Vancouver British Columbia - On Sunday, 24 Aug 2008, members will ride on B.C. Electric Railway interurban car Number 1231. The car went into operation in 1913 serving mostly on the Steveston route from the north end of the old Granville Bridge, through Kerrisdale, Marpole, and across Lulu Island to Steveston.
 
The line was eventually shortened on the north end to Marpole and 1231 continued running on the truncated route to Steveston until all interurban service ended in 1958 - 50 years ago this year.
 
The car now runs on a one-time freight route from the entrance of Granville Island to about Ontario Street. This will be the last opportunity to ride the car for some time. Next year, the City of Vancouver is rebuilding the tracks for a trial streetcar project.
 
We will leave from the Granville Island stop just east of Anderson Street and Lamey's Mill Road under the Granville Street Bridge. Look for the railroad tracks.
 
Our car will take us to the car barn near Ontario and First Avenue. We will then get a tour of the car barn where the interurbans are maintained.
 
We will see car Number 1207, which was built in 1905 and still operates. That car spent most of its regular service life running from the Carrall and Hastings BC Electric Railway terminal to New Westminster on either the Burnaby Lake or Central Park lines. It didn't go further east because its 75 hp motors weren't strong enough to tackle the Scott Road hill in Surrey. That was left to the 125 hp motored cars.
 
This tour is limited to 40 members. Again, we will open the VHS Info-Line (604-878-9140) on Thursday, 24 Jul 2006 from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm for reservations. We will take the first 40 calls for those available spaces. You will receive confirmation within 48 hours. Details will then be given as to the starting time.
 
Author unknown.