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16 August 2006

Royal Hudson Boiler Achieves Certification


 
Squamish British Columbia - A major milestone in the project to return British Columbia's classic locomotive, Royal Hudson number 2860, to steam was achieved last week when the extensive boiler rebuild work passed its final pressure test and was certified for operation.
 
"This is a major achievement that we have all been waiting for", said Don Evans, Executive Director of the West Coast Railway Association, whose volunteers and staff are carrying out the project at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish, B.C. "Now we are able to proceed with the final phase of the project and prepare to steam up the locomotive for the first time since 1999".
 
The major project has been underway now for almost two years, with careful disassembly of the boiler and parts, work to prepare all surfaces to like new condition, frequent inspections by regulatory agencies, the custom manufacture of all the new boiler parts and their installation. Now that the boiler work has been approved, the final step is to complete the reassembly of the locomotive - expected to take six to eight weeks. Total project costs look like they will be around $550,000.
 
Royal Hudson number 2860 carried tourists between North Vancouver and Squamish from 1974 until 1999, becoming one of the Vancouver area's top attractions. After completing the 1999 season, however, the locomotive was not able to pass inspections for continued operation without boiler work. She was pulled from service and set aside for this future work, but then put up for disposition by the Province in 2002. A joint proposal from the West Coast Railway Association and the District of Squamish was made and accepted, and number 2860 moved to the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in that year. Fundraising got underway and the boiler repair project started in 2004.
 
The West Coast Railway Heritage Park is a project of the West Coast Railway Association, a private not for profit charitable organization. The WCRA presents Western Canada's largest collection of heritage railway equipment, and is now "Home of the Royal Hudson". In 2005 the Heritage Park hosted 40,000 guests from all over the world. The Heritage Park is open daily all year, and a viewing platform is available in the locomotive shop so visitors can watch work on the Royal Hudson as it is carried out.
 
 
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