British Columbia Electric No. 961 was built by Alco with General Electric electrical equipment for the Oregon Electric as its No. 21. The 64-ton unit was sold to the BCER in 1946 and renumbered No. 961, and continued in service when BCER was taken over by BC Hydro in 1961. In 1980 it was sold to Edmonton Transit in Alberta to aid in expanding its lines and renumbered No. 2001. After the expansion was completed, the engine was donated to the Edmonton Radial Railway Society. It was stored by that group until it was sold to the Fraser Valley organization in 2012.
The Fraser Valley spokesman said the group decided to sell No. 961 after its original plan for the locomotive was not viable. No selling price was announced, but it is said to be “in the low five figure range,” with the buyer responsible for all loading and shipping costs from the museum site. Customs duties on the locomotive may be required if it returns to the United States. Interested parties may contact rjcrowther@telus.net.
