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Page 6 West Vancouver Historical Society January 2003 FEATURE PRESENTATION REPORT THE ROYAL HUDSON: A MUCH LOVED WEST VAN ICON Don Evans is a multi-talented person who wears many different hats! His years of voluntary work has been recognised by several awards, the most important one being the Queen Elizabeth Golden Jubilee Medal. Space does not permit more than a sketch of Don's lecture to us, so if you want to learn more, do go and pay a visit to the West Coast Heritage Park (which lies just outside Squamish): you will find it a most enjoyable and informative outing. Don split his talk into three parts - first the coming of railways into B.C. (and their effect on the province's development), second the Royal Hudson and its history, and finally, a description of the workings of the West Coast Railway Heritage group which runs the West Coast Railway Heritage Park in Squamish. As most of us know, the CPR was the first railway to enter our province, followed by the Great Northern, the PGE and lastly the CN railway companies. The CPR was the instrument which bought BC into Confederation and was responsible for the development of the province. Where the railway went, towns and industry quickly followed. Rivalry was rife between the three largest railways, but the CPR usually won the biggest prizes - their inventive long- term outlook resulted in a profitable business - good for the economy. They encouraged settlers from Europe to the west, built a hotel network, liners, docking facilities, etc. Interestngly, it was an American who built the CPR and a Canadian who built the Great Northern. The PGE, although on a smaller scale, has also played a laige part in hauling goods to our northern industries and also brought people fiom the far North to the Lower Mainland. The Royal Hudsons - (yes, there were very many of them and there are still 3 models around - 1 in California, 1 in Montreal and our own No. 2860 which is now being cared for in the Squamish heritage facility) - came into being origi- nally as freight engines, then as engines for the CPR's Trans Canada Limited project However, when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Canada from coast to coast in 1939 their train was pulled, for the first time ever, all the way by one Hudson Class engine. Their majesties were very impressed with this and agreed to allow the title "Royal" to be used for this class of engine, and the royal coat of arms painted on the front of each one. "Our" Royal Hudson was taken out of service by the province just before the 2000 tourist season because of boiler problems. After some time the Squamish Museum managed to take possession of her and she is now proudly on display at Squamish, having had many hours of loving care expended on her innards and bodywork - the work carried out being to an incredibly high standard. The Society intend to repair the boiler housing of the "Royal" which caused the main problem and hope to have her back in service by 2005, when they will be able to run her for 5 years or more, meantime raising as much money as they can to completely replace her boiler. That project will take at least $1.5 million so they will need lots of support. Finally Don talked about the society which now runs the park at Squamish. It is an incredible tale of many dedicated volunteers who give endlessly of their time and labour - and knowledge too. They all have one thing in common - the desire to preserve as much as possible of the engines and rolling stock of the steam age. They have succeeded in doing many wonderful things, especially since they took possession in 1991 of a 12 acre Crown Land site which was covered with trees and brush, moving an enormous building from an adjacent site to their own property and restoring it - it is now their repair shop - saving the Royal Hudson and many, many other engines and rolling stock (70 pieces at last count) - all PHOTO:Courtesy of West Coast Railway Association Steam Loco # 16 ,-Former Comox Logging Railway of which had to be stripped down in the shop, rebuilt and restored to their former glory before being put on display. Their most wonderful item is probably the busi- ness car, with its beautiful wood, glass and fittings which was restored from ruin to a highly polished condition for display in time for its 100th birthday! They also have a small town, growing all the time, with many restored old railway houses and buildings on display. The Park is now open all year round, with gift shop, cafe and a model train on which everyone can ride. During the Christmas and New Year season thousands of coloured lights twinkle all through the site, making an evening trip to the park well worth while. This organisation is more than a museum, it has preserved a way of life for our future generations to wonder at and enjoy.