One of our readers Vernon Richardson, kindly submitted this scan from one of the CP Spanner magazines. CPR historian Omer Lavallee wrote many special seqments for the Spanner, and this one on the 2-10-4 CPR Selkirk’s was part of Steam Locomotive series he compiled.

WCRA

Official 50th Anniversary Celebrations

May is the month when the Association was formally incorporated by the original Hi-Ballers Club as a non profit society in the Province of British Columbia on May 17, 1961 as the West Coast Railfan

Association, changing its name in February 1964 to the West Coast Railway Association.

The Hi-Ballers visit CPR’s Drake St. Yard in 1959 (that’s today’s Yaletown in the background). The Hi-Ballers incorporated their initial club on May 17, 1961 as the new West Coast Railfan Association—today’s WCRA. From left to right we have Brian Biddlecombe, Martin Jergens, Glen McGregor, John Morton, Keith Anderson, Larry Russell, Doug Cummings, Roger Burrows and Hugh Little.

The original ten young people that formed the Association were visionaries in their own way in acting to take the first steps towards preserving British Columbia’s railway heritage. We are delighted to say that most are still with us in this world, and we are pleased that several remain active members of WCRA 50 years later. We will honour these founding members in our May celebrations.

Official 50th Anniversary Celebrations

The official 50th anniversary celebrations on May 21 and May 22, with events being held both at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish and the Locomotive 374 Pavilion at the Roundhouse Community Centre (Original CPR Drake St Roundhouse) in Vancouver's Yaletown area. Everyone is invited to both events and both are free.

Saturday, May 21 - join in the fun at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. Admission is free for the day and all exhibits and attractions will be open. Special events will include operating trains using locomotives and cars from our operating fleet, short train rides, cake and goodies and more. Official ceremonies will

be held at 1100 hours, WCRA’s founders will be honoured. Mini rail will operate. Hope to see you all there!

Sunday, May 22 - the historic CPR 374 Locomotive Pavilion will be the stage for the Vancouver event. This will be an extension of the annual anniversary (124th this year) event celebrating the 374’s arrival with the first passenger train into Vancouver on May 23, 1887. Throw in the WCRA’s 50th anniversary and we have a double event. Hours are 1100 through 1500 at the Pavilion, there will be cake, entertainment and more for your enjoyment.

Day Out With Thomas – Leader of the Track Tour 2011

Stops at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park June 4, 5, 11 & 12 this year. Tickets available at Ticketweb …

To Order - Click Here.

ARM

Alberta Railway Museum 6514 FP9A seen at the ARM during the long weekend in August of 2009. It began life on CN, then sold to VIA and later to Algoma Central before being bought back by CN with their take over of the Wisconcin Central /Algoma Central operations. Date August 1, 2009. (Pierre Ozorak photo)

TRHA:

Here are photos of British Steam LSWR 563 and coach #3 at the Toronto Roundhouse April 2011:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/55976115@N00/archives/date-taken/2011/04/07/

Vintage Locomotive Society:

The Vintage Locomotive Society's PRAIRIE DOG CENTRAL based in Winnipeg, is getting donated some Manitoba Hydro railway equipment this year. The equipment currently being used at MB Hydro's isolated tramway at Pointe du Bois, located in the eastern half of ^the province of Manitoba is as follows:

One 1968 built General Electric 35 ton diesel electric locomotive.

One ballast regulator

Two tampers [one is to be used for parts]

One Ford 3 ton hi-rail boom truck

Two flat bed push cars

Various track materials

The equipment should be moved into Winnipeg by this summer.

EXPORAIL

Every day May 23 to may 31

The “Royal” Visit – May 21, 22, 23 from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Enter the cab of Canadian Pacific steam locomotive No. 2850 which was used to haul England's King George VI’s Royal Train in 1939. Discover the links between royal families and Canadian trains. Children can participate in an arts and crafts activity and make their own crown, bring your camera.

Museum Day – May 29, from 10 AM to 5 PM

Free admission to Exporail, visit the many exhibits, take part in a telegraphy demonstration, take a ride on the streetcar and miniature railway

Chinese Legacies - Building the Canadian Pacific Railway in British Columbia. Produced by the Revelstoke Railway Museum, the exhibit is presented from January 15 to May 29, 2011. This exhibition explores the fascinating story of the Chinese labourers who contributed to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway between Port Moody and Craigellachie. This presentation of their travel to British Columbia, their living and working conditions and the contribution they made to the construction of the railway has been visited by thousands in British Columbia over the last two and a half years.

Canadian Rail, May - June Issue

The May – June issue of Canadian Rail will feature Building the CPR’s Fording River coal hauling railway in British Columbia, Fuelling at Brent (C&O borrowed GP40-2s on test run in 1973), Book Reviews, and rail heritage news.

Canadian Rail is available at most local hobby shops, at the Exporail Boutique, and is mailed to members of the CRHA.

YOUR HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OR GROUP HERE

Contact William Baird: editor@canadianrailwayobservations.com

If you are a member of a Museum, Tourist Railway, or Historical Group and have news and photos you would like to post in our CANADIAN RAILWAY HISTORY column, you may contact the Editor. The information must be approved and authorized to post, and be pertinent and of interest to our readers. All posts must follow our CRO Submission Guidelines, located on our home page. http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/