Weinberg and installed in 2013.

Elizabeth then drove us over to the Burnaby Central Railway in Confederation Park.

Operated by the British Columbia Society of Model Engineers, the group's history goes back to 1929 when several miniature railway enthusiasts came together to form a model engineering club. Many of them had home workshops, and in their spare time lovingly created miniature locomotives. At that time the club did not have a track of its own and members met from time-to-time at tracks that existed on someone's private property to run their trains. Naturally, these members wanted to share the fruits of their labours with other enthusiasts and the public, and to re-kindle the memories of that bygone era when most people travelled long distances by train. The search was on for a property of their own, and finally on July 1st, 1975, the club opened its doors to the public at the track which was located at the Burnaby Village Museum. Over time it was found that the site was not large enough to meet their needs and there was no room for expansion. Burnaby Parks assisted in relocating to their present seven-acre site, which had been used as a municipal works yard. In late 1991, the BCSME closed their original track, and after almost two years of back-breaking work, opened at our current location in Confederation Park on Dominion Day 1993. Landscaping of the current site included 8,500 loads of fill from the Cassiar Connector highway project with which four hills were created. They have been in operation 45 years at this location in Confederation Park.

The Burnaby Central Railway has over 2 miles of 7.5" gauge track. The mainline minimum curvature is 60-foot radius and the maximum upgrade on main tracks is two percent. There are two tunnels, two bridges and two viaducts.

The map of the Burnaby Central Railway.

We had last visited this railway in June 2011 and Elizabeth had first visited here at Easter 2011, when she became the 500,000th rider. So our rides were complimentary as she has a card good for twelve free rides. This is the sign at the corner of the property.

We walked into the park and caught this train 3801 rolling around the property.

This train, led by Canadian National box cab 7701, would be the one that we rode a little later.

Canadian Pacific 1920 was also in operation this busy Sunday.

3801 came by our boarding location.

The engine shed of the BC Society of Model Engineers.

The G scale railway, new since our last visit here.

We waited in the queue for the next train led by Canadian National 7701.

The Candian Pacific train came into the station as we were boarding.

Proof of the Canadian National box cab leading our train.

Mount Fenton G scale railway.

The train rounds a curve.

Crossing a bridge.

The train did not take the crossover.

The railway went under this bridge.

We saw Canadian Pacific 1220 train out on the line.

We then passed 3801 with many happy passengers aboard.

Crossing the bridge that we had gone under.

Approaching the short tunnel.

A Canadian National train, led by an F unit, ran by us.

A unique feature of this railway is the tree tunnel.

Running under another bridge.

Rounding a curve.

Entering the Long Tunnel.

Two views along the east property line.

We returned to the station and detrained. We then explored the G scale railway.

This feature of Confederation Park opened in July 2018. The idea started in 2011 when two directors visited the West Coast Railway Museum in Squamish and saw their garden railway.

The 3801 passed the garden railway.

The Canadian Pacific engine returned to pick up passengers.

The banner for the Burnaby Central Railway are on the side of the riding cars.

Steaming bays across the tracks.

Canadian National box cab 7701 came into the station.

We decided to ride again and had the Canadian Pacific engine pulling our train. Once we returned the station we went inside.

Canadian Toy Train Association operating and collecting toy trains.

They also have a Lionel layout.

Burnaby Central 1993 to 2023 Celebrating 30 years at Confederation Park.

Marker lights and lanterns.

Large scale steam engine with a Northern Pacific Railroad calendar on the wall.

A BC Society of Model Engineers project. Elizabeth then drove us to the Burnaby Village Museum.

Burnaby Village Museum was built in 1971 as a commemorative project of the 100th anniversary of the Province of British Columbia joining Confederation with Canada. The original layout of the Museum depicted a single street and manor house (Elworth) spread across 4.3 acres, which intended to illustrate how a small BC pioneer village may have looked around the turn of the 20th century.

After the initial construction and fabrication of the Museum, the Museum continued to grow, adding new exhibits and buildings every year. Throughout the 1980s, the Municipality of Burnaby and Century Park Museum Association worked together on plans to acquire more land to expand administration and exhibit spaces. By the end of the decade the museum’s size had doubled, and a bridge was being built across Deer Lake Brook to accommodate a new entrance and development of a rural zone. After the Municipality of Burnaby took over the administration of the Museum in 1990, staff and volunteers created exhibits and programs representing Burnaby, with emphasis on the 1920s.

Over the past 50 years, Burnaby Village Museum has become a household name in the Lower Mainland. It is an immersive, ten-acre village that welcomes those from every walk of life. Many appreciate the open air, theme-park atmosphere, which doubles as a place to learn and experience the past. It’s also a place that draws thousands of people to large annual holiday celebrations. It’s a free attraction in the middle of the City of Burnaby and offers changing and varied activities for all. Burnaby Village Museum works to integrate a more balanced interpretation of historical and cultural identity within Burnaby and in the context of an increasingly global culture.

