Overflow Website

Updated: August 22, 2007 (Check "Railway News" for updates, look for the symbol: )

If this page does not display correctly, hit ctrl+F5 or refresh. Sign my Guestbook!

This page contains descriptions of locomotives that worked in British Columbia and are now located elsewhere.

Canadian National #1158

Photo Credit: Unknown, Source: Robert D. Turner's book "Vancouver Island Railroads."

Was assigned to CN's Vancouver Island subdivision.

To Top Of Page

Columbia River #1 (a.k.a "Countess of Dufferin")

Location: Winnipeg Railway Museum, Union Station, MB

Canada Post featured the Countess in its 1984 release of steam locomotive stamps.

The Countess started working for the Northern Pacific Railway as #56. In 1882, she came to Canada to help build the CPR. In 1887, Canada's Governor General, Lord Dufferin and his wife, the Countess of Dufferin christened the locomotive, thus the name "Countess of Dufferin". In 1897, CP sold the engine to Columbia River Lumber in Golden. In 1910, the Countess was discovered in bad shape in a lumber yard by Councilor Waugh of Winnipeg. Mr. Waugh brought the locomotive to Winnipeg where it was restored and put on static display at various locations. It found a good home at the Winnipeg Railway Museum. In 1984 Canada Post featured the Countess in its release of locomotive stamps (as pictured above).

To Top Of Page

Wellington Colliery #2 "The Duchess"

Originally built as a 30" gauge locomotive, this engine began its working career with Dunsmuir, Diggle and Company on Vancouver Island. The Duchess could be found working the wharves at Departure Bay in Nanaimo. In 1879, Dunsmuir, Diggle and Company purchased the South Wellington Colliery Company. #2, a.k.a. the Duchess, was converted to 36" gauge. It then worked for the Pacific Contract Co. as #2. In 1899 the engine was sold to Pacific & Arctic Railway & & Navigation Co. in Skagway Alaska. In 1900m it was transferred to the Atlin Southern Railway in Atlin, Yukon. In 1919 the engine was transferred to the White Pass and Yukon Railway at Carcross, Yukon.

If anyone has any more information about this locomotive, please contact me at preservedsteambc@hotmail.com

To Top Of Page

Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd. #4012 (CP #2023)

1

Photos by Roman Krizek (June 24, 2006)

1.    Getting ready to pull the freight train during the 2006 Railway Days at Calgary Heritage Park

This locomotive started out as a switcher for the United States Army as #4012. In 1946, it was sold to Pacific Coast Terminals in New Westminster, BC and operated as #4012. In 1964 it was sold to private owner P.E. d'estrube and was relocated to Nanaimo Camp on Vancouver Island for storage. In 1967, it was donated to the Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta, where it was renumbered to CP #2023. The engine never worked for CP but it was decided to number it this way to fit in with the theme of the Heritage Park.

To Top Of Page

Pacific Coast Terminals Co. Ltd. #4076 (CP #2024)

1

Photo by Roman Krizek, June 24, 2006

#2024 parked at Midnapore Station at the end of the day, Railway Days Weekend

This locomotive started out as a switcher for the United States Army as #4076. In 1946, it was sold to Pacific Coast Terminals in New Westminster, BC and operated as #4076. In 1964 it was sold to private owner P.E. d'estrube and was relocated to Nanaimo Camp on Vancouver Island for storage (Just like CP #2023 listed above). In 1967, it was donated to the Heritage Park in Calgary and renumbered to #2024. During the 1970s, the locomotive was rebuilt at CPR's Drake Street Roundhouse in Vancouver before being relocated to Calgary. The engine never worked for CP but it was decided to number it this way to fit in with the theme of the Heritage Park.

To Top Of Page

Crowsnest Pass Coal #3

Photos by Roman Krizek (August 2004)

This locomotive hauled coal for Crowsnest Pass Coal in Fernie, BC. It was then put on static display at the Calgary Heritage Park.

If anyone has any more information about this locomotive, please contact me at preservedsteambc@hotmail.com

To Top Of Page

Canadian Pacific #2816 "The Empress"

Photo credits: Roman Krizek, September 27, 2003

1. #2816 posing with the Kamloops Heritage Railway's #2141 during the Kamloops Railway Day.
2. #2816 doubleheading with #2141 across the Thompson River.

#2816 is a class H1b Hudson type locomotive. it was built in December 1930. It worked the rails between Winnipeg and Calgary, and Winnipeg and Thunder Bay. it then worked the lines between Windsor and Quebec City and also ventured into Northern Ontario. In 1963, CPR sold the #2816 and it spent 30 years sitting idle in Bellows Falls, Vermont, the original location of Steamtown. It was then relocated to Scranton Pennsylvania with the rest of the Steamtown collection. In 1998, it was re-acquired by CPR to have it restored to operational status as their railway heritage ambassador. I have included #2816 on this site because the restoration took place at the BC Rail steam shop in North Vancouver.

