Mystery Equipment

Comox Logging Company number 16 running on the Victoria Pacific Railway - Circa 1970 M.S. Horne.

The long defunct Victoria Pacific Railway ran for two seasons in the summers of 1972 and 1973 using the trackage of the now abandoned Canadian National Cowichan Subdivision, between Millstream Creek and Helmken Road. The tracks were removed several years ago and the right-of-way is now a biking and hiking trail known as the Galloping Goose. Victoria Pacific power was supplied by 2-8-2 Mikado steam locomotive number 16 from the former Comox Logging Company which was leased from the owner, West Coast Railway Association (WCRA). At some time during this period it was spotted at Six Mile with several green and yellow lettered coaches.
Were these cars used on the Okanagan Express?

A closer look at number 16 in the Canadian National Vancouver Shops - Date/photographer unknown.

Comox Logging 16 was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for the Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Company of Washington and Oregon in 1929. As constructed the engine had a saddle tank. Following the demise of the Chas. R. McCormick Lumber Company the locomotive was sold to Comox Logging in 1944. At this point the engine received a tender off Comox Logging number 3, a 2-8-2 Mikado that had been scrapped. Number 16 retained the saddle tanks for additional water capacity. In 1953 the engine was moved to Ladysmith to work the Nanaimo Lakes line. In Ladysmith number 16 had her saddle tanks cut down to about the last 18 inches of their height. These were then filled with concrete and scrap metal to provide extra weight over the drivers for better traction. In 1964 the engine was sold to the WCRA and is currently in their possession at Squamish.

Uploaded 2008 photo of Okanagan Express combines numbers 301 and 302 - 1986 Bill Miller.

This next sighting shows Okanagan Express cars backing into Canadian National's Vancouver station on Main Street in 1986. Combine number 301 is clearly visible as the second car in the cut. It was built at Hamilton in 1926 and is ex-CN 7196. Combine 302 was also built at Hamilton but in 1928 and is ex-CN 7169.
 

 

 

The Peacemaker movie poster.

In late November 2002 Okanagan Express cars turned up in North Vancouver and Squamish, for the filming of a made-for-TV movie along BC Rail's route between Cheakamus Canyon and Garibaldi. This movie named "Peacemakers", starring Tom Berenger, was scheduled to premiere on television on 30 Jul 2003. Kettle Valley Steam Railway's Shay locomotive was hired for use in the movie and after being trucked from Summerland to North Vancouver steamed to Squamish on 24 Nov 2002 hauling BC Rail caboose number 1861. Several green coloured passenger cars with yellow lettering reading "Denver Silver City Railroad" waited at Squamish for the Shay, dropped off earlier by a northbound BC Rail freight train. The first two photos below show the cars at Squamish while the third and forth were taken in North Vancouver.

Combine exterior - 24 Nov 2002 William Slim.

Combine and coaches - 24 Nov 2002 William Slim.

Coach lettering - 23 Nov 2002 William Slim.

Seating - 23 Nov 2002 William Slim.