16 August 2006
Royal Hudson Boiler Achieves Certification
Squamish British Columbia - A major milestone in the
project to return British Columbia's classic locomotive, Royal Hudson number 2860, to steam
was achieved last week when the extensive boiler rebuild work passed its
final pressure test and was certified for operation.
"This is a major achievement that we have all been waiting for", said Don
Evans, Executive Director of the West Coast Railway Association, whose
volunteers and staff are carrying out the project at the West Coast Railway
Heritage Park in Squamish, B.C. "Now we are able to proceed with the final
phase of the project and prepare to steam up the locomotive for the first
time since 1999".
The major project has been underway now for almost two years, with careful
disassembly of the boiler and parts, work to prepare all surfaces to like
new condition, frequent inspections by regulatory agencies, the custom
manufacture of all the new boiler parts and their installation. Now that the
boiler work has been approved, the final step is to complete the reassembly
of the locomotive - expected to take six to eight weeks. Total project costs
look like they will be around $550,000.
Royal Hudson number 2860 carried tourists between North Vancouver and Squamish
from 1974 until 1999, becoming one of the Vancouver area's top attractions.
After completing the 1999 season, however, the locomotive was not able to
pass inspections for continued operation without boiler work. She was pulled
from service and set aside for this future work, but then put up for
disposition by the Province in 2002. A joint proposal from the West Coast
Railway Association and the District of Squamish was made and accepted, and
number 2860 moved to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in that year.
Fundraising got underway and the boiler repair project started in 2004.
The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is a project of the West Coast Railway
Association, a private not for profit charitable organization. The WCRA
presents Western Canada's largest collection of heritage railway equipment,
and is now "Home of the Royal Hudson". In 2005 the Heritage Park hosted
40,000 guests from all over the world. The Heritage Park is open daily all
year, and a viewing platform is available in the locomotive shop so visitors
can watch work on the Royal Hudson as it is carried out.
|
