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

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Locomotives are listed starting from the north end of the island going south. Click on thumbnails to view larger pictures. Descriptions follow some pictures: number of description matches picture number.

Canfor #113

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Photo Credits: (1) Josef Krizek, (2) Jan Binder

For more pictures go to my "Overflow Website." Go to Vancouver Island and scroll down.

This locomotive was bought new by Portland, Astoria & Pacific as #102 in Veronia, Oregon but it was never used. In 1921, it was sold to Oregon-American Lumber Co. still as #102 in Veronia, Oregon. Oregon-American used the locomotive until 1928 and it sat unused except for a short period of time when it was used as a stationary boiler at their mill. In 1938 it was sold for $10,000 to Vancouver Equipment Co. in Vancouver, BC where it was outfitted with a new boiler. It was then bought by Alberni Pacific and became their #6 (6-Spot). After serving 14 years with Alberni Pacific, #6 was sold to the H. R. MacMillan Export Co. and relocated to Chemainus. #6 became #1055 (two locomotives had this number, Alberni Pacific's #7 being the second). Two years later, Canadian Forest Products purchased the locomotive as #55, and then renumbered her as #113. She was in service until 1976 and then put on display until 1988, when it was decided to restore her for excursions. Unfortunately, she has been idle for about six years. This locomotive has the designation of being the largest logging locomotive on Vancouver Island and being the last steam locomotive in logging service.

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Canfor #112

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Photo Credit: Roman Krizek (August 2004)

This locomotive was bought new by Snoqualmie Falls Lumber Company as #6. It was later sold to Weyerhaeuser in Longview Washington. In 1947, it was purchased by Canfor and renumbered to #112 and used as the relief locomotive at Woss. In 1968 it was retired and put on static display at Nimpkish. In 1970 it was relocated to Beaver Cove where it is currently on static display.

I had a good look at #112 and it looks like it was beginning to get scrapped just before it was put on static display. This is evident by a large cut in the smoke stack. Furthermore, since I last visited the locomotive in 1999, someone stole the lid (including number plate) from the smokebox. This was not the original lid and number plate.

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Comox Logging & Railway Co. #2 "Deuce"

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Photo Credit: (1 & 2) Roman Krizek (August 2004)

Not a great place to take photos as the engine is behind a chain link fence. If you want to take some detail photos of the engine, just ask for the key to the compound in the info center.

This locomotive was purchased by Comox Logging & Railway Co. and worked in Ladysmith. In 1960, it made it's last trip on its own power up to Courtenay where it was put on static display in Lewis Park.

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Bloedel, Stewart & Welch #4 (#1066)

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Photo Credits: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

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Alberni Pacific #2 "2-Spot"

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Photo Credits: (1 & 2) Josef Krizek,

1. The Two Spot at Steam Expo in Vancouver, May 1986
2. Two Spot pulling the Santa Run in Port Alberni, Christmas, 1991

The Two-Spot was purchased new by the Weist Logging Company as #1. In 1918, Alberni Pacific bought out the Weist Logging Company and purchased the #1 and renumbered it to #2, hence the name, the "Two-Spot". The Two-Spot was put into use as a switching engine. In 1953, Alberni Pacific merged with MacMillan Bloedel and the Two-Spot was retired. In 1954, H.R. MacMillan presented the Two-Spot to the City of Port Alberni. For over twenty years, the locomotive was on static display (see BC Archives photo above), slowly deteriorating. In 1976, rising interest in restoring the locomotive prompted it to be relocated to a different site where it sat on static display for another five years. In 1980, The Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society was formed and began to restore the old Shay to operational status. In 1984, the Two-Spot made its first run on August 11 after being silent for thirty years. 1986 marked the occasion of the world's fair in Vancouver and Expo 86 hosted Steam Expo, a gathering of steam locomotives from all over the world. The Alberni Valley Museum sent the old Shay to this event along with other equipment, including an operational steam donkey. All of the equipment was incorporated into a "logging show" and was a big hit with Steam Expo visitors. 1994 was a sad year for the Two-Spot. The provincial government required boiler inspection and unfortunately, the Two-Spot did not pass its inspections. The volunteers that helped restore the loci are now contemplating what to do. One option was to purchase a new boiler from China where they are still manufacturing steam locomotives. The society wanted to have a riveted boiler and not a welded one so now money is being raised to hopefully get the old locomotive running again.