The British Columbia Electric Railway Vorce station, the last remaining interurban station in Burnaby and one of the few extant structures left in the Greater Vancouver region that were once part of the extensive BCER system. It was designed and built by the BCER at the foot of Nursery Street on the Burnaby Lake line and is typical of the small local passenger stations on the Burnaby Lake and Chilliwack interurban lines. The wood frame structure has a rectangular plan and hipped roof. It is enclosed on three sides, with an open side for access to the train platform and a single long built in bench across the back of the station. It was named after C. B. Vorce, the Chief Engineer for the company. In 1953, it was moved to a local farm by the Lubbock family and in 1977, was relocated to the grounds of the Burnaby Village Museum.

City of Burnaby Heritage Building British Columbia Electric Railway Company Vorce Station 1911 plaque.

The full Vorce station story board.

Burnaby Lake Neighbourhood portion of the story board.

The Vorce station portion.

After 1953 portion. We then went into the building that houses BC Electric 1223.

Rails To Rubber story board.

Interurban Car 1223.

Restoration of the 1223.

Story of the 1223.

Tram Communication.

British Columbia Electric Railway 1223. In 1912, the British Columbia Electric Railway placed their largest order for tram cars, purchasing thirty-two 1200 series cars from the St. Louis Car Company, including BCER 1223. The car entered service in 1913, and ran throughout the Lower Mainland for 45 years. In the 1950's, electric railway service was replaced by buses so the 1223 was retired from service in 1958. It was one of only seven BC Electric interurbans that was saved from destruction.

The car became the property of the Burnaby Historical Society. The Society put it on display at Edmonds Loop, at Kingsway and Edmonds. During the 1960's the car was vandalized. The decision was made to donate it to what is now the Burnaby Village Museum. The car was put on display, but its continued exposure to the elements led to a proposal by the Burnaby Historical Society for its restoration. In 2000, the Friends of the 1223 was formed to undertake the restoration project. The Society was responsible for the work of the restoration, as well as raising the money to complete the restoration project. The Burnaby Museum's conservator provided technical advice and support for the five-year project.

A few of the projects they undertook as part of the restoration include: Removing 90 years of paint layers from the original cherry and oak interior and refinishing and varnishing the wood to its original beauty. Drafting patterns and repairs of the original steel side beams and structural posts to support the wooden side structure of the tram. After years of exposure to the elements, much of the wood was rotten. The new beams and posts ensure the structural integrity of the tram. Entirely reconstructing the seats, including having casts made for the 18 iron seat frames in the tram, working with a foundry to recreate the seat frames, and finding a supplier that could replicate the original twill weave rattan upholstery. Each individual seat had to be machined and adjusted to ensure smooth movement of their reversing mechanism. Rewiring the tram's electrical system, including the interior system that lights the interior, and the wiring to the switches, controllers, and motors that operate the tram. Missing brass hardware was recast and produced, including luggage racks, window hardware, and handles. Working with other tram restoration groups to locate pieces that had been collected from sister cars of BCER 1223. Some of these items were donated to the Friends, including the controllers. Others pieces were loaned to them so they could use them to make patterns, including the trolley pole base. Countless other tasks were completed by the volunteers and their supporters.

The interior of Car 1223 display board.

Keeping The Trams Running on Time.

Connecting The Community.

Riding The Rails.

The Tram Created Burnaby.

Burnaby beyond the Central Park Line.

A Tram Ran Through It.

A mannequin of a BC Electric Conductor.

Fraser Valley milk run.

Moving Freight.

Interior of car 1223.

B.C.'s Electric Company.

Powering the 1223.

Keeping It Safe. We returned outside and asked for directions to the steam engine that is on the museum's grounds.

Canadian Pacific 0-4-4T 3 built by Marshutz & Kantrell in 1879 for construction of the San Francisco Sea Wall. After that it went to the Canadian Pacific which named it "Curly" for the building of their railroad. It was sold to D.O. Mills and Company then it went to BC Mills Timber and Trading in 1888. After that it became Hastings Saw Mill Company 3 in 1926. In 1973 the engine was displayed at the Pacific National Exhibition. Years later, it became a part of the Burnaby Museum, thus Number 3 is the oldest existing Canadian Pacific steam engine on earth.

Old Curly story board.

Elizabeth drove us to Port Moody and the station museum.

