Author Archives: Benjie Layug

Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum (Lingayen)

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Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum

The two-storey, 1,480 sq. m. Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum, rightfully housed in the historic Casa Real (built in the 1840s) beside the town hall in the heart of Lingayen, the capital town of the province, is a collaborative effort between the Provincial Government of Pangasinan and various cultural institutions, with the primary goal of preserving and promoting the province’s cultural legacy.

Check out “Casa Real (Lingayen)“

Formal opening of the museum on September 8, 2023

Formally inaugurated on September 8, 2023, the name Banaan is derived from the Pangasinense word meaning “meeting place” or “convergence.”  It serves as a storehouse of diverse collection of Pangasinan’s history, heritage, ethnographic as well as contemporary art.

Ancient pottery

Among the collections to be presented in the museum include an assortment of artifacts from Pre-Colonial times such as ancient pottery, tools and ceremonial objects; traditional clothing and accessories, some crafts that will showcase the peculiar identity and customs of local villages; and also some contemporary masterpieces of modern Pangasinan artists.

A bull-drawn cart

The museum features eleven (11) galleries (three in the ground floor) that showcase the story of Pangasinan as a convergence point for culture, history, arts, education and innovation.  Knowledgeable guides lead us through the museum’s collections, providing insights into the region’s history and culture.

“Where the Asin and Bolo Embrace” Gallery at the museum lobby

Our hour-long guided tour of the museum began at the “Where the Asin and Bolo Embrace” Gallery at the Casa Real lobby where Pangasinan’s two major landscapes are featured -a salt farm in Dasol and verdant rice fields with bolo bamboo in the central part.

“Shape of Our Homeland” Gallery

From there, we were led to the “Shape of Our Homeland” Gallery, an orientation room where there are chairs and a huge screen for video showing. It also has maps of the province’s congressional districts and a chart showing the founding dates of the Pangasinan towns and cities.

Contemporary art at the Asin Gallery

The Asin Gallery, the third gallery at the ground floor dedicated for changing exhibits, is an opportune platform to feature local artists and artisans, as well as notable personalities and their contributions in Pangasinan.

Dancing Rings (Joe Datuin, 2008, stainless steel)

Depending on the theme and season, it will feature different art, culture, and history. During our visit, the Kaluyagan (meaning “province mates”) Art Exhibit, featuring works (some of it for sale) by 33 Pangasinense artists, based here and abroad, was ongoing.

“Watered by the Hands of Ama-Gaolay” Gallery

Going up the granite staircase to the second floor, we entered the “Watered by the Hands of Ama-Gaolay” Gallery, the Natural Heritage Room where paintings of Pangasinan’s flora and fauna are displayed.

. The province’s river systems

The province’s river systems are also highlighted.  The Natural History Exhibit, a section dedicated to the region’s biodiversity, features preserved specimens (civet cat, giant clam, etc.), informative displays, and interactive learning stations.

Princess Urduja (Margaret Estelle Blas

The Descendants of Apolaqui Gallery feature myths and legends, such as the Legend of the Hundred Islands plus an painting of Princess Urduja by Margaret Estelle Blas.

World War II artifacts and photo of a war-damaged Provincial Capitol Building

The “Beachhead of Valor” Gallery displays World War II artifacts (helmet, canteen, military patches, etc.), a reproduction of the war-damaged façade of the Provincial Capitol Building and a model of a Japanese Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” fighter hanging on the ceiling. Mounted on the wall is an old photo of the damaged Provincial Capitol Building and wartime newspaper clippings.

Model of a Mitsubishi A6M Zero Fighter hanging under the ceiling

The “Festivals by the Sea and the Fields” Gallery features traditional life and the festivals held by the towns in Pangasinan.

“Pilgrims Who Responded to the Call” Gallery

The “Pilgrims Who Responded to the Call” Gallery delves on the Pangasinense’s religiosity, Our Lady of Manaoag and the religious movement in the 20th century. Here, churches and faith healers are highlighted.

“Patriots and Nation Builders” Gallery

The “Patriots and Nation Builders” Gallery delves on the history and development of the province and the provincial contributions to the national identity of the country.

Salvador Bernal and Fernando Poe Jr.

Featured here are outstanding Pangasinenses such the late President Fidel V. Ramos (from Lingayen); writer and novelist Maria P. Magsano; educator, suffraguette and social worker Geronima T. Pecson (from Lingayen) and Speaker of the House of Representatives Eugenio P. Perez (from San Carlos City).

Victorio Edades and Francisco Sionil Jose

Also given a place of honor are actor, director, producer and National Artist (2006) Fernando Poe Jr. (from San Carlos City); National Artist for Theater and Design (2003) Salvador Bernal (from Dagupan City); painter and National Artist (1976) Victorio C. Edades (from Dagupan City) and writer and National Artist for Literature (2001) Francisco Sionil Jose (from Rosales).

Pantranco Bus

Replica of Manila-Dagupan railway locomotive

The Heritage Exhibits features rich displays of traditional clothing, accessories, and crafts that reflect the unique identity and customs of the local communities.

Replica of Bolinao Skull

Scaled Model of the Casa Real

The other galleries feature hand-embroidered veils; a replica of the Bolinao Skull (with its gold dental ornamentation); scaled models of the Casa Real and Provincial Capitol Building; small replicas of a bahay kubo, a Chinese junk, a Pangasinan Transport Co. (Pantranco) bus, the 0-6-2 side tank locomotive of the Manila-Dagupan Railway and even a bull-drawn cart full of baskets that were sold in a caravan.

Replica of a Chinese junk

To enhance the visitor experience, Banáan also has a carefully curated Gift Shop that offers unique souvenirs, local crafts, books, and artwork.

Gift Shop

Aside from guided tours, Banaan also offers special programs and activities, such as workshops, lecture series and cultural festivals. There are dedicated spaces for educational interactive workshops on traditional crafts, painting, music, and dance, which allow visitors to experience Pangasinan’s living cultural heritage firsthand, as well as for lecture series where invited speakers and experts will share their expertise on various aspects of Pangasinan’s history, archaeology, and culture.

Scaled model of Provincial Capitol Building

Banaan also hosts regular cultural events and festivals showcasing the vibrant traditions and celebrations of the region.

 

Bahay Kubo

Banaan Pangasinan Provincial Museum: Poblacion, Lingayen, Pangasinan.  Coordinates: 16.019805°N 120.230341°E. Entrance to the museum is via an online reservation system (launched last September 4) incorporated in the “See Pangasinan” website.  The link is promoted through the PTCAO/See Pangasinan Facebook page. Walk-ins are not allowed yet.