To Top Of Page

Hillcrest Lumber #10

1    2

1. Still in service at Mesachie Lake
2. Makin' some pollution

Hillcrest Lumber #10 started with the Hillcrest company at Mesachie Lake, near Cowichan Lake. Originally as #3, it was retired in 1968. It was used for a short time on excursion runs with the Victoria Pacific Railway and also put on display during 1971-72 in Victoria. After this time it was put into storage, and finally, was sold to the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway in 1980. #10 is one of the locomotives that the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway runs quite frequently.

#10's sister, Hillcrest Lumber Climax #9 is on display at the British Columbia Forest Discovery Center in Duncan.

Both Hillcrest locomotives attended Railfair at the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. #9 attended in 1991 and #10, I believe, was there in 1981.

To Top Of Page

Canadian Collieries #14

1    2

Photo Credits: Unknown. Source: BC Archives

For a picture a picture of its present appearance, go here: Canadian Collieries #14 on Brian Fritz's website Washington State Steam Railroads and Locomotives. 

This locomotive started its life with the Union Colliery Railway as #4. On August 17, 1898, #4 was hauling 21 loaded gondola cars out of Cumberland when disaster struck. #4 was headed for the wharves at Union Bay, south of Courtenay, when it approached the Trent River bridge. Without warning the bridge gave way sending the locomotive into the river below. Seven people of the nine people aboard died in this accident. The engine was salvaged and repaired and worked for the company until 1958. #4 then went to the Canadian Colliery company and became #14. Two years later, Canadian Collieries shut down operations and #14 , along with #17, were purchased by the Puget Sound Railway Historical Society. The locomotives were moved to Snoqualmie, Washington where they were put on display at the Northwest Railway Museum.

To Top Of Page

Canadian Collieries #17

Photo Credit: Dave Wilkie, Source: Robert D. Turner's book "Vancouver Island Railroads."

For a pictures of its present appearance, go here: Canadian Collieries #17 and Canadian Collieries #17. Both Photos are on Brian Fritz's website Washington State Steam Railroads and Locomotives. 

Worked for Canadian Collieries in Courtenay until 1960, when it was purchased by the Puget Sound Railway Historical Society for preservation. It was moved, along with #14, to the Northwest Railway Museum where it was operated for a short time. Currently it is stored on private property next to the Northwest Railway Museum.

To Top Of Page

Mayo Lumber #4 (Railway Appliance Research #114 - now known as Cass Scenic Railroad #2)

1

Photo Credit: Ronald C. Hill, Source: Canadian Trains 2002 Calendar, Published by Cedco Publishing Company

1. Description from the calendar: "Pacific Coast Shay No. 114 performs the chore of switching lumber cars for Vancouver Wharves, Ltd. on Pier 101 at North Vancouver, British Columbia, on August 10, 1968." At the time, 114 was working for Robert E. Swanson's company Railway Appliance Research.

For more pictures of Shay #4 (now #2) in action at Cass go to Shay #2 on  Cass Scenic Railroad's website

Mayo Lumber bought the Shay new and put it to work at Paldi on Vancouver Island. In 1943, it went to work for Lake Logging at Honeymoon Bay (on Cowichan Lake) as #5. In 1964 it was retired from the forest industry and went to work for Railway Appliance Research Ltd. in North Vancouver as #114. In 1970, #114 found a new home at the Cass Scenic Railroad in Cass, West Virginia. At Cass, it was renumbered to #2, and gives rides to visitors.

To Top Of Page

East Kootenay Logging #3

For Pictures go  to: East Kootenay Logging #3 front view and East Kootenay Logging #3 back view on Brian Fritz's website Washington State Steam Railroads and Locomotives. Both photos are by Troyce Brooks.

This Shay started its life with East Kootenay Logging in Cranbrook as #3. It then went under the ownership of Polson Logging in Hoquiam, Washington, still as #3. Retaining its number of #3, it then went to work for Rayonier Inc. not as a log hauling locomotive but used for track work. When it was retired, it was put on static display at various locations in Hoquiam. It is was taken apart for restoration by the now being restored for operation by the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway Society in Mineral, Washington, but was sold to the Oregon Coast Scenic Railroad in Tillamook Oregon, where it will be used for excursion service.