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Alberni Pacific #7 (a.k.a. M&B #1055)

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Photo Credits: Roman Krizek (August 11, 2007)

This locomotive was purchased new by the Campbell River Timber company as their #2. Later it was purchased by the Alberni Pacific Lumber company and became #7 (Alberni Pacific also bought Campbell River Timber's #3, which was a twin sister to #7, and became #8. Unfortunately this locomotive was scrapped). After Alberni Pacific abandoned railway logging in 1953, #7 was acquired by MacMillan Bloedel and became #1007 at the Franklin River division. In 1954, #1007 was involved in a serious accident. It fell through a bridge into Franklin River, killing the engineer and head brakeman. M & B decided to rebuild the locomotive and it was relocated to M & B's Nanaimo River camp in Chemainus, where it was renumbered #1055. In 1959, It was temporarily leased to Comox Logging and Railway Co. and became #18. It was then returned to M & B and relocated to Ladysmith as #1055. #1055 saw mainline service until 1969 and then it was used as a switcher until 1971. The BC government acquired the locomotive in 1975 and kept it in storage at Ladysmith. In 1991, the Provincial Government donated #1055 to The City of Port Alberni where it was restored to its former Alberni Pacific #7 look. Restoration was completed in 1995 and #7 replaced the 2-Spot's rides along the Alberni waterfront. In 1998, #7 underwent an extensive restoration and overhaul of its running gear and was put back into service for its 70th birthday in the 1999 season. In 2001, the waterfront ride was extended out to the McLean Mill National Historic site, which is located approximately 8km outside of Port Alberni.

In July 2004, Alberni Pacific #7 received the distinction of being the last steam locomotive in BC to haul logs! Canadian Pacific was doing some logging along the E&N right-of-way and were using some of the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society's equipment, mainly RS-3 #8427. #7 was used one day to haul a few log trains as well.

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Wellington Colliery #19 "Victoria"

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Photo Credit: (1 & 2) Roman Krizek (3) Peter Davies

1. Front number plate
2. Partial side shot. It 's difficult to photograph now as it is inside a new building, but at least it is not exposed to the weather as it was in the past.
3. #19 prior to having the shed built around it.
    

#19 was built for the Dunsmuir's Wellington Colliery. It worked in Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Union Bay, and Cumberland hauling coal from mines to the loading wharfs. It was retired in 1952 and put on static display in Piper Park in Nanaimo (beside the Nanaimo District Museum).

#19 has recently undergone a cosmetic restoration. Apparently, when it was put on display in Piper Park beside the Nanaimo museum, it made it on its own power onto the foundation that it still sits on today.

If you would like to have a look at the locomotive and the building that houses #19 is locked, just inquire at the front desk of the museum and the staff will unlock it for you.

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Comox Logging & Railway #11

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Photo Credits: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

1. #11 at the Ladysmith logging display site outside of the original CL&R railway shops
2. Front and engineer's side

This locomotive was purchased new by the Donovan Corkery Lumber company as #4. In 1937 it was sold to Comox Logging & Railway Co. and worked at their headquarters in Ladysmith. In 1962 it was retired and put on display in Ladysmith. In 1988 it was part of the Ladysmith Railway Museum's collection, but, due to funding problems, this museum is no longer in existence and #11 was put outside as can be seen in the photos above.

I heard that a bunch of work has been done to the locomotive and could maybe someday run.

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New Ladysmith Lumber Co. #1

(Replica Class A Climax)

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Photo Credits: Peter Davies (both photos taken in 1976)

This locomotive is a replica of a class A Climax locomotive. It was built by the late Elmer Blackstaff of Ladysmith. It is still in Ladysmith and Mr. Blackstaff's sons are may restore it back to operational status.

It operates not on steel rails, but on small logs. It operated in the 1970's and actually hauled logs from the forest to a nearby sawmill.

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

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MacMillan Bloedel #1044

Photo Credits: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

This locomotive started its life with the Timberland Development company as #4. It then went to the Victoria Lumber and Manufacturing company still as #4. Then, as #4 with the Victoria Lumber company, it was renumbered to #1044. MacMillan Bloedel acquired it and it kept the number #1044. In 1970, it was put on static display in Chemainus and has been there ever since.

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Comox Logging & Railway #12

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Photo Credit: (1 & 2) Josef Krizek

This locomotive originally started its life in Squamish with the Merrill & Ring Lumber company as #2. Comox Logging & Railway company acquired it and became their #12. In 1962, it was put on display in Ladysmith. It was to be part of the Ladysmith Railway Museum's collection but since this museum shut down, #12 was relocated to Cowichan Lake where it was put on static display outside of the Kaatza Station Museum, Cowichan's old E&N railway station.