Garry Point Park (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)

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Garry Point Park

This 30-hectare (75-acre) Garry Point Park, a public open-air coastal park situated on the Sturgeon Banks of  the Fraser River, was opened in 1989. This popular picnic destination, at the southwestern side of Richmond, near Steveston, is fringed by a sandy, log-strewn shimmering and expansive waterfront, the park’s main appeal. Located next to the Salish Sea, it offers gorgeous and relaxing panoramic views of the Fraser River’s South Arm; the low-rise silhouettes of Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands and the sunset from across the water.

The park’s southern edge has a string of small, log-strewn sandy beaches backed by tangles of driftwood logs where you can sit and watch the fishing boats, tugs and pleasure vessels coming in and out through the fast-moving waters of the Steveston Harbor.

It features a modern sculpture (Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial), a Japanese garden (Kuno Garden), beach access, good washrooms, a picnic area and plenty of benches. The area was used as a location for filming of the Netflix series Midnight Mass.

The gently rolling grassy areas of Garry Point’s are also ideal for spreading out an impromptu picnic blanket. At the eastern edge of the park are two seasonal concession stand counters -Timothy’s Frozen Yogurt (for sweet treats) and local legend  Pajo’s (serves delicious fish and chips).

The park’s understated flora includes colorful bluebells, vibrant azaleas and, every April, the park’s Cherry Tree Garden, undertaken in 2000 during the 35th anniversary of the friendship of the cities of Wakayama, Japan and Richmond, British Columbia.  It features more than 250 carefully cultivated cherry trees that form a canopy over a walkway, making this a magnet for cherry blossom fans. During Garry Point’s annual Pacific Rim Kite Festival, in June, you can watch and kite flying, typically flown from a buggy or a board, taking full advantage of the unobstructed breezes.

Dogs are allowed in the park, but they must be leashed; and feeding wildlife and picking plants is not permitted. Dotted around the park are several well-written plaques, some with excellent black and white photos that transport you right back to the Richmond of yesteryear.

Kuno Japanese Garden

Near the entrance of the park is Kuno Garden, a Japanese garden established in 1989 by the local Japanese community in celebration of the centenary of Gihei Kuno, the first Japanese immigrant from Wakayama, Japan who arrived here in 1888, one of many thousands who fuelled Steveston’s fishing industry.

Donated to the city as a part of the centennial project, it is filled with Japanese horticultural features, symbolic stone structures, lantern and rock carefully placed to achieve the ultimate state of Zen.

Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial

The striking, 25-ft. high, aluminum, bronze and stone Steveston Fishermen’s Memorial, towering over the waterfront, recalls the importance of fishing. Shaped like a giant fishing net needle, it’s a stirring public art reminder of those who have been injured or lost their lives to the industry over the years. Its base is engraved with the names of hundreds of fishermen who lost their lives for their communities. Created by artists George Juhasz and Georg Schmerholz, it was unveiled to the public in 1996.

Along the park’s circuit trail is Scotch Pond, a historic moorage site on the north end of the park that is an evocative reminder of the past.  Home of the Scottish Canadian Cannery, it is one of more than a dozen similar operations that once dotted the Steveston shoreline. Built in 1899, there are still remnants of the raised wooden walkway that once led across the water to this cannery as well as a large, barn-like structure, on piles, that  once housed a busy, family-run boatworks that was constructed here in 1905

Garry Point Park: 12011 Seventh Ave., Richmond, British Columbia V7E 4X2. Open 2 hours.  Tel: (604) 244-1208.

How to Get There: Garry Point Park is a short stroll from the centre of Steveston Village; reach it on foot via a wide walkway that runs alongside the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site. Steveston is easily reached by public transit.

Steveston Tram Museum (Richmond, British Columbia, Canada)

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Steveston Tram Museum

The Steveston Tram Museum, housing the beautifully restored Tram Car 1220, one of the original trams that ran on Richmond’s interurban rail system and the largest artifact in the Richmond Museum Collection, allows visitors to experience authentic Interurban rail travel and learn about early 20th century transportation.

The left side of the museum

The bright red, 2,370 sq. ft.  museum, opened in May 2013 across the street from where the Steveston Station (which burned down in 1928 and replaced by a simple tram stop shelter in 1929) once stood, was designed by Birmingham & Wood Architects and built by Scott Special Projects Ltd., around the original tracks of the BC Electric Railway (BCER) Interurban Network.

The large windows at the right side of the museum

For 55 years, it provided an important economic and social connection between Richmond and the rest of the Lower Mainland. Today, you can still spot the original railroad path and power poles around the tram.

the Heritage Train Tracks at the rear of the museum

The building has 27-ft. high windows, a winch system to allow the tram  to be pulled out of the building for special events, and public art created by artist Mia Weinberg, a 1994 graduate of Emily Carr University of Art and Design, which will be integrated into the floor of the outdoor platform at the main entrance of the building.  It also has a community meeting room and had a restoration space (now converted into a programming space after the restoration was completed).

Heritage Train Tracks

Here’s the historical timeline of the BC Electric Railway Interurban Network:

  • In 1902, rail connection in Steveston started when the Lulu Island railway, owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), ran freight and passenger steam trains to the area.
  • In 1905, the CPR leased the rail line to the BC Electric Railway Company (BCER), who electrified it for tram use. This was part of the BCER’s establishment of an Interurban railway network that would connect different communities throughout the Lower Mainland, otherwise difficult to reach.
  • In 1913, BCER added 28 1200-class tram cars bought from the St. Louis Car Company in Missouri (USA). Among them was Tram Car 1220.
  • By the 1940s, it had grown to 72 cars and 140,000 annual passengers

Tram Car 1220

Tram Car 1220, nicknamed the “Sockeye Special,” was discovered in a Mitchell Island warehouse in 1992.  Serving the local residents of Steveston to Marpole (located in south Vancouver), it was made of sturdy steel and wood, it was painted bright red.

The tram car could carry up to 64 seated passengers at a time.  They ran from the BC Electric Building at the southwest corner of Carol and Hastings Street to Steveston Village.

Tram entrance

On February 28, 1958, Tram Car 1220 made its final voyage between Marpole and Steveston, marking the end of an era for the Richmond community and for transportation history in BC.

