We drove off the Queen of Lake Cowichan at the BC Ferries' Horseshoe Bay terminal and Elizabeth drove us straight to Squamish and the Railway Museum of British Columbia, where we parked outside the roundhouse.
Canadian Pacific FPA7A 4069, ex. VIA 6569 1995, exx. VIA 1425 1980, exxx. VIA 4069 1979, exxxx. Canadian Pacific 4069 1978, exxxxx. Canadian Pacific 1425 1965, nee Canadian Pacific 4069 built by Diesel Division General Motors of Canada in 1952. We went inside to met Tom Arnott, the Museum Operations Manager, originally from Scotland, whom Elizabeth had contacted and would be our guide. We all went upstairs to the second level of this great museum.
Railway Museum of British ColumbiaFounded in 1961, the West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of the railway history of British Columbia. We operate the Railway Museum of British Columbia. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. The West Coast Railway Association presents the story of how the railways were a catalyst in the creation of Western Canadian communities and their economies. This is done primarily at the Railway Museum of British Columbia (formerly the West Coast Railway Heritage Park) in Squamish, BC, where the collection of 95 heritage railway locomotives and cars are exhibited in a typical small community setting. WCRA also operates specialty rail tours and the Locomotive 374 Pavilion in Vancouver.
The museum also includes the CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre and is the second largest railway museum in Canada, while the Conference Centre is a 21,000 square foot event venue.
A three cylinder Shay steam engine built by Dennis Thulin which took him twenty-five years to built and was generously donated to this museum by his widow Edith. The freelance design is based on several Shays operating in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest for logging duties. Every part was designed and built to scale exactly like the original. The locomotive is 1 1/2 scale, 7 1/2 track gauge. It has a diesel-fired boiler at 100 lbs. steam pressure with three super-heaters added.
Some of the many paintings.
Western Canadian railway memorabilia.
Pacific Great Eastern Railway memorabilia.
One of the many Max Jacquiard paintings around the museum. Born on May 19, 1934 in Flin Flon, Manitoba, Max Jacquiard has been painting steam trains since 1980. The Coquitlam resident has quietly become one of the most respected artists in Canada and North America in his specialized field of portraying steam locomotives. Max has a sizable library of printed materials, photos and slides of steam trains and the locations and places they would have operated. It is that precise attention to details that sets Max apart from the other artists. The sensitivity and passion that he infuses into his subject is what you feel in each and everyone of his canvases. And this is what the Selection Committee of Canadian Railway Hall of Fame must have seen and felt when they selected and induced Max into the 2006 Canadian Railway Hall of Fame. The evocative nature of Max's paintings has captured the attention and hearts of landscape and steam buffs across Canada and around the world.
A printer by trade, Max has been painting steam trains exclusively since 1981. These powerful acrylic images on canvas conjure up visions of the strength and romance of the steam trains that have been a part of his life since his early childhood in both Flin Flon and his later move to British Columbia. Max is a member of the 'Society of Steam Era Artists of America'. The evocative nature of Max Jacquiard's paintings have captured the imaginations of steam buffs across Canada and the United States. His paintings now grace the walls of many North American homes and corporate offices.
More of Max Jacquiard's painting.
Thomas the Tank Engine and friend.
Artifacts of railways past.
A large scale 4-4-0 model.
Dining car china.
ON3 model railroad display.
Pacific Great Eastern display with an HO model train inside.
Builders' plates and the emblems of Pacific Great Eastern Railway, British Columbia Electric Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway.
The brass bell from Canadian National steam engine 3499 and other displays.
A Scottish railway sign, which is where Tom is from.
Summer Tours Canadian Pacific 1883.
Another Max Jacquiard painting.
The crest of the Province of British Columbia, owner of the Royal Hudson, as taken from the stairs since it was not in an easily-photographable position.
Canadian Pacific 4-6-4 2860, built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1940. This series of engines was numbered 2800 to 2864 and the first was delivered in 1929. Starting with 2820, the Hudsons received the streamlining treatments so popular in the 1930's. 2850 (now at Exporail near Montreal) was assigned to haul the Royal Train during the visit to Canada by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1939. The locomotive performed flawlessly and impressed the King greatly. The CPR received permission to designate the streamlined Hudsons "Royal" and eventually each locomotive was equipped with a crown fastened to their running boards.
