5 February 2010

Historic Steam Train Returns to Our Waterfront

Ex-CPR Royal Hudson 2860 - 2007 Ken Storey

White Rock British Columbia - White Rock makes history next week with both the annual Bite of the Rock dining extravaganza and the torch relay event, which takes place on Tuesday, starting at 6:30 a.m.
 
But history is also being made with the return of the Royal Hudson steam train, which will make a passenger trip from Vancouver to White Rock on Monday, with a return trip the next day.
 
"We are very fortunate to have the Royal Hudson return to White Rock," said Mayor Catherine Ferguson.
 
"The classic steam train last visited us in 2007, during White Rock's centennial celebration, and it was tremendously popular."
 
The visit will take place in connection with the Bite of White Rock dining event, organized by the White Rock Business Improvement Association.
 
Train passengers are invited to stay overnight and enjoy the hospitality of the City by the Sea before heading back to Vancouver on Tuesday.
 
Tickets are on sale through West Coast Rail Tours. Tickets for the Royal Hudson are $125 for a one-way trip, with return transportation by bus, or $250 for a round trip on the classic steam train.
 
To purchase tickets, visit www.wcra.org, email at tours@wcra.org or call toll free at 1-800-722-1233.
 
The journey is being made possible through a partnership between BNFS Railway and the West Coast Railway Association.
 
"We are delighted to be able to have the Royal Hudson chug along White Rock's pristine waterfront once again," said Don Evans, president of the West Coast Railway Association.
 
The BNSF rail line has been in operation on the Semiahmoo Peninsula since the 1800s, but as travel by rail from Vancouver to White Rock became more accessible after the line first opened along White Rock's waterfront in 1907, travel by steam engine to our sea side city was popular right into the 1960s.
 
"Families would travel to White Rock from Vancouver just to spend a day at the beach in White Rock," said Don Evans, president and CEO of West Coast Railway Association.
 
This is the first winter trip for the Royal Hudson, and Evans says the cooler temperature means the plume of steam from Hudson's engine will linger longer and be a beautiful site for the thousands of spectators expected in White Rock for its arrival, around 3:45 p.m. on Monday.
 
While the Royal Hudson is travelling on her own power, BNSF has provided a new assist 4400 hp locomotive to travel behind the Hudson tender.
 
"We are delighted to help make this special voyage possible as White Rock and the entire community on the Semiahmoo Peninsula celebrate in a number of events as part of its annual Bite or the Rock and the 2010 community celebrations," said Gus Melonas, spokesperson for BNFS Railway.
 
The Hudson will depart Pacific Station in Vancouver at 2 p.m. on Monday and upon arrival and a short celebration on the promenade, it will depart White Rock station at 4:20 p.m., at which time it will undergo a light service and water inspections.
 
The Hudson departs for its return trip to Vancouver at noon Tuesday.
 
Ferguson will be at the White Rock station to greet passengers and welcome them to the city.