Tram interior which looks like a glowing, wood and glass jewelry box. Beyond is the smoking area

After decades of being off the tracks, the City of Richmond acquired Tram Car 1220 and, on May 3, 2013, opened the Steveston Tram Museum which was inspired by the architecture of the first Steveston Tram Station.

A mini display.  On Saturday, the last train of the night (12 AM) leaving Vancouver carried Steveston revelers who strewed peanut shells from the snacks they’d bought from the station. Not surprisingly, this last-nigh service was locally known as the “Peanut Special.”

Five years later, after a painstaking, three-year, $400,000 restoration starting in 2016, the tram made an exciting return to its former glory.

Another mini display showing chickens, a milk churn and crates of vegetables that sometimes rode alongside passengers

Tram Car 1220 is one of only seven remaining BC Electric Railway cars, five of them in BC in various states of functionality (most of the interurbans ended up being burnt at the railyard under the Burrard Street Bridge).  Several “sister” trams are located in Metro Vancouver, as well as one in Ottawa (Car 1235 at the Canada Science and Technology).

Vintage advertisements, lining the tram;s interior, of products such as Eaton’s Tea, Dri-Glo, Barq’s and even Goodwin’s “corn dodger” shoes

In Metro Vancouver, you can visit the other surviving BCER cars at the Burnaby Village Museum (Tram 1223) or the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society  in Surrey where they offer hour-long rides around Cloverdale aboard Car 1225. 

Check out “Burnaby Village Museum” 

The author donning an motorman’s costume and cap

Jandy

When we entered the tram, a male costumed Heritage Interpreter dressed as a tram conductor immediately greeted us and walked us through, pointing out things that we would never have noticed – the smoking half of the tram with no ashtrays, the screws on the outside that are all aligned, etc.

The mechanical controls and the tiny motorman’s stool

The restoration inside was exceptional – from the rattan seats, graffiti to the match striker plates (where you can strike up a light) at the smoking section.

Vancouver Fares

Exhibits and child-friendly interactive displays also showcase this piece of Richmond history. One exhibit highlights the impact that trams had on Richmond and the Lower Mainland. It includes an extensive timeline on the history of trams which is complimented with footage of trams travelling through Richmond.

Interactive Tram Map

There is also a huge interactive map of all the tram routes that ran through Metro Vancouver.  Push buttons light up the five main lines and the stations that operate on them.

Brake lever, bell cord and conductor’s coin changer

Another interactive aspect of the exhibit is a display explaining how conductors would operate the trams with the ability to use the bell and handbrake that were onboard trams.

Main Station Clock

Another display on the tram car’s restoration process highlights the efforts of volunteers and paid professionals to bring the car to its past glory. Visitors can also dress up as a conductor.

Tickets of the Tram

Evocative artifacts on display include rail spikes, tram tokens, a 1950 employee badge, a 1914 tram whistle and a handsome clock of the type that would have hung on the wall of every station along the network.

1953 motorman’s cap, BCER employee badge, reverse key

Also on display are faded signs from several old stations (Steveston, Trucks and Woodward’s); a 1950s hat worn by a motorman (AKA tram driver); a fare poster from the line’s final years (an adult one-zone fare was just 13c), a brake lever, bell cord and conductor’s coin changer.

Restoring the Rare

Adjacent to the museum is the Steveson Nikkei Memorial, a public art and contemplative garden space unveiled on June 22, 2019, that honors the 75th anniversary of the evacuation, relocation, and internment of 2,500 Japanese Canadians from Steveston during World War II.  It further celebrates the rebuilding of the Steveston community following their return from internment in following the war. 

Steveson Nikkei Memorial

Steveston Tram Museum: 4011 Moncton St., Richmond, British Columbia V7E 3A8.  Tel: 604-238-8081.  E-mail: interurban1220@richmond.ca. Open Tuesdays to Sundays, 12 to 4 PM (Spring, January 3 to May 19); daily, 10 AM to 5 PM (Summer, May 20 to September 4)  and Tuesdays to Sundays, 12 to 4 PM (Fall/Winter, September 5 to December 31). Closed on statutory holidays.  Admission is free.

 

CN Station Historic Site (Fort Langley, British Columbia, Canada)

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CN Station Historic Site

Fort Langley’s CN Station (historically known as “”Langley Station”), built in 1915 for the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) as agriculture expanded and new settlement drew people into the Fraser Valley, was absorbed by the Canadian National Railway in 1918 and was expanded to accommodate larger living quarters for the Station Agent.

Wooden waiting platform

Its life as a passenger station spanned the steam through diesel eras until 1980. The station, originally located 240 m. to the west, was used full time until 1972 when it was reduced to a flag stop. In 1980, passenger service was completely terminated and, for a time, the station stood empty.

In 1983, the station was moved to its present location, two blocks east, by volunteers of the Langley Heritage Society (a volunteer, non-profit organization).  After it was moved, the station underwent a two year restoration by Heritage Society members.  On February 27, 1984, the building was declared as a Municipal Heritage Site. In 2001, the Langley Heritage Society received a B.C. Heritage Society Award of Honor for the restoration project.

Built to a standard 3rd Class Type design (plan 100-29), this is one of the few remaining stations like it in western Canada (there were 85 such buildings built), and the only surviving Class C station (a total of twelve stations were built within a twelve mile stretch of Langley) from this era in the Langley region.

The 3rd Class station design, developed for the CNoR by influential architect Ralph Benjamin Pratt, is distinguished by its hip roof, a unique feature that branded the station as CNoR constructions. The building’s main floor accommodates an office and waiting room while the upper level contains living quarters for the station master.

The station also has a sizeable, single-storey wing that serves as a baggage are..  It is now owned by the Township of Langley and is maintained and operated by the Langley Heritage Society through an innovative partnership,

Historical plaque

The recreated station garden, featuring 37 varieties of perennials (from alyssum to zinnia), were maintained much like Station Master Richard Simpson (who sold train tickets, handled freight and sent & received telegrams, earning $45 per month in 1918 and also working 60 hours a week) and his wife Mary did from 1918 to 1929, when annual garden competitions happened between stations.  Using original plant cuttings and seeds, it is now a recreation of what would have been there in the early twentieth century.

