22 June 2006
Railway System Played Key Role in Early Development
Mission City British Columbia - The train perhaps played
the most significant role in the early development of Mission.
While the mission, after which the town was named, came in the early 1860s, it was not until the Canadian Pacific Railway was built in
the 1880s that any significant settlement began.
And, it was not until a railway bridge was built across the Fraser River linking Mission with the U.S. in 1891, that Mission City was
put on the map.
While the train upstaged the importance of boating for the transportation of people and goods, it was the car and the road that usurped
the railway in large part.
Only recently, with the establishment of the West Coast Express, has Mission returned to its original railway past.
Yet, there once was another railway in Mission, the like of which has not been resurrected in our town.
It was called "The Mission City Lines," and even the train that ran on it had a name.
It was called "The Strawberry Special."
The train was the brainchild and creation of Mission's Percy Routledge, long-time resident and garage owner.
In fact, Percy Routledge was a pioneer, but not of the homestead variety.
Actually, he was a pioneer of automotive mechanics, being one of the earliest owners and operators of a garage in Mission.
His first business opened on Main Street in 1921, a little over 10 years after the first car had arrived in Mission.
Later, Percy opened another garage on the corner where Tim Hortons now stands.
Percy was both an entrepreneur and inventor. He built his own auto wrecker and a 500 ton hydraulic press for mounting solid tires on
vehicles.
One of his greatest passions, however, was the steam engine.
Using his own design, Percy built a working scale model train with passenger cars and a coal tender. The model locomotive was completed
in 1941 and in July a line was established at Swan's Point on Hatzic Island.
Launched during the war years, Percy used the proceeds from ticket sales to raise money for the Red Cross.
A handsome train, with the number 1941 painted on the side of the engine, and "Mission City" on the coal tender (upon which
the engineer sits), the "Strawberry Special," did over 3,500 miles in her first year.
The train was even taken on the road. During the first year of its operation, for example, the train was featured at the Haney Fair.
It hauled kids and kids-at-heart for 13 hours, burned over a hundred pounds of coal, and traveled a total of 67 miles!
Weighing around two tons, with a boiler pressure of 150 pounds and hydraulic brakes, perhaps the Special's most interesting features
were Percy's original designs for the firebox and exhaust.
In fact, behind the fun, was a serious consideration, for Percy believed his exhaust system could significantly improve efficiency when
adapted for the big locomotives.
Following the establishment of the annual Mission Strawberry Festival in 1946, the train was featured as part of the entertainment.
Temporary tracks for the train were set up on First Avenue where countless people of all ages had a ride on the unique locomotive.
After its run at Swan's Point, the "Special" moved to another Hatzic Island location, called Everglades, for two years, before
Percy sold the train to the City of Victoria.
Percy, however, stayed on in Mission, where he passed away in 1974.
Did you ride on the "Strawberry Special?" Your recollections are of great interest to the Archives.
If you or anyone you know has information about the train or Mr. Routledge, please call the Archives at
604-820-2621.
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