16 April 2006
Railway On Track to Try to Match Last Year
Training season - The Kettle Valley Steam Railway, which opens for
business the May
long weekend, is attracting tourists from all over the world. Last year, almost 24,000
people rode the
train.
Summerland - One of the South Okanagan's top tourist draws is hoping to gain steam from
several new twists, including one that will appeal to wine lovers.
Whether you're looking for a historic trip or just to be a tourist in your own town, the Kettle Valley Steam Railway has what you're
seeking. The Summerland-based railway, which has been offering tourist trips for 11 years, is getting ready to follow last
year's record season. "We're really excited about this coming season," said KVSR marketing manager Jo Ann Reynolds. "Last
year we had almost 24,000 people ride the train."
Their current steam engine is a 1912 consolidation engine simply called 3716, which took two years to restore. The
225-tonne 3716 replaced a 1924 Shay logging locomotive, which is kept as a backup engine. The Shay and 3716 will run
together in a double-header on the railway's opening day 20 May 2006.
The 3716 has an interesting history, said Reynolds, as it ran in the 1970s as a B.C. museum train and was also a backup for the Royal
Hudson on the North Vancouver-Squamish route. It's also been in the feature film The Grey Fox about train robber Bill
Miner. "It pulls two vintage coaches, three open-air cars and a caboose," said Reynolds. At full capacity the
train can carry 270 people. On smaller trips it holds 140.
Like all vehicles, there are costs involved with upkeep. In addition to diesel fuel costs, insurance and maintenance, there are also
employees to pay. All trained through certified B.C. Authority Safety Regulations, an engineer and a fireman keep the train running, a
conductor controls the running of the train by watching the cars and passengers and trainmen, brakemen, and coach hosts add to the
smooth operation of the train.
Reynolds attributes the railway's growing success to word-of-mouth from past visitors and research by
out-of-towners. "We get passengers from all over the world. Last year I found it very interesting how many people
from England found us and wanted to ride the train," she said. "A lot of our passengers are from Alberta, the Lower Mainland,
and we are getting lots of local people riding the train - they bring their friends and family or people that are visiting them."
But don't forget a feature attraction of some of the train trips. The Garnet Valley Gang, a group of train robbers on horseback, is
notorious for hijacking the train and its passengers. The 20 gang members are fully dressed in Western gear and are known for robbing
passengers of their spare change, which ends up at local charities. Afterward all passengers eat a barbecue lunch. "Everyone
thoroughly enjoys it," said Reynolds of the 105-minute train ride. "Most of those events slated for the year
sell out quickly." This year there will be 11 robberies between the dates of 28 May 2006 and 24 Sep 2006.
New to the steam railway this year is a wine train. Partnered with Sumac Ridge Estate Winery, on 2 Jul 2006,
5 Aug 2006 and 19 Aug 2006 trains will depart, offering riders wine tastings, hors d'oeuvres and live
entertainment. "We're really looking forward to adding these trains especially since we all live in wine country... it's a great
way to showcase the wine industry," Reynolds said.
Another new addition will be a Halloween trick-or-treat train where riders can dress up for the event.
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway was built between 1910 and 1915 connecting the Kootenays to the West Coast. "It brought minerals
and fruit to world markets," explained Reynolds. The last train ran in 1989 and a small group in Summerland lobbied to preserve a
portion of the railway which was being ripped up. Today there are only 16 kilometres of track left. This creates a living legacy of
railway heritage for B.C. and the Okanagan Valley, said Reynolds.
Kelowna also has a part of the original KVR, but the trestles have been turned into hiking trails as part of the Trans Canada Trail.
During the Okanagan Mountain Park fires of 2003, twelve of eighteen trestles were damaged or completely ruined in Kelowna. Currently
they are being rebuilt. Safety for those traversing the trails is always a concern. To address this, the Kettle Valley Railway Society
received $60,000 in provincial grants for safety improvements at the Trout Creek Trestle. Local MLA Rick Thorpe made the announcement
Thursday, saying how important it was to ensure the attraction is kept safe for locals and visitors. In 2002, Mark Ricciardi fell
through the trestle's rail ties and died, leading to safety improvements.
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway runs from the May Long Weekend to Thanksgiving Weekend with special trains running for holidays such as
Christmas. For more information about the railway visit their Web site at or call them at 1-877-494-8424.
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