Wooden caboose (ca. 1920)

A wooden caboose, added beside the station, houses the 1950s era Glen Valley model railway.  A 1947 railway car, purchased and renovated in 1997 by the Langley Heritage Society, was renamed E. & E. Taylor, honoring Fort Langley residents Evelyn and Egbert Taylor, who dedicated much time to development of the railway station, as did the late Bays Blackhall who ran station operations for many years.  Inside is telegraph station for kids and a gallery  of the local Fort Langley Artists Group (FLAG) in the baggage room (they have displays on weekends and holidays in summer).

1947 Railway Car

A section of track, donated by CN In 2004, was installed in front of the station to accommodate the velocipede, on loan from the B.C. Farm Machinery and Agricultural Museum.

Speeder trailer at the section of track

The station’s freight room displays many other fascinating objects and archival images while station waiting room houses a weathered trunk that belonged to Lois Bowling, the first British war bride (she married Canadian air gunner Ross Bowling on July 1, 1944) to arrive (in 1946) in Langley after the Second World War.

Portrait of Ross Bowling and Lois Cross

This well designed and visually pleasing, two-storey, wood frame station was built with a broad roof overhang and eave brackets typical of train stations from the early twentieth century. It also had station signage, wood drop sidings; dormers; 9-over-1 double hung sash windows on both main and second level on all four facades and chimneys (1 straight and 1 using salmon brick with a flair to its design).

General Waiting Room

The wooden passenger platform runs the length of front of building.  Inside is a ticket master office, with original finishes, a Baggage room and residence for station master (currently for caretaker).

Luggage Wagon

The station, representing an important part of the transportation network that spawned and encouraged the growth of Fort Langley, is now a symbol for the Township of Langley as a heritage conservation pioneer.  It is also part of the Fort Langley Walking Tour and is a popular location for wedding and graduation photographs. 

Train shed

CN Station Historic Site: 23245 Mavis Ave. cor. Grover Rd., Fort Langley, Langley Township, British Columbia V1M 2S3, Canada.  Tel: (604) 513-8787. E-mail: info@langleyheritage.ca,  Website: www.langleyheritage.ca. Open Thursdays to Sundays, noon until 4 pm (summer, until Thanksgiving).  Admission is free but a $20 donation is appreciated. Mail to: Langley Heritage Society, Box 982, Fort Langley, B.C..

How to Get There: from Vancouver, it is a 35-min, (38.8-km.) drive via the Trans Canada Highway/BC-1E. From the Expo line exit at Surrey Central Station, catch the #501 Langley Centre bus at bay #4. Get off at Walnut Grove Park and Ride (about 30 mins. on the bus) and transfer to a C62 Langley Centre Via Fort Langley Community Shuttle Bus at bay #2 and get off at the corner of 96th Ave. and Glover Rd. (about 22 mins. on the bus) The village is located along both sides of Glover Rd. – mostly to the north.

BC Farm Machinery Museum (Langley, British Columbia, Canada)

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The BC Farm Machinery Museum, housing British Columbia’s largest collection of pioneer and agricultural artifacts, acquires, collects, restores, preserves, and provides a means for displaying, for students and the general public, those articles of farm machinery and pioneer life of a historical nature which demonstrate the trend of agricultural development in the province of British Columbia.

High Cut Plow

1910 Rumely – Ideal Separator

The museum had its beginnings on May 23, 1953 when Bruce Coleman, on behalf of his family, presented his late father Robert Alfred J. Coleman’s donation of an award-winning, single high-cut walking hand plow (its mold board, share and the angle of its beam shaped on the anvil of the late Alex Ross of Bruce County, Ontario, in 1900) to the University of British Columbia (UBC), with Dr. Norman McKenzie, president of UBC accepting the acquisition on behalf of the university.

1915 J.I. CASE Traction Engine Model

1918 J.I. Case Threshing Machine

It started a planning process to establish an Agricultural Museum in the Fraser Valley. In February 1958, a meeting with a group of industry leaders was held in the hospitality room of the Fraser Valley Milk Producers Association (FVMPA) Fifth Avenue plant.

Corn Binder

Chinese Water Elevator

That evening, a British Columbia Farm Machinery Association was being formed (it received a Certificate of Incorporation on  June 24,1958) with a goal of funding and operating a museum to be located on the Endowment Land on Point Grey. After the Association was formed, the location was switched to Fort Langley instead of UBC.

Iron Age Early Potato Planter

Felins Tying Machine

On November 19, 1966, the museum was officially opened, in an 8,000 sq. ft. building (it included display space, an archives room, and a work shop for repair and restoration of exhibits), by Sir Robert Bellinger, Lord Mayor of London and, within a very short time, a second building had to be erected to house a growing collection of agricultural artifacts.

Victor Potato Digger

Water Wagon and Pump

On September 23, 1978, Phase Two and Three (the Steam Room) were officially opened by R.H. McClelland, the Minister of Health and Welfare.

Textiles

Old Cameras

Since 1990, when federal funding dried up, the BC Farm Museum Association has been run entirely by volunteers and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Loom

A 1920s rope making machine

The exterior of the museum was quiet and nondescript but, once we entered the rustic building, we were truly amazed at the size of the facility as well as the mind boggling amount of farm machinery, agricultural hardware and early farm living contraptions.

Drum Carder and Wool Batts

Casting Forms

The very broad collection of over 6,100 historical artifacts and farm-related implements (from field to kitchen items), in several different rooms, two buildings and an outdoor exhibit area, is devoted to the development of farm machinery in British Columbia.

Hand Crank Sewing Machine

Vickers Sewing Machine

They have wonderful exhibits of early farming equipment  such as tractors,  a a hand-wrought plow, a threshing machine, tomato separator by sizes, corn binder, early windmills (that pump water and produce light), a 1910 Rumely-Ideal separator, steam and gas tractors,  a sail reaper, threshers, a potato digger, and others. .

Maytag Washing Machine and Mangle

Singer Sewing Machine

Articles of pioneer life of a historical nature include a 1920s rope making machine,horse buggies, a train exhibit, an old wringer wash machine, a milk delivery truck (the last one to deliver milk in Vancouver), carriages and buckboards, an egg sorting machine, several wooden ice boxes (the early refrigerators), blacksmith making hooks, sewing machines, looms, a Bullard’s carpet stretcher, old cameras, 

Bullard’s Carpet Stretcher

Rowlett Carriage

The Antique Firearms Collection displays shotguns (W.H. Pollard 12-gauge shotgun; Belgian 12-gauge, double barrel shotgun; Hopkins & Allen 12-gauge, double barrel shotgun; etc.), rifles (Winchester Model 1895, Mauser Model 1878, single shot rifle; Stevens single shot rifle; Westley Richards improved Martini-Henry rifle; Vetterli rifle; Remington cal. 22 rifle; 1883 Martini-Henry rifle; etc.), revolvers (British Bulldog revolver; etc.), a ca. 1895 pistol owned by George Turnbull (North Beresford, Saskatchewan) and a flintlock pistol.

