NEWS photo Cindy Goodman

BILL JOHNSTON (left) and Don Evans of the West
Coast Railway Association smile proudly from the
hallway of the British Columbia, a 101-year old
restored business railcar that once served as the

temporary home of CN Rail superintendent's.

Capilano Mall, N. Vancouver

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IT’S BEEN called the moving hotei. If you happened to be
a superintendent tor the Canadian National Raibyvay about
a century ago, it was your house when you went out on the

road for business.

The British Columbia is a i0t-
year-old railway car) which has
been restored by the West Coast
Railway Association (WCRA}. I
is currently on display at the BC
Rail passenger station in Norsth
Vancouver. But its final resting
place will be a museum currently
under construction in Squamish.

The car acted as the temporary
residence of CN Rail superinten-
dents when they were travelling
across the country. It includes the
supzrintendent’s private bedroom,
a steward’s room, a_ third
bedroom, a galley, Jounge and
dining area.

The car was built in the United
States in 1890 by Barney and
Smith. It was orginally con-
structed as a sleeping car and was
called the Sherbrooke.

The fully self-contained business
car served as transportation, ac-
commodation, office and as an

By Surj Rattan

News Reporter

entertainment centre far CN Rail
superintendents.

When the WCRA first under-
took the extensive restoration pro-
ject, the car had rotted beyond
recognition.

“This car was originally built tc
keep the upper management of
CN Rail happy. The superintend-
ent was responsibie for about 500
miles of track. There’s five tons
of brass in this car,"’ said WCRA
director Bill Johnston.

“Is such a unique thing that
you can’t put a value on it. Over
the years we probably put
$300,000 on restoring it. it cost us
$400 to buy in 1963," said
Johnston.

The rail car will eventually be
housed in the WCRA’s museum,

1991 - North Shore News - 55

currently upder  construcuen in
Squamish. Johaston said the
WORA recently took tide of the
old BC Rail repais building in
Syuamish and then moved the
200-ton building off the BC Rail
site.

“BC Rail was going to demclish
the building until one of our
members asked BC Rail for it.
They said if we could move it off
the site by a certain date then we
couid have it,’’ said Johnston.

Don Evans, a general manager
for B.C. Tel and president of the
WCRA, said there have been over
200,000 hours of volunteer time
spent on restoring the rail car. He
added that he has always been in-
terested in trains.

“‘When I was a kid. mom and
dad didn’t own a car and we trav-
elled on trains. That was the start
of my interest in trains,’’ said
Evans.

The rail car will be on display
ait the BC Rail passenger station
until Sept. 10. Tours of the car
are offered seven days a week
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SPCA waik-a-thon invites participants

THE FOURTH annual SPCA
five-kilometer fundraising
walk-a-thon will be held on
Sunday, Sept. 8, beginning and
ending at Brockton Oval in
Stantey Park.

Registration begins at 10:30
a.m., followed by an aerobic
warm-up, and then the walk at
11:30 a.m. Registration fees are
$10 for adults and $5 for

children 12 years of age and
younger. Leashed pets will be
permitted, and T-shirts will be
sold near the registration area.
Participants are invited to
collect pledges in advance, in
licu of the registration fee.
Pledgs forms are available at
all SPCA shelters and Bosley’s
Pet Food Marts.
Fundraising

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the walk-a-thon help to support
the SPCA in their efforts to
provide shelter, food, medical
care, and a variety of programs
to thousands of animals in
B.C. every year.

Organizers say this family
event will include refreshments,
prizes, fun and exercise

For information, contact
Sylvia ZyHa at 879-1725,

Whistler 932-6647
892-5857