12 January 2011

Alberta Rail Car Settles in Squamish

Squamish British Columbia - More than six years of hard work came to fruition on Tuesday (11 Jan 2011) for Randy Lucas with the dedication of a restored Alberta rail car at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park.
 
Lucas and several other volunteers began work on the car in January 2005, and Lucas said he was happy to see the project finally completed.
 
"I'm relieved," he said. "A lot of time it's been a one-man show working on this train, but I'm really happy with the way it turned out."

Ex-Canadian Pacific Railway business car "Alberta".

He said that the most difficult part of the restoration project was the metal work. He admitted he learned a lot that can be used for future projects.
 
"We discovered that the order of the work is very important," he said. "We started work first on the roof, but we learned that it's a better idea to work from the ground up.
 
"It looks great inside but I'm known around here as a pretty fussy and finicky guy, so there's a few things I wish turned out better. But everyone says it looks really nice, both inside and out, so I'm glad they can get a chance to enjoy it."
 
The journey that the Alberta car took to arrive in Squamish was certainly a unique one.
 
The car was built in 1929 as one of a fleet of 10 superintendent cars that were used by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) across the country until the late 1960s before being retired from active service. The car was then purchased and moved to a spur in Vancouver's Gastown area, eventually becoming known as the Railcar Restaurant.
 
After the business ran its course, Marathon Realty donated the car to the West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) in March 2002. From there a search for a sponsor to fund the restoration was commenced and Vancouver businessman H.Y. Louie, the Tong and Geraldine Louie Family Foundation CEO, stepped up to the plate. Money was donated over several years to pay for the restoration.
 
At Tuesday's dedication, Louie said he was pleased to see the final product.
 
"I first heard about this project when a friend told me about it and how they were seeking someone to help bring the Alberta car to its former glory," Louie told those in attendance. "My paternal grandfather was a passenger agent for the CPR and we decided to fund this project and dedicate it to his memory."
 
Louie joked that he thinks the final result was well worth the wait.
 
"It may have taken a little bit longer and needed more money than we expected, but I'm glad to see it's done," he said. "I hope that this car will help the West Coast Heritage Railway Park become a Mecca for railroad enthusiasts and it gives me great pleasure to dedicate this car and open it to the public in the name of our family."
 
The ceremony saw close to 100 people bear witness as Louie, Mayor Greg Gardner, and WCRA president Don Evans offficially opened the car to the public.
 
"It's a very exciting day for us and I think it's gone really well," Evans said. "It's just absolutely marvelous inside the car and it's very rewarding for us to finish this project after working so hard for five or six years."
 
Evans said future plans for the car include putting it on the end of the park's excursion train during select trips. It will also be on display for the public to check out inside the park's CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre, he said.
 
For more information on the park, visit www.wcra.org