Antique Firearms Collection

Gun Display Parts and Pieces

Also on display here are a clay pigeon trap, a World War I helmet, bullets, a tobacco can, powder flask, bullet molds, shot pouch, awls and a display of parts and pieces of a gun.

Ford Model T with Tractor Kit and Snowplow

World War 1 Military Saddle

Hanging from the ceiling is a vintage Skyway Tiger Moth crop sprayer plane, BC’s first crop duster, which was converted by Art Seller.

The Skyway Tiger Moth Sprayer

In 2017, five new murals by local artists were unveiled. Hay’s Room was built in memory of Dr. Ken Hay, a founding member of the BC Farm Machinery Museum Association in 1958.   A research library, with over 10,000 books, pamphlets and manuals of historical information, is also available.

Hay’s Room

The Farm Parlor

The BC Farm Machinery Museum, a great place to spend the afternoon, was definitely worth a visit.  The friendly volunteers were knowledgeable and willing to share stories related to the items on display.  Though there wasn’t much in the form of interpretative displays, the sheer volume of items was still a sight to behold.

Milk Delivery Wagon

Two Headed Calf born in Brooks, Alberta (southeast of Calgary).  It lived for three weeks in 1980

BC Farm Machinery Museum: 9131 King St., Langley, British Columbia V1M 2R6. E-mail: bcfm@telus.net.  Website: www.wcra.org and www.bcfma.com.  Tel: (604) 888-2273.  Open Open daily from April 1, 2023 until September 30, 2023 (closed for the winter season), 10 AM to 4:30 PM.  Admission is free.  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmmuseumbc/

Engine No. 374 (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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CPR Engine 374

After buying shoes at  MacArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Grace, Jandy, Kyle and I again boarded the SkyTrain from Templeton Station to Yaletown-Roundhouse.  Upon arrival at the station, we just walked about 250 m. to get the Engine 374 Pavilion, along the shores of False Creek in Yaletown.

CPR Engine 374 Pavilion

It houses a static display of historic Engine No. 374, a Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) steam locomotive that pulled the first transcontinental train (carrying 150 passengers) that arrived in Vancouver on May 23, 1887, finally joining Canada from the East Coast to Vancouver on the West Coast.

CPR Engine 374 Pavilion interior

This ten months after sister Engine No. 371 brought the first train to cross Canada into Port Moody on July 4, 1886, roughly 32 kms. (20 mi.) to the east.

CPR Engine 374 Tender

Portrait of Queen Victoria at the rear of the tender

It was renumbered three times – 374 until 1907, 92 until 1909, 245 until 1913, 158 until 1945.  Originally, it was equipped with a “diamond” smokestack but, when it got to British Columbia, it was swapped for a familiar “sunflower” stack.

Sunflower smoke stack

Engine No. 374 was built in May 1886 by the Montreal shops of CPR, one of eight (371 to 378) similar steam locomotives (with 4-4-0 wheel arrangement and having 69-in. driving wheels) built that year.  In the 1890s, the 69” drive wheels were replaced with 62” ones for better traction.

Driver’s Compartment

While No. 371 was scrapped in October 1915, No. 374 was completely rebuilt in September 1914 and continued in service until July 1945.

Because of its historical significance, upon its retirement, it was donated to the City of Vancouver on August 22, 1945.  It was placed  on display on a section of track in Kitsilano Beach Park, remaining there until 1983.

Due to exposure to the salt air and a lack of upkeep, it suffered greatly. In 1963, a vain attempt was made to move it into the former aircraft hangar (now the Community Music School) in Vanier Park.

Cowcatcher and headlight

In 1981, the West Coast Railway Association (WCRA), a group of railway enthusiasts, launched an effort to restore the engine.

Locomotive Whistle

The locomotive was moved from Kitsilano and placed in a warehouse in Granville Island where dedicated volunteers restored it to its former glory.   In 1985, the engine was transported North Vancouver’s Versatile Shipyards for final restoration in time for Expo 86.

Running Gear

On February 13, 1986, the refurbished Engine No. 374 was transported to the renovated former CPR Drake Street Roundhouse  where it was put on display on the turntable and became a prime attraction.

Coupler

After the Expo, the engine was placed inside the Roundhouse.  In May 1988, volunteers were allowed access to examine, clean and polish the engine and set up arrangements for a public opening.

Telegraph Set

In 1988, the Expo 86 site, including the Drake Street Roundhouse, was sold to Concord Pacific, and, in the course of the False Creek North Development Plan, the developer agreed to convert and expand the buildings to comprise the Roundhouse Community Centre (designed by Baker McGarva Hart and completed in 1997).

AAR knuckle coupler or Janney are semi-automatic form of  railway coupling that allows rail cars and locomotives to be securely linked together without rail workers having to get between the vehicles

Before the Roundhouse was converted, successful fundraising efforts were undertaken by the Vancouver Parks Board and the Lions Club, among others, to build a new building adjacent to the Roundhouse house Engine No. 374. The new building was inaugurated on August 22, 1997.

Old telephones and signages

Part of the floor of the building consists of 20,000 “Heritage” bricks which are engraved with the names of individuals who bought one brick (for $19.86 each), which raised funds (totaling $400,000) through the unique Heritage Brick Program sponsored by Imperial Oil Limited.  You can climb on board the cab and ring the bell.

Heritage bricks with names of donors

Here are the engines’ specifications:

Arbutus Corridor railroad spikes

The pavilion, now a central feature of the Yaletown area redevelopment, is staffed entirely by volunteers from the West Coast Railway Association and, on average, sees roughly 41,000 visitors per year as of 2015.

Plate used in CPR Engine 374

An anniversary celebration is held annually on the Sunday before Victoria Day.   The WCRA also runs the Railway Museum of British Columbia up in Squamish.

Check out “Railway Museum of British Columbia:  CN Roundhouse and Conference Center,” “Railway Museum of British Columbia: Pacific Great Eastern Car Shop” and “Railway Museum of British Columbia: Railyard”

 

Miniature railway village

Also on display old CPR Engine 374 photos and posters; a miniature railway village; model trains; old telegraph set, signages; old telephones, fine china used on the train; Arbutus Corridor railroad spikes; AAR Knuckle Coupler; etc.

