The West Coast Railway Heritage Park has opened its new six stall roundhouse, which will serve as a display hall for fully restored artifacts and will double as a conference centre for Squamish. Here is the view from across the turntable:
Here is the view inside. The building employs geothermal heating:
The roundhouse is large enough to accommodate the ex-CPR H1e Royal Hudson 2860, which recently returned to Squamish after some wheel work in Vancouver. It is wonderful to see one of Canada's most important railway artifacts safely inside its new home:
The roundhouse is also home to newly restored Pacific Great Eastern express car 722, which is a former U.S. Army troop sleeper:
Outside the station another piece of reently refurbished PGE equipment was on display. BC-33 is one of seven Budd RDC cars which provided passenger service between North Vancouver and Prince George from 1957 to 2002. it has been returned to its original PGE paint scheme:
I encourage you to visit he West Coast Railway Heritage Park if you live in the Lower Mainland, or if you are visiting the area. They have accomplished a lot in recent years and there is a lot to see!
Tim