Five CPR Hudsons were saved, 2816, 2839, 2850, 2858 and 2860. In 1974, the Province of British Columbia bought the locomotive for an excursion train and 2860 ran on BC Rail track from North Vancouver to Squamish. In 2000, the Province leased the engine to the District of Squamish for display and restoration at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
We were invited by Tom Arnott into the cab of the Royal Hudson, which was a special treat for us.
The controls of this magnificent engine.
Inside the firebox.
British Columbia Railway bunk car 714 "H. Bud Butterworth", ex. British Columbia Railway 990114, exx. Pacific Great Eastern 990114, nee United States Army troop sleeper 9400, built by Pullman Standard in 1943.
On July 20, 2006, this car was dedicated in honour and loving memory of our father, H. "Bud" Butterworth (1920-1985) by Brian and Carol. Bud was a conductor on PGE/BCR. As a 37 year veteran, Bud's cheerful, cooperative attitude was appreciated by his co-workers and contributed a great deal to the success of the railway. Bud retired in 1982 but continued to be involved with railroading, becoming a founding member of B.C. Pioneers' Association and an active volunteer at the Railway Museum.
A walk through this car shows a variety of historical artifacts, sleep bunks and cooking spaces. PGE acquired the cars in the 1950's and put them into work service. The 714 was numbered PGE 990114 as a snowplough crew bunk car. When the railway name changed, it became BCOL 990114 and was subsequently donated to us in the 1990's. The Butterworth family paid for cosmetic work done in the late 1990's in memory of Bud.
Some of the bunks in this car.
Display cases line both sides of the walls.
Model railway diorama.
6006 number board and lanterns.
Lapel pins and British Columbia items.
This console was used by Pacific Great Eastern and British Columbia Railway dispatchers in North Vancouver.
British Columbia Pioneers Association display.
British Columbia Railway and Pacific Great Eastern items.
Pacific Great Eastern Railway a modern railway serving the north.
Railway paintings.
Pacific Great Eastern Railway symbol.
Pictures of Bud Butterworth's 37 year career.
Bud Butterworth.
Other interior scenes.
British Columbia Railway caboose 1859, ex. British Columbia Railway 1859, exx. British Columbia Railway 993212, exxx. British Columbia Railway 1859, nee Pacific Great Eastern 1910, built by the railway in 1969.
Grey Ghost inspection sedan, ex. B.C. Transportation Museum 1993, nee Pacific Great Eastern, built by Ford in 1914.
Canadian Pacific wooden official car "British Columbia", ex. Canadian Pacific 16 1963, exx. Canadian Pacific official "British Columbia" 1928, exxx. Canadian Pacific official "Selkirk" 1925, exxxx. Canadian Pacific official "Laurentian" 1923, exxxxx. Canadian Pacific official "Ontario" 1918, exxxxxx. Canadian Pacific official "Laurentian" 1918, exxxxxxx. Canadian Pacific official "New Brunswick" 1916, nee Canadian Pacific sleeper "Sherbrooke" 1910, built by Barney and Smith in 1890.
The interior of "British Columbia".
Restoration of "British Columbia".
Canadian Rockies By Rail magazine covers.
Logging era railroading.
Rocky Mountain Tours display.
Rocky Mountain Tours pictures.
Pacific Great Eastern RSC-3m 561, ex. British Columbia 561 1986, nee Pacific Great Eastern 561 built as an RSC-3, built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1951.
Canadian Pacific Colonist Car 2514, ex. Canadian Pacific work car 411526, exx. Canadian Pacific Colonist Car 2514 1950, nee Canadian Pacific 1214 1910, built by the railway in 1905.
The history board for the car.
Interior views.
Western Canada map.
Colonist Car restoration and Royal Line Fastest to Canada.
Royal Line, Canadian Northern Railway Steamship Service From Bristol Fastest To Canada.
CPR Lines in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Railways of Canada map.
Colonist Car seats.
Tom then took us into a room of these former BC Rail shops.
Work in progress, a huge model railway.
The White Pass and Yukon Railway model railway.
Alaska and the Yukon Route - White Pass and Yukon Route.
Canadian National bunk car 65940, ex. Cansteam 65940 1993, exx. Canadian National shovel operator's bunk car 65940 1983, exxx. Grand Trunk Western box car 339474 1948, nee Grand Trunk Railway 20274 1923, built by Western Steel Car and Foundry in 1912.