Old photos

Canadian Pacific Poster

There’s also a gift shop selling souvenir Tshirts, mugs, plates and caps; train whistles; postcards; etc.

Gift Shop

The “Chinese Legacies: Building the Canadian Pacific Railway” Exhibit, circulated by the Revelstoke Railway Museum, explores the story of the Chinese laborers during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental line, in the 1880s, the lasting impact it had on their lives, as well as their contribution to Canadian national development.

Chinese Legacies: Building the Canadian Pacific Railway

Engine 374 Pavilion: 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, British Columbia V6Z 2W3. E-mail: info@wcra.org. Website: www.wcra.org. Tel: (604) 713-1800.  Open Wednesdays to Sundays, 10 AM to 4 PM during the summer and 11 AM to 3 PM in the winter.  Admission is free.

Harrison Lake and Lagoon (Harrison Hots Springs, British Columbia, Canada)

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Harrison Hot Springs

On the morning of our 32th day in Vancouver, our whole family drove 122 kms. (a 1.5-hour drive) to the resort community of Harrison Hot Springs, east of downtown Vancouver, were we were to join a relaxing picnic with some Vancouver friends.

Parking area along Esplanade Avenue

It is home to soothing, natural mineral hot springs, a long sandy beach and beautiful Harrison Lake and Lagoon. Both town and lake were named after Benjamin Harrison, a director (later Deputy Governor from 1835 to 1839) of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Lillooet Avenue

Upon arrival, we parked near the Harrison Hot Springs Village promenade, a paved walkway that runs parallel to Esplanade Ave..  It connects the beach, spa resort, retail shops and restaurants.

Rendall Park

Public Washroom and Fitness Area

Along the promenade, we set up our picnic spread at the lakefront Rendall Park, a large grassy field with picnic tables, port-a-potties, barbecue pedestals, colorful gardens and big, old shady trees at the east side of Harrison Village, just past the boat launch.

Killer’s Cove Marina

Harrison Village Mall

Located near the Harrison Yacht Club and Ranger Station Art Gallery, the park had good views of Harrison Lagoon and the Marina, on one side, and apartments, condos, hotels and restaurants on the other.

Public Mineral Pool

The Public Pool is centrally located at the junction of Hot Springs Road and the Esplanade.

Harrison Lake

The largest lake in the southern Coast Mountains of Canada, cozy Harrison Lake is located in the beautiful Fraser Valley east of Vancouver.  It covers about 218 sq. kms. (84 sq. mi.) in area and is about 60 kms. (37 mi.) in length and, at its widest, almost 9 kms. (5.6 mi.) across. It has a surface elevation of 10 m. (33 ft.), an average depth of 151.4 m. (497 ft.), a maximum depth of  279 m. (915 ft.) and a water volume of 33 sq. kms. (27,000,000 acre⋅ft.).

The author with Harrison Lake in the background

The lake is the last of a series of large north-south glacial valleys tributary (the others to the west are the Chehalis, Stave, Alouette, Pitt, and Coquitlam Rivers) to the Fraser along its north bank east of Vancouver, British Columbia. East of the lake are the Lillooet Ranges while to the west are the Douglas Ranges.

Beach volleyball

Children’s Playground

During the busy summer season, Harrison Lake is popular its beautiful sandy beaches along with picturesque parks, swim areas, playgrounds, beach volleyball and a wide variety of water activities (boating, kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, jetskiing, sailing, etc.) situated along the beach (or you can just hanging out in the water and on the sand).

Harrison Watersports

There’s also an amazing inflatable water playground (Harrison Watersports), with its trampolines and bumper boats, out in the lake that’s open (for a fee). A glacier-fed lake, Harrison Lake can be very cold. There are no lifeguards on any of the beaches in Harrison Hot Springs.

Harrison Lagoon

Harrison Lagoon (on the southern tip of Harrison Lake), on the other hand, is an artificial water body created in the 1960s.  It is divided from Harrison Lake by a man-made berm built with rock and sand and designed to allow for water to come through the rocks into the lagoon from the lake. Because of this, it is a natural water body and you will notice the lagoon rise and fall with the level of the lake.

The manmade berm

The lagoon is a popular swimming hole during the summer as it gets quite warm. On hot days, there can be upwards of 400 people swimming, tanning, and wading here. It is also safe for kids to swim and play as it is protected, shallow and warmer than the lake.

We tried out our two inflatable stand up paddle boards, first at the lagoon and, later, at the lake itself. Both lagoon and lake have a cordoned off swimming area. 

Kayaking and stand up paddle boarding at Harrison Lake

We also hiked the generally easy, 1.4-km. (0.9-mi.) loop trail near Harrison Hot Springs, a very popular area for birding, mountain biking, and running which took me 20 mins. to complete. Along the way, while exploring, I encountered joggers, walkers and pet owners (dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash).

Harrison Lake and Lagoon: Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia V0M 1K0, Canada.  Tel: (604) 796-5581. E-mail info@tourismharrison.com.  Website: www.tourismharrison.com. Coordinates: 49°30′N 121°50′W.

Harrison Watersports: Admission: $40 CAD ($31 USD) for a 2-hour pass to the waterpark (wetsuit not included, but you can rent one for around $6 CAD). The second package is $57 CAD ($44 USD) and it includes a 2-hour pass, transportation to and from the waterpark, a wetsuit, and a 30-minute bumper boat ride. Open from early June until early September, 11 AM to 6 PM daily.

 

How to Get There: Harrison Hot Spring is located about 30 mins. northeast of Chilliwack, 8 kms. (5 mi.) north of Agassiz, on the Lougheed Highway 7, and 123 kms. (77 mi.) east of Vancouver (1-½ to 2-hour drive).  From Vancouver, travel along Highway 1 and take Exit # 135 to head north up Highway 9 through Agassiz. Continue for another 8 kms. ( 5 mi.).

Deep Cove (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

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Deep Cove

On afternoon of our 2th day in Vancouver, our whole family drove to Deep Cove to again escape the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy a more relaxed, rural vibe.  Formerly known as Deepwater, this small but beautiful and picturesque local, waterfront-oriented West Coast village centre at the far eastern edge of the District of North Vancouver, within Say Nuth Khaw Yum Provincial Park (formerly called Indian Arm Park), was just a short and easy, 15-km. (25-min.) drive away from our place.