To Top Of Page

Elk Falls Co. #1

Photo Credit: unknown. Source: Canada Science and Technology Museum's website

Elk Falls Co Shay #1 started its life with the Merrill & Ring Lumber company at Theodosia Arm as #4. It then went to work for Comox Lumber & Railway Company as #15. The next owner was Elk Falls Company where it became #1. #1 was retired in 1973 with the distinction of being the last Shay working for the forest industry. After its retirement, it went to the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa where it is still operational and gives rides.

To Top Of Page

Detroit Yukon Mining Co. #1

1    2

Photo Credits: Dave Gould

1. Still on Roger Brammall's property near Shawnigan Lake

2. In Ontario undergoing restoration. Notice the new smoke stack and spark arrestor.

1. April 1904 - June 1905: Detroit Yukon Mining Co. in Dawson, Yukon. Purchased via Schabacher Hardware Co. in Seattle WA.

2. June 1906 - 1921: Canadian Klondyke Mining Co. in Dawson, Yukon (not used after 1913).

3. 1921 - 1925: Burrall & Baird Ltd, in Dawson, Yukon.

4. 1925 - 1965: Yukon Consolidated Gold Corp. in Dawson, Yukon.

5. 1965 - 1969: Roger Brammall, Shawnigan Lake, BC.

6. 1969 - ?: Static display at Whippletree Junction, south of Duncan, BC. Still owned by Roger Brammall

7. ? - Sept 2005: Roger Brammall, Shawnigan Lake, BC.

8. Sept 2005 - present: Dave Gould, Guelph, Ontario

This locomotive was part of a fleet of four identical Porter locomotives, with road numbers #1, #2, #3, and #4. All four locomotives worked for the Detroit Yukon Mining Company. #1 is currently undergoing a cosmetic restoration, and quite possibly a return to operation if there aren't any major problems with the boiler - #1 was the least used from the fleet of four locomotives. The current existence of #2 is unknown, but it was rumored that the locomotive was parked on a trestle above the Yukon River and eventually fell into the river from the collapse of the trestle - it's possible it could still be buried/submerged in the area around Coal Creek. #3 was recovered by Dan Nowlan of Whitehorse in 1969 and eventually sold to Keith Christenson of Eagle River, Alaska. #4 was donated to the Dawson City Museum in 1961 and was cosmetically restored for Expo 86, where it was on static display outside of the Yukon Pavilion - the locomotive returned to Dawson City and is now housed inside the museum.

To Top Of Page

Crown Metal #1865 "Little Toot"

Photo Credits: Photo courtesy of Ron Smith

1. At the Columbia Cranberry Farm in 1987 with Ron Smith at the controls

I was recently told that the Columbia Cranberry Farm has sold all its railway equipment, track, mining locomotive and the Crown Metal locomotive. The Crown Metal locomotive is now somewhere in Idaho.

If anyone has any information about this locomotive please contact me: preservedsteambc@hotmail.com

To Top Of Page

M.B. King Lumber /King Farris Lumber

For a photo go here: M.B King Lumber/King Farris Lumber on Brian Fritz's website Washington State Steam Railroads and Locomotives. 

This little 0-4-4 locomotive has been in the hands of numerous owners.  It started its life with the Vancouver Machinery Depot (VMD) which was a dealer for Davenport locomotives. Between the years 1920 and 1929, it worked for the M.B. King Lumber/King-Farris Lumber in Surrey (Newton) as #2. It was then reacquired by VMD. In 1933, it went to work for Canadian Sugar Factory Inc., in Raymond, Alberta as #9. In 1958, it was acquired by a private owner in Cranbrook. In 1971, it was sold to a private owner in Thorp, Washington and then it was sold again in 1980 to another private owner of Moses Lake, Washington, where it has been ever since.

According to this website: http://projects.wasatch-rr-contractors.com/?page_id=36, Monte Holm passed away. It's unknown at this time what his family plans to do with his collection. Since the locomotive has historic ties to the lower mainland, it would be nice if one of our heritage preservation societies could possibly repatriate this locomotive back to BC.

To Top Of Page

Winnipeg Hydro #3

The oldest operating steam locomotive in Canada, #3 has worked in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia. While in British Columbia (sometime after 1897), it worked with Canadian Pacific between Sicamous and Okanagan Landing near Vernon. It also saw service in Kamloops, North Bend, Vancouver, Revelstoke, and CP's Arrowhead branch south of Revelstoke. The locomotive worked with Canadian Pacific up to 1918 when it was sold to the Winnipeg River Railway.

The locomotive returned to BC briefly in May of 1986 as part of Steam Expo at Expo 86.

#3 is currently undergoing a full boiler replacement and should be back in service during the 2008 operating season. For more on it's history and photos of its boiler replacement, as well as historic photos, go here: http://www.pdcrailway.com/steamer.htm

To Top Of Page