Interior of the bunk car.
Pacific Great Eastern wooden caboose 1817, ex. British Columbia Railway 1817, exx. Pacific Great Eastern 1817 1972, nee Pacific Great Eastern stock car 503 1955 built by National Steel Car/Pacific Great Eastern in 1955.
Interior of Pacific Great Eastern wooden caboose 1817.
Canadian Pacific baggage car 3704, ex. Royal British Columbia Museum 3704, exx. British Columbia Railway 990301, exxx. Canadian Pacific baggage express car 4810 1963, nee Canadian Pacific Mail Express Car 3635 1960, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1948.
Interior of baggage mail car 3704. It has a 50' baggage compartment and a 30' mail compartment. BC Rail bought the car from CPR for work train service but never converted it. In 1998 the WCRA acquired the car for preservation. It has been restored by a team of Canada Post volunteers and now represents a typical working mail car. The 3704 was part of a group of 10 cars rebuilt from standard Baggage mail cars in the 3600 series.
A speeder of unknown origin.
A hand car of unknown origin.
Canadian National speeder and trailer.
Speeder 404.
Welcome to the BC Rail Car Shop. We then went outside.
West Coast Railway Association display car "Patricia Anne", ex. West Coast Railway Association "Skeena River" 2008, exx. Royal British Columbia Museum display "Skeena River" 1989, nee Canadian Pacific coach 2280 1974, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1950. It was named "Patricia Anne" after the wife of Chris Forget, the volunteer who built the model railway exhibit here, which depicts the railway within the Canadian landscape.
Model trains of various gauges on display inside "Patricia Anne" which were donated to the museum.
Canadian National coach 5161 "Marjatta", ex. Canadian National work car 60603 1991, exx. Canadian National coach 5161 1964, exxx. Canadian National colonist car 2811 1937, nee Canadian Northern 7261 1920, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1919.
Interior of "Marjatta".
West Coast Railway Association business/lounge car "Lions Club", ex. British Columbia Railway 58 "Discovery" 2003, exx. BC Government "Discovery" 1989, exxx. American Freedom Train 204 1977, exxxx. Lancaster and Chester 3, nee Reading coach 1332 built by Bethlehem Steel in 1922.
Canadian Pacific S3 6503, ex. United Grain Growers 003 1987, nee Canadian Pacific 6503 1983, built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1951.
Pacific Great Eastern baggage express 722, ex. British Columbia Railway 990231, exx. Pacific Great Eastern 990231 1972, exxx. Pacific Great Eastern X231 1972, exxxx. Pacific Great Eastern 722 1962, nee United States Army troop sleeper 7223 1949, built by Barney and Smith in 1943.
Canadian National box car 484692, built by National Steel Car in 1944.
British Columbia Railway box car 993016, nee Canadian Pacific 993016, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1929.
British Columbia Railway caboose 993804, ex. British Columbia overhead inspection car 993804 for Tumbler Subdivision 2012, exx. British Columbia Railway caboose 1864, nee Pacific Great Eastern 1864 built by the railway in 1971.
Canadian National track inspection car 15006, privately owned, ex. Canadian National track geometry car 15006:2, exx. VIA sleeper-buffet lounge 1086 "Cape Canso" 1985, nee Canadian National 1086 "Cape Canso", built by Pullman Standard in 1978.
Canadian National work car 54961 1996, ex. Canadian National 8-4 sleeper 2183 "Bell Island" 1980, nee Canadian National 12-1 Sleeper 1577 "Oshawa":2, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1923.
Canadian Pacific outside-braced box car 404396, ex. British Columbia Railway store shack, exx. Canadian National 404396, nee Canadian Northern 84396 1929, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1918.
Pacific Great Eastern box car 4182, ex. British Columbia Railway 4182, nee Pacific Great Eastern 4182, built by National Steel Car in 1958.
British Columbia Railway box car 993039, ex. British Columbia Railway 983016, nee Canadian Pacific box car, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1929.
British Columbia Railway box car 993049 built in 1954.
British Columbia Railway box car 993043 built in 1958.
British Columbia Railway rules instruction car 990242 1995, ex. Pacific Great Eastern X242 1972, exx. Pacific Great Eastern coach 623 1966, nee Milwaukee Road coach 4442 1957, built by the railroad in 1934.