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Bloedel Stewart & Welch #1

Photo Credits: Josef Krizek

Bloedel, Stewart and Welch (BS&W) bought this locomotive and had it working at Myrtle point. Later, it was acquired by Great Central Sawmills at Great Central Lake near Port Alberni. BS&W took over the Great Central Sawmills company and #1 was once again owned by them. #1 went through another merger when BS&W became MacMillan Bloedel. In 1953, Gerry Wellburn acquired the locomotive from M&B and made it part of his collection at the British Columbia Forest Museum (now known as The British Columbia Forest Discovery Center) in Duncan. It is on display at the entrance of the center greeting visitors and railfans.

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Shawnigan Lake Lumber #2

Photo Credits: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

This locomotive started with the Shawnigan Lake Lumber company as #2. Later it was transferred to Saltham Lumber company and then to the Channel Logging company. Around 1930 it was abandoned in the woods. In 1971, the locomotive was salvaged by G. Taylor.  A plaque on the cab of the locomotive says:

"Climax Logging Locomotive

This Climax Locomotive built in 1911 worked around Cowichan Lake until 1927 when it was abandoned in the woods. It was taken out in 1970 by Granger Taylor and re-assembled with odd parts and trucks, etc.

In 1975 it was refurbished and made operational at the Caycuse shops of British Columbia Forest Products Ltd., as a donation to the British Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, B.C."

From 1975 to 1979, the engine toured the province with the Provincial Museum's ( now Royal British Columbia Museum) Museum Train, riding atop a flat car. A steam generator was connected to the engine to make it appear that it was under steam. It is now on static display in the main building at the British Columbia Forest Discovery Center.

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Hillcrest Lumber #9

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Photo Credit: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

M.D. Olds in Birch Minnesota bought this locomotive and numbered it #1. Later it was obtained by the Alberta Lumber company and then by the Canadian Robert Dollar Company. It was renumbered to #44 when it was obtained by Abernethy Lougheed in Haney. The Hillcrest Lumber company of Mesachie Lake ,near Cowichan Lake, acquired it and numbered it #2. Later, Hillcrest renumbered it to #9. In 1965 it went to the British Columbia Forest Museum in Duncan for display. In 1991, the BC Forest Museum sent #9 to the Railfair in Sacramento at the California State Railroad Museum. #9 is operational but the BC Forest Discovery Center has no standard gauge track to run it on.

#9's sister locomotive, Hillcrest Lumber  #10, a 3-truck Climax is still operational and is located at the Mount Rainier Scenic Railway in Washington state.

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Cowichan Valley Railway #1 (Hillcrest Lumber #1 )

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Photo Credits: (1 and 2) Josef Krizek, May 1986 (3) Roman Krizek August 13, 2007

1. Shay #1 at Steam Expo in 1986, by the Port Alberni logging show
2. A side shot of Shay #1
3. The Hillcrest Shay in its present state

This Locomotive started with the Hillcrest Lumber Company as their #1 in the Cowichan Valley. It went under three other ownerships including Export Lumber company, Mayo Lumber company, Osborn Bay Wharf Company and finally, was retired in 1963. The Hillcrest Lumber Company rebuilt the Shay to narrow gauge so that it could run on the tracks at the British Columbia Forest Museum. #1 has spent its entire working life in the Cowichan Valley.

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Cowichan Valley Railway #24 "Susie"

Photo Credit: Roman Krizek (August 13, 2007)

#24, also known as Susie, was originally built for mining. It ran for 16 years until 1936. It took a break for about 6 years and then worked for the Elk River Colliery from 1942 to 1957. Gerry Wellburn, founder of the BC Forest Museum, purchased the locomotive and had it at his property at Deerholme, where it underwent a makeover. The locomotive became the standby locomotive for the #1 and #25 at the Forest Museum (now known as British Columbia Forest Discovery Center).  

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Cowichan Valley Railway #25 "Samson" (S.S. Magoffin Construction Co. #25)

Photo Credits: Roman Krizek

#25, also known as Samson, started its life as a contracting locomotive in Washington and Idaho with Grant Smith & Co. #25 came to Canada in the early 1920's to work for  the Canadian National Railway as a construction engine in the Fraser Valley. in 1926 the Locomotive was overhauled and was then put into storage. Over the years it has seen little work until Gerry Wellburn acquired it and brought it to his property at Deerholme. There it ran on Mr. Wellburn's property as part of a small tourist line. In 1967, Gerry Wellburn founded the British Columbia Forest Museum, and #25 has ran there ever since.

FACT: #25's sister engine #30, also a 0-4-0T Vulcan that worked for Grant Smith & Co. is on static display in Creston. See the Southern BC page for #30's listing and a few photos.

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