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Royal Hudson visits
May 2 & 3, 2009 The Royal Hudson brought the huff and puff of steam trains back to the Fraser Valley this past weekend when SRY Raillink and WCRA brought two excursions from New Westminster to Cloverdale.
Royal Hudson 2860, crossing 72nd Ave. Surrey, B.C. Photo by Bill Gumbleton.
Close to 660 passengers were able to detrain and make-believe they were trains as they crossed 152nd St and visited the FVHRS - Sullivan Station. On display were BCER 1304 'Connaught' in front of the replica Sullivan Station, BCER 1225 in the car barn showing off the over 10,000 hours of loving work to prepare for return to the Fraser Valley line next year.
Sunday May 3 - the old and the new returning from Cloverdale, view from Sullivan Station. Photo by Ray Hudson.
BCER 1304 back in the Fraser Valley
April 25, 2009. People waited in a light rain for the return of "The Duke of Connaught" and then the sun came out, and the trailer with BCER 1304 came down the hill and turned into the Sullivan Station compound. Not quite like it last passed by in 1950, but a welcome return to the Fraser Valley line!
The transports arrive. Photo by Bob Webster.
Lots of people turned out to see the return and they were not disappointed. After the unveiling of the 100th Anniversary Graphic on the side of the barn, our guest speakers, Dr. Peter Moogk from SIRS, Councillor Marvin Hunt speaking on behalf of Mayor Watts and Mr. Frank Butzelaar from SRY Raillink joined the spontaneous applause as BCER 1304 arrived. We were sorry that British Consul-General Mr. Alex Budden was unable to join us as planned; we wish him a speed recovery.
Superintendent Ron Powers watches as BCER 1304 is brought into the compound. Photo by Ray Hudson.
Interest was sparked by the media coverage - The Surrey/North delta Leader provided stories all week about the line, the car and the event. Global TV and CTV-BC were also on hand to film the lifting of the car back onto the tracks.
Links to video clips: (Clips start in a new browser window.)
Surrey leader - Story and video clip.
Our own pictures are still being processed. Check back soon for more images.
Please see the BCER 1304 page for information and a short history of 1304.
New Online-Donations
April 6, 2009. We join the internet age with our new Online-Donations web page with our new partner CanadaHelps.org. Go to our Donors page, or you can use this button:
To launch the new FVHRS $1.5 million capital fundraising campaign, themed "one passenger-at-a time" to coincide with the 2010 Anniversary of the Fraser Valley line, we are now offering a convenient way to donate and become one of the 30,0000 passengers we need, at $50 each (with a tax receipt). Reaching the goal of the campaign will make possible the installation of the 600 foot rail spur to connect our Sullivan carbarn to the mainline track, acquire a self propelled replicated BCER baggage car to house our electric generators and to expand the carbarn.
Donations will be directed to FVHRS, and the receipt will be sent from CanadaHelps.org with your request identified. Thank you for help.
Canadian Charities Information sessions
Every year the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides free information for registered charities. As the federal regulator of registered charities, the Directorate provides these sessions to help registered charities understand their obligations under the Income Tax Act. The sessions are free, please see the CRA website: Charities Information Sessions
Another Royal visit!
Our new corporate member, SRY Rail Link, is sponsoring two special trips of the Royal Hudson steam train to Cloverdale.
Working with WCRA and Fraser River Discovery Centre, SRY rail link will host two special excursions on Saturday May 2 and Sunday May 3 from New Westminster to Cloverdale. On the return trip, the train will stop at the FVHRS & Sullivan Station for 30 minutes. We are very pleased to be included in these special excursions.
Please contact West Coast Rail Tours at 604-524-1011 or 1-800-722-1233.
BCER 1304 on its way home!
Loading at OERM on April 24, 2009. Getting on its way back to Canada.
YouTube video of loading 1304 at OERM, filmed by Bob Ashton.
Check here at Webshots for Bob's pictures of loading and the journey to Canada.
BCER 1304 Comes home! UPDATE
The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society, in partnership with Steveston Interurban Restoration Society (SIRS), is pleased to announce that the last remaining BCER "Chilliwack" interurban, the royal car "Connaught"-- BCER 1304, will return to Canada on April 25th. The car will be arriving at the FVHRS car barn in Sullivan on Saturday April 25th, 2009.
UPDATE: The planned arrival time of 'the Duke' is set for 9:00am. Parking is available at Sullivan Hall. Events planned include the arrival and craning of the car onto our track, unveiling of the 100th Anniversary 'supergraphic' and welcoming remarks from the U.K. Consul-General, Mr Alex Budden, Southern Railway of B.C. President, Mr. Frank Butzelaar and the City of Surrey Mayor and Council.
Please see the BCER 1304 page for information and a short history of 1304.
10,000 and counting
March
31, 2009 Today another milestone in the
rehabilitation of BCER 1225 was reached when the dedicated crew of volunteers reached a total of 10,000 hours of volunteer work.
The expected amount required to complete the car is 12,000 hours, which should be reached this Fall.
Pictured are (Left to Right) Back Row: Rene Doyharcabal, Ron Powers, Stewart Walker.
Front Row: Robert Ashton, Lloyd Knoblauch, Les Brown, Bill Meeks, Neal McLeod.
Click on the image to see a larger version.
New Corporate Members
We welcome our newest corporate members:
- Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY)
- The Leader newspaper
- RDM Enterprises
- PNR Railworks
Click here to see the full list of corporate members.
New Donors recognized
As a non-profit society, we are very blessed to have a wealth of wonderful people and companies who help us with more than memberships. As we start the next phase of growth and in preparation to operate BCER 1225 on the tracks next year, we are starting a new project: the Sullivan Spur.
We welcome some past donors, and corporate members, who have stepped up with goods, services and gifts for the Sullivan spur project:
- Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY)
- RDM Enterprises
- PNR Railworks
We are also pleased to welcome a new company to the ranks of Donor for the Sullivan Spur: Underhill Geomatics Ltd. Also known for many years as Underhill & Underhill.
Click here to see all the donors.
AGM 2009
The next Annual General Meeting will be held on April 4th, 2009 at 1:00pm. Hampton Inn and Suites, 19500 Langley Bypass, Surrey. BC.
Please see the AGM page for more details and access to official announcement and nomination forms.
Newsletter
The Fall 2008 newsletter has been added to the site. This is the annual Volunteer's Recognition Dinner coverage, including a good bye to our Den mother, Judy Higgenbotham. Includes volunteer profiles of René Doyharcabal, Roberta Cecile Anaya, and the lyrics to Ballad of 1225.
We are pleased to have Tony Sinclair return to the Lower Mainland and also to renew his offer of his original art work of BCER 1225 at Sullivan Station. {Nov 2008}
Please see a sample of the work and prices on the new ART of FVHRS page.