West Coast Railway Association open observation car 598 'Henry Pickering", ex. Canadian Pacific Mountain observation car 598 1965, nee Canadian Pacific coach 1422 1956, built by the railway in 1914. It was leased to the Royal Hudson service from 1974 to 1988, then leased to Rocky Mountaineer Vacations' Whistler Mountaineer from 2006 to 2015.
Western Forest Products logging crew speeder 123 designed by Robert Swanson, the chief engineer of the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing Company, built by Hayes Trucking in the 1940's. These railway logging crummies were a unique British Columbia design and built by a number of local manufacturers.
West Coast Railway Association baggage generator car 9622 "MacDonald Creek", ex. private owner 69432 2003, exx. Canadian National work car 69432, exxx. VIA 9622 1983, exxxx. Canadian National 9622 1978, nee Canadian National baggage-messenger 9240 1974, built by National Steel Car in 1955.
Western Forest Products skeleton bunk car 123, ex. Englewood Railway of Western Forest Products 123 2021, nee Canadian Forest Products built by the company, year unknown.
British Columbia Railway observation car 50 "Northern Summit", ex. Okanagan Northern Excursion Railway (stored at Squamish 2002 to 2005), exx. British Columbia 50 "Northern Summit" 2002, exxx. Pacific Great Eastern "Northern Summit" 1972, exxxx. Norfolk Southern "Carolina" 1956, exxxxx. Norfolk Southern business car "Mary Lee" 1953, nee Norfolk Southern 10 section observation car "Mt. Moran" 1949, built by Pullman Standard in 1924. It was temporarily named "Peace River" during 1975 and "Captain James Cook" during 1978.
A speeder of unknown origin.
British Columbia Railway RDC-1 14, ex. privately owned British Columbia BC-14 2002, exx. British Columbia BC-20 1990, exxx. South Eastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority 9155 1983, nee Reading 9155, built by the Budd Company in 1962.
Pullman business car 1910 "Pullman Spirit", privately owned by D.A. Walmsley and Company, ex. private owner 25 "Pullman Classic", exx. rules instruction car 15025 1983, exxx. Canadian National Colonist sleeper 2713 1956, nee Pullman sleeper "Aldham" 1942, built by Pullman in 1910. It was previously stored in Ontario and relocated to Squamish in 2014.
The rear of "Pullman Spirit".
The drumhead.
West Coast Railway Association coach 5596 "Paul D. Roy", ex. British Columbia Railway 155960 "Chasm" 2002, exx. VIA 5596 1994, exxx. Canadian National 5596 1978, exxxx. Canadian National 3231 1969, nee Canadian National 5596 1964, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1954.
West Coast Railway Association coach 5569 "Harry and Margaret Bluck", ex. Waterloo and St. Jacobs Railway 5569 2006, exx. Les Trains Touristiques du Saint Laurent 5569 "Cap St. Joseph", exxx. VIA 5569 1995, exxxx. Canadian National 5569 1978, exxxxx. Canadian National 3249 1969, nee Canadian National 5569 1964, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1954.
British Columbia Railway coach 5623 "Porteau", ex. British Columbia Railway 156230 "Porteau" 2002, exx. VIA 5623 1994, nee Canadian National 5623 1978, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1954.
British Columbia Railway coach 5652 "Capilano", ex. British Columbia Railway 156520 "Capilano" 2002, exx. VIA 5652 1994, nee Canadian National 5652 1978, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1954.
British Columbia Railway 150 ton crane 6501, nee Pacific Great Eastern 6076, built by Industrial Brownhoist in 1957.
British Columbia Railway air dump car 6130, nee Pacific Great Eastern 6130, built by Eastern Car Company in 1958.
British Columbia Railway idler car 6502 ex. Pacific Great Eastern 6502, nee Canadian Pacific 341198, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1929.
Burlington Northern transfer caboose 11474, ex. Great Northern X-325, exx. Great Northern X-180 {built in 1964 on the frame of Great Northern VO1000 137, nee Great Northern 5337, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1943}.
British Columbia Railway tank car 1910, ex. Pacific Great Eastern 1910, nee Union Tank Car 59835, built by the company circa 1937.
Canadian National snowplough 55365 built by Eastern Car Company in 1929.
Canadian Pacific Railway spreader 402846, nee Canadian Pacific 406846, built by O.F. Jordan in 1926.
British Columbia Railway hopper 273, nee Pacific Great Eastern 273, built by National Steel Car in 1950.