Canadian Pacific Railway Port Moody station built in 1907; the second one was built in the city. Considering that buildings are supposed to be stationary, this building has already travelled to two other spots within Port Moody. In 1945, the Canadian Pacific Railway decided that they wanted to the station to be closer to town. So their employees cut it in two, placed it on greased railway tracks, and used an engine to pull it to the second location on Queen Street. After the CPR discontinued their passenger service in 1976, the station shut down and was closed. Port Moody Heritage Society, who already owned and operated a museum on Kyle St, bought the station and moved it to its current location.

Canadian Pacific official car "Venosta", ex. Canadian Pacific work car 411292 1985, exx. Canadian Pacific 8-4 sleeper "Venosta" 1960, nee Canadian Pacific 10 sleeper "Glen Atha", built by the railway and Canadian Car and Foundry in 1921.

The restoration of the "Venosta".

A Canadian Pacific conductor's uniform.

Interior of the "Venosta". We next went inside the station.

City of Port Moody map 1883 to 1925.

The waiting bench.

A semaphore signal.

The station agent's desk.

Tracks in front of the museum.

Port Moody The Western Terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Felt hat and dining car china.

Locomotive bell and beaver pelts.

Children's toys.

The Dominion Organ is possibly the first organ to be housed in the Presbyterian Church, plus a phonograph and two women's dresses.

This room was life in the 1930's.

Family dining china.

The ironing board.

Life in the 1930's.

Afternoon tea.

Life in the 1930's.

The electric stove invented by Thomas Ahearn.

Refrigerator and telephone.

Canadian Pacific dining car tableware.

Early days on the railway and a lady's dress and beautiful hat.

Port Moody history boards inside the freight room.

An upright piano.

Part of the general store room in the freight room.

General store room displays.

Port Moody's industries.

Being set up was the museum's newest exhibit, "Construction Toys Creativity Unleashed" which lasted until October 26, 2024, masterfully created by the VLC, Vancouver's Community for Adult Fans of LEGO.

General store scenes, after which we went outside.

Canadian Pacific baggage cart.

The flowers on the baggage cart.

A Canadian Pacific hand car in front of the museum.

Elizabeth then drove over the hills to Heritage Square in Maillardville, a suburb of Coquitlam, for our last station of the day.

Coquitlam’s lush and gigantic trees first drew Frank Ross and James McLaren to open a state-of-the-art sawmill on the banks of the Fraser River in 1890. Located in the area that is now King Edward Street and United Boulevard, the mill was designed to supply wood products to foreign and local markets. With a CPR station located next to it, the area around the mill soon became a small company town called Millside, where the workers lived. However, from 1893 to 1903, the mill was closed due to troublesome economic conditions.

In 1903, a new company, later named the Canadian Western Lumber Company, bought the mills and slowly reopened it in 1906. Millside, which neighboured Maillardville, was soon renamed Fraser Mills and now included a store, post office, barber shop, pool hall, hospital, twenty homes and a manager’s residence. According to Coquitlam Then and Now, in 1911, “the population of Fraser Mills was approximately 877, composed mostly of French Canadians and Europeans, as well as 57 Japanese, 20 Chinese, and 168 East Indians. The plant was reputed at this time to be the largest lumbering operation in the British Empire and the second largest in the world".

On March 15, 1913, Fraser Mills seceded from Coquitlam to become a separate municipality. It would not rejoin Coquitlam until 1971.

Over the years, Fraser Mills would operate at a smaller volume due to economic recessions, World Wars, and flooding. In 1931, work had become scarce and the Canadian Western Lumber Company reduced hourly wages from 25 cents per hour to 20 cents, upsetting workers who already were facing poor working conditions with few breaks. Many workers joined the Lumber Workers Industrial Union, but union leaders were fired from Fraser Mills and then blacklisted from working in other mills. On September 17, 1931, the mill workers walked out and formed picket lines. The strike was at times violent on both sides. Neighbours and farmers helped feed the strikers during this difficult time and on December 1, 1931, the strike was finally over. Workers received small wage increases, washrooms with running water and a lunch room.

The Fraser Mills sawmill would be opened for 115 years from 1890 to 2005 and was the largest private employer in Coquitlam.

Canadian Pacific caboose 434553, ex. Pacific Coast Division Canadian Railway Historical Association 434553 2017, nee Canadian Pacific 434533, built by the railway in 1976.

Canadian Western Lumber Company sign with the caboose in the background.

Canadian Pacific Timetable board.

Canadian Pacific Fraser Mills station built in 1910.

Hand car shed.

A railroad wheel on a piece of track.

The Fraser Mills station history board in both French and English, since Maillardville is the only French-speaking area of British Columbia.

We then went to White Spot where I had a French Dip sandwich and Elizabeth had a chicken pot pie, after which we checked into the Ramada Inn for the night and watched the Olympics which started two days before.

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