Panorama Park

As it was a weekend, Panorama Park, a picnic shelter, large grassy lawns on a hill and a popular children’s play area slightly to the north of the shops and restaurants, was packed and it was some time before we found a parking spot as well as a suitable, shady spot on the grass for our late picnic lunch.

Picnicking at Panorama Park

Bounded by the Seymour community to the west, and the wilderness forests of the North Shore mountains, Deep Cove, is on the southern end of the Indian Arm, (its proper First Nation’s name is Sleilwaut or Səl̓ilw̓ət), the southernmost glacial fiord in Canada which is over 20 kms. (12 mi.) long. And if you head just a few kilometers (1.8 mi.) further south, you’ll hit the Burrard Inlet which separates the city of Vancouver from North Vancouver.

Deep Cove Marina

Home to world-class recreation opportunities for locals and visitors alike, it is one of the most scenic spots in the Lower Mainland and is one of the few in Indian Arm which has both a sheltering shape and the shallow bottom required for overnight anchorage of pleasure vessels. The Deep Cove area includes, besides Deep Cove village, Cove Cliff, Dollarton, and Indian Arm neighborhoods.

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center

Deep Cove (or simply “The Cove” as the locals say it), home to some of North Vancouver’s and the entire Lower Mainland’s most expensive real estate, is a wonderful place for walks and hikes or simply to enjoy the views, with a couple of nice parks along the waterfront which, on Friday evenings in the summer, plays host to free live music concerts.  The village’s “downtown” consists primarily of a single street lined with restaurants, an ice cream parlor or two, coffee shops, unique boutiques and galleries.

Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center

Deep Cove is host to a number of interesting events each year, including the following:

  • Penguin Plunge– a New Year’s swim outdoors in the frigid waters takes place every January 1st in the early afternoon. About 300 participants take part each year, with many of them in costumes.
  • Summer Concerts at Panorama Park– free live outdoor concerts take place in the village on Friday evenings in the summer. (Similar concerts are offered elsewhere in North Vancouver on the same day as well, including in Lynn Valley and Edgemont Village.)
  • Carol Ships Shoreline Celebration– a winter holiday event with a community bonfire, music and boats with Christmas lights in December.

Kayaks by the beach

You’ll also be hard pressed to find a better place to do kayaking, boating, canoeing or stand up paddle boarding and, since we also brought the two inflatable paddleboards, Bryan and Kyle did stand up paddleboarding up Indian Arm at the sheltered bay (also called Deep Cove).  As it was summer, there were also kayaks, paddle boards and canoes that can be rented at a rental shop (Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak Center) to the south. Beyond is more parkland.

Bryan and Kyle on their inflatable paddle board

Deep Cove’s sandy beach was small but nice for swimming. In town, a paved pathway runs all along the water, with Deep Cove’s pier and the marina in the middle.

Deep Cove: District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

How to Get There: From Vancouver, take the #211 bus from Burrard Station in central downtown.  The trip takes about 50 minutes in total.

Bowen Island (British Columbia, Canada)

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Bowen Island

On our 18th day in Vancouver, we again went on a day tour to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this time to a unique, peaceful and alluring island escape called Bowen Island, an island municipality that is still part of Metro Vancouver and within the jurisdiction of the Islands Trust.

Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal

A first for Grace, Jandy and I, Bryan, Cheska and Kyle have been here before, staying two nights and exploring the island on foot.  The island offers breathtaking views, hiking trails, relaxing beaches and a picturesque coastline where you can do family-friendly outdoor activities such land-based fishing, sea kayaking or stand up paddleboarding. You can also bike or scooter your way around the island.

On our way on board the Queen of Capilano

Located in the middle of beautiful Howe Sound, the 50.12 sq. kms. (19.35 sq. mi.)Bowen Island is approximately 6 kms. (3.7 mi.) wide by 12 kms. (7.5 mi.) long and, at its closest point, is about 3 kms. (1.9 mi.) west of the mainland. In Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (the Squamish language) of the Squamish people, the name for Bowen Island isy Nex̱wlélex̱m meaning “fast drumming ground”).

The lovely scenery along the way….

Bowen Island was formerly called Isla de Apodaca (after the Mexican town of Apodaca, in northeast Nuevo León state) by the Spanish Captain José María Narváez in July, 1791. In 1860, the  island was renamed the after Rear Admiral James Bowen, master of HMS Queen Charlotte. Currently, the local economy is largely dependent on commuters who work on the mainland in Greater Vancouver. As it was summer, the population of 4,256 is supplemented by about 1,500 visitors.

Our destination – Bowen Island

The 30.3-km. drive to the Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal in West Vancouver, via the Trans-Canada Highway/BC-1W, took us just over 30  mins. Upon arrival, we joined the queue (it was a Sunday weekend) of cars waiting to board the Queen of Capilano, a regular car and passenger ferry service from provided by BC Ferries, leaving the port by 1:55 PM. The relaxing and easy crossing to Snug Cove Ferry Terminal on the east coast of the island took just a short 20 mins. but included picturesque views.

Snug Cove Ferry Terminal

Upon arrival at Snug Cove, we drove for about 10 mins., along the island’s only road that bisects the heavily forested and hilly terrain, to Tunstall Bay Community Beach, one of the island’s 48 mostly rocky and pebbly beaches and coastal access points (some of them neighborhood beaches) and one of four popular community beaches (the others are Bowen Bay Beach, Roger Custis Beach and Sandy Beach, the closest to Snug Cove).

Tunstall Bay Community Beach

The popular beach, originally a retirement community in the 1950s, is arguably the best beach for swimming, sunbathing, kayak launching and sunset watching on Bowen Island.  It also has an incredible view of the Pasley Islands as well as the mountains.  At a grassy area across the parking area, we set up our picnic spread where we had a very late lunch.  Aside from a parking area, this popular beach had toilets and garbage bins.

Roger Custis Beach

After our picnic at the beach, we next drove to Roger Custis Beach, another community beach in Lighthouse Cove at the west end of the island. We parked our car at the small parking lot which can accommodate six cars.

Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse

From there, a short trail lead us down to the water’s edge.  We spent almost an hour there, with Cheska and Kyle climbing the jagged rocks to get to the base of the small but charming Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse.

Bryan, Kyle and Cheska (holding Luffy)

Here, we had beautiful views of Georgia Strait (with Vancouver Island across the way) and the Keats and Pasley island group on the right. About 600 yds. (a 10-min. walk) from the lighthouse is Pebbly Beach, a stretch of sand amongst low cliffs and tall arbulus trees.

