6 July 2010

Railway Days and Timber Days
Combined for 2010

As part of Railway Days, local rail enthusiasts Jordy Hunter and Greg Brule will be leading tours to an abandoned trestle located in the Galena Bay area that was built in 1906 by the Arrow Lakes Logging Company. The bridge was part of a logging railway line that accessed a stand of white pine used extensively in shipbuilding at the time. Following a forest fire in 1910 that destroyed the stand, the line was abandoned, but the trestle remains intact 100 years later. After hearing about the bridge, the pair did some detective work, including some bushwhacking, and eventually uncovered the site, which was unknown to even some neighbours in the vicinity of the bridge. Contact the Revelstoke Railway Museum for info on the tour, which looks to be filling up quickly.

Revelstoke British Columbia - The annual Revelstoke Railway Days and Timber Days events are combined this year for an exceptional celebration that will mark several significant historical events for Revelstoke and Canada.
 
Revelstoke Railway Days runs from 12-17 Aug 2010 and features significant collaboration with other organizations such as CP Rail, Parks Canada, the Revelstoke Museum & Archives, and many more.
 
2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the Rogers Pass avalanche disaster that took the lives of 58 men. Adding the commemorative events that took place in March in Revelstoke, a commemoration ceremony will be held at the site of the disaster at Rogers Pass. The Revelstoke Museum & Archives will also be opening a display.
 
Parks Canada will also be marking the 125th anniversary of the creation of the first national park in Canada with a monument unveiling.
 
Railfans will of course note that 2010 marks 125 years since the driving of the Last Spike in Craigellachie, and to commemorate the event, the CP Rail museum train will be coming to Revelstoke and bringing along the actual Last Spike, which will be on display. "The contribution from CP we are really thrilled about," says Revelstoke Railway Museum Executive Director Jennifer Dunkerson.
 
These are just a few of the many events that include tours, shows, talks, dinners, entertainment, kids activities, picnics, and much more.
 
See www.railwaydays.com for the complete listing of events, including volunteer opportunities.
 
Aaron Orlando.