Pacific Great Eastern 2-6-2ST 2, ex. District of Squamish 2 1993, exx. Comox Logging and Railway 7 1967, exxx. Pacific Great Eastern 2 1920, exxxx. Howe Sound and Northern Railway 2 1912, nee Howe Sound, Pemberton Valley and Northern Railway 2 built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1910.
Canadian Pacific Railway official car 008 "Alberta, ex. The Gastown Express 2002, exx. The Chew Chew Club, exxx. Le Railcar Restaurant, exxxx. "George O'Brien" 1971, exxxxx. Canadian Pacific 8:2 1970, nee Canadain Pacific "Alberta" 1962, built by National Steel Car and the railway in 1929.
The Squamish station built in 2000.
BC Electric Railway 70 ton switcher 941, ex. Eurocan Pulp and Paper 269 1993, exx. Eurocan Pulp and Paper 941, exxx. BC Hydro Railway 941, nee BC Electric Railway 941, built by General Electric in 1949.
Algoma Central FP7A 1404, ex. Algoma Central 1756 2002, exx. VIA 6553 1995, exxx. VIA 1404 1980, exxxx. Canadian Pacific 1404 1978, nee Canadian Pacific 4103, built by Diesel Division General Motors of Canada in 1953.
Great Northern RS-1 182, ex. Proctor and Gamble 1 1990, exx. Lake Erie, Franklin and Clarion 22 1973, exxx. Minneapolis and St. Louis 234, nee Minneapolis and St. Louis 951, built by American Locomotive Company in 1951. It was painted as Great Northern 182 in 1998.
Canadian Pacific F7B 4459, ex. display at Museum of the Highwood in High River, Alberta 1997, exx. Alberta Railway Museum 1988, nee Canadian Pacific 4459 1983 built by Diesel Division General Motors of Canada in 1953.
British Columbia Railway mail box car 4908, ex. British Columbia Railway "Nanaimo River", exx. RARL 4908, exxx. Canadian Pacific 4908, exxxx. Canadian Pacific 29111, nee Canadian Pacific 227996, built by National Steel Car in 1937.
West Coast Railway Association display car "Kootenay River", ex. Royal BC Museum display "Kootenay River" 1989, exx. Canadian Pacific parlour 6602 1974, nee Canadian Pacific coach 2291, built by Canadian Car and Foundry and the railway in 1950.
MacMillan Bloedel 65 ton switcher 1012:2, nee Pacific Great Eastern 551, built by General Electric in 1948. This was the third diesel locomotive in British Columbia.
West Coast Railway Association display car "Cowichan River", ex. Royal BC Museum display "Cowichan River" 1989, nee Canadian Pacific coach 2263, built by Canadian Car and Foundry and the railway in 1950.
Vancouver Wharves 80 ton switcher 25, ex. Canadian National 74 1966, nee National Harbours Board 1 1953, built by General Electric in 1947. This was the second diesel locomotive in British Columbia.
Canadian National café/coach 3223, ex. Waterloo and St. Jacobs Railway 3223 2006, exx. Les Trains Touristiques du Saint Laurent 3223 "Cap-Au-Diable" 1997, exxx. VIA 3223 1993, exxxx. VIA coach 5635 1978, nee Canadian National 5635 1978, built by Canadian Car and Foundry in 1954.
Canadian National box car 417324, nee Canadian National 217019, built by National Steel Car in 1973.
British Columbia Institute of Technology 40872, nee British Columbia Railway 80811, built by National Steel Car in 1971.
British Columbia Railway shop flat car X401, nee Pacific Great Eastern, built by the railroad in 1914.
British Columbia Railway 50 foot box car 5172, ex, British Columbia Railway 5172, nee Pacific Great Eastern 5172 1972, built by National Steel Car in 1971.
Museum scene.
Roundhouse scenes.
Wig-wag crossing signal from Rigaud, Quebec.
Twin Cedars station.
Canadian National Fairmont speeder "Buster".
Canadian Pacific 4069.
We went back inside and bought some souvenirs then said goodbye to Tom Arnott and we left this fantastic museum and drove off.
Chief Squamish as seen from the car. We took BC Highway 99 to Trans Canada Highway 1 to BC 15 and had dinner at Ricky's Restaurant in Cloverdale before checking into the Holiday Inn for the night.
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