Jandy and Grace

From Lighthouse Cove, we drove to the beautiful and serene, marshy Killarney Lake, the largest lake on the island and a local favorite in sprawling Crippen Regional Park.  A perfect reason to make a day trip to the island, we parked along the southern shore which has a picnic area and toilet facilities.

Killarney Lake

Nearby is a dam built in the 1920s to create a catch basin for drinking water which increased the lake’s size.  At its far end are ghostly trees.  The lake, much of its foreshore blanketed with lily pads,  is surrounded by century-old second growth forest (the island was logged in the late 1890s).

Fauna sighted here include eagles, belted kingfisher, blue herons, wood ducks and red-breasted sapsuckers.  Swimming is not recommended here due to the presence of leeches.

Killarney Lake Dam

Its easy, well-maintained and marked, 7.9-mile lollipop hiking trail that first wraps around the marshy shoreline of the lake is generally considered as a moderately challenging route ( 1.5 to 2 hours at a moderate pace with minimal elevation gain).

Most of it is through the Pacific temperate forest, hiking along wooden boardwalks surrounded by ferns, with some undulating stretches around the northern side and brief breathtaking views across the waters of the tranquil lake.

the long queue of cars waiting to board the ferry

Finally, from Killarney Lake, we drove along the main road where we came from to return to the ferry.  Cheska parked the car directly along Bowen Trunk Road, joining a long queue leading to the ferry, and waited.  The return trip was free (the ticket we purchased in Vancouver was good for a round-trip fare).

Snug Cove

The Pub

Barcelona Tapas and Wine Bar

Since we still had time before the ferry departs, Jandy and I alighted to do some sightseeing, walking towards Snug Cove, the main population center,  a lovely place with a genuine small town feel that you can wander if you’ve got nothing but time.

Bowen Island Public Library

Bowen Island Historians’ Museum and Archives

It is home to an astonishing number of craft shops, art galleries and delightful boutiques (selling flowers, stylish clothes, eco-friendly soaps, etc.) at Artisan Square,  2 museums, a post office, a library and restaurants.

Snug Cove Marina

Doc Morgan’s

Just off the ferry terminals is the Snug Cove Marina.  The mock Tudor-style Union Steamship Company Store, dating from 1924, houses government offices.

Union Steamship Company Marina

The author

It was once the centerpiece of a private resort boasting campgrounds, 180 cottages and a 800-pax dance pavilion.  We departed on the 6:50 PM ferry, again on board the the Queen of Capilano, back to Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal.

Passengers boarding the Queen of Capilano

Cars were next….

Bowen Island: British Columbia V0N 1G1. E-mail: info@tourismbowenisland.com. Website: www.tourismbowenisland.com.

Railway Museum of British Columbia: Pacific Great Eastern Car Shop (Squamish, Canada)

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Pacific Great Eastern Car Shop

From the CN Roundhouse and Conference Center, I walked over to the historic Pacific Great Eastern Car Shop.

Check out “Railway Museum of British Columbia:  CN Roundhouse and Conference Center“

Interior of Car Shop

Built in 1914, it was moved to the RMBC in 1994, the largest building ever moved in one piece in Western Canada.

Speeder Ride

Pump Car

Today, it is home to a 15-ton overhead crane.  You can view restoration work in progress as well as some exhibits.

Luggage Wagon

Mail Delivery Van

Housed within is a CP 2514 Colonist Car (one of a few still around today), CPR Baggage Mail Car 3704 and Pacific Great Eastern RS3 Diesel 561 locomotive.

Railway Scaled Model

HQ Scaled Modular Model

Also on display here are a pump car, a railway scaled model, a luggage wagon, a mail delivery van, a scale HQ modular model and a speeder car (once used as motorized maintenance vehicles to transport crews to their worksites along the tracks).

CPR Baggage Mail Car 3704

The CPR Baggage Mail Car 3704, built in 1949, 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 and it was restored by a team of Canada Post volunteers.

Mail sorting area

Now representing a typical working mail car, No. 3704 was part of a group of 10 cars rebuilt from standard Baggage mail cars in the 3600 series.

Exhibit area

 

The CP 2514 Colonist Car, built in 1905, is one of a very few Colonist sleeper cars still around today. Built to carry settlers, mostly European, to settle in Western Canada, passengers spent 4 to 5 days in the car travelling across Canada.

CP 2514 Colonist Car

The last mainline services these cars saw was carrying troops during World War 2. Very uncomfortable and often overcrowded, it had hard wooden slat seats for 50 passengers, but they would, at times, carry 100 passengers, with people often having to sit on the floor or stand.

Passenger seating area

At each end of the car were coal stoves for heat and to allow passengers to cook meals (passengers would have to bring their own food and cooking utensils).

Cooking stove

There were also some pull down sleeping berths (passengers had to supply their own bedding) and washing facilities at each end of the car, one for women and the other for men.

The Pacific Great Eastern RS3 Diesel 561, built in 1951 by Montreal Locomotive Works, putting out 1600 HP, is a freight workhorse frequently seen in service at the park, switching trains in and out of the round house and turntable. This locomotive, representing the first “road” diesels operated by the PGE, was in service for over 35 years before being retired and acquired by the museum.

Pacific Great Eastern RS3 Diesel 561 Locomotive

Railway Museum of British Columbia: 39645 Government Road, Squamish, British Columbia V8B 0B6.  Tel:  604-898-9336.  E-mail: Info@wcra.org. Website: www.wcra.org. Open every Saturday and long weekends, Sundays all summer, 10 AM – 5 PM, select Thursdays, 10 AM – 3 PM. Group Tour events Special Access.  Admission (plus taxes): ($25 (adults, 19–59 years), $20 (seniors, 60+ years), $18 (students ages 12+), $10 (children, 6-11 years), $75 (family, where members must reside at the same address). Toddlers, under 5 years of age, are free admission.  Admission tickets usually include all rides and activities.

How to Get There: the museum isn’t so easy to find unless you have a good map or GPS. Driving past the main intersection with Petro-Canada, 7-Eleven & McDonalds, turn left at either of the next two exits (Industrial Way or Commercial Way) then turn right on Queens Way and follow that a short distance until it merges with Government Road at the stop sign. Proceed across the BC Railway Crossing (after looking both ways). The entrance to the museum will be on your right.