The Railway Museum of British Columbia, formerly the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, provides a home to the West Coast Railway Association’s large collection of locomotives and rolling stock. Located in a beautiful 12-acre mountain valley setting, the museum offers visitors a chance to learn about railway history from 1920 to 1960 in Canada’s westernmost province.
Choices
The museum features a variety of railway stations and other buildings. You are also able to see railway equipment in various stages of restoration in the 1914 PGE car shop. The collection of more than 90 vintage railway cars and locomotives includes cabooses, snowplows, a restored 1890 business car, and the only surviving Pacific Great Western steam engine. A mini train ride circles the park.
When to go
The museum is open in summer, Saturdays only from July 1, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. No events are currently planned during the season.
Good to know
The West Coast Railway Association also operates the Locomotive 374 Pavilion in Vancouver, which houses historic CP locomotive 374. The locomotive, built in 1886, brought the first transcontinental passenger train into the city.
Worth doing
Incorporate a visit to the museum with a scenic drive along the Sea to Sky Highway for a nice day-long family outing. The Sea to Sky Highway travels through five different biogeoclimatic zones, from coastal rainforest to mountain forest. This predominantly two-lane road goes from Vancouver to Whistler.
Don’t miss
The park’s 21,000-square-foot roundhouse displays various exhibits, including Royal Hudson No. 2860, one of the last Royal Hudson locomotives built for the Canadian Pacific Railway by Montreal Locomotive Works in June 1940.
Getting there
From Vancouver, it is about an hour’s drive north on Highway 99 along spectacular Howe Sound, North America’s southernmost fjord, to Squamish. Turn left on Industrial Way until Queens Way and then turn right and follow the signs.
Location: 39645 Government Road, Squamish, BC
Phone: 604-898-9336
Website: wcra.org
E-mail: Info@wcra.org
