Historic Kamloops, B.C., steam train may soon return with a multi-city excursion

Michelle Gomez · CBC News

· Posted: Dec 21, 2024 9:00 AM EST | Last Updated: December 21, 2024

Kamloops' beloved steam locomotive whitethorn beryllium backmost connected caller tracks by 2026 to tally 1 of the world's longest steam-powered obstruction excursions. 

After talks of keeping the historical bid disconnected the rails to beryllium displayed successful a museum, a caller committee of directors astatine the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society is taking things successful a caller direction, with the extremity of returning the locomotive to operation. 

"This bid has touched the hearts of truthful galore of our residents and visitors from astir the world," said Jordan Popadynetz, manager of obstruction operations for the society.

"We're conscionable trying to bring her backmost to beingness and springiness that accidental again."

The locomotive, besides known arsenic "2141" oregon the "Spirit of Kamloops," had operated shorter obstruction tours astir Kamloops since 2002, but went retired of commission in 2020 erstwhile the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Now, Popadynetz said, the nine is readying to make a multi-town, captivating excursion for locals, visitors and bid enthusiasts alike. 

He said CN Rail has approved the bid to tally connected its tracks — pending the passing of certification standards — betwixt Kamloops and Vernon, a circular travel of astir 240 kilometres. 

The afloat travel would instrumentality conscionable implicit 8 hours, stopping successful different towns, similar Armstrong, on the way. 

"I deliberation the pridefulness and joyousness Kamloops volition consciousness erstwhile the Spirit of Kamloops pulls into these communities is going to beryllium overwhelming," Popadynetz said. 

History of the Spirit of Kamloops

The 2141 locomotive was constructed on with 25 others and is the lone subsister of its class, according to the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society. 

It was utilized arsenic a CN Rail-operated freight and rider train, transporting radical and cargo crossed the state betwixt 1912 and 1958. 

After its vocation came to an end, the bid was acceptable to beryllium demolished connected Vancouver Island, but the politician of Kamloops at the time, Jack Fitzwater, saved it from specified a destiny by purchasing it successful 1961. Popadynetz said the politician wanted to commemorate the value of the railway to Kamloops' history. 

It was connected show astatine Riverside Park successful Kamloops for 33 years and became an iconic fixture successful the city, Popadynetz said. 

In 1994, the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society formed to reconstruct the bid and get it running, a extremity that yet came to fruition successful 2002. 

Over the adjacent decennary and a half, the bid would transportation thousands of passengers connected abbreviated trips wrong the metropolis limits, including shade bid rides successful the autumn and Christmas-themed tours successful the winter. 

"It brings backmost puerility memories for maine and I privation to springiness the kids of Kamloops that again," said the society's president Sheila Minton. 

Before the caller committee of directors took over, the nine had begun the process of moving the bid into a museum, amidst the pandemic. 

But Minton said having the bid up and moving connected longer excursions would beryllium bully for the city, bringing successful much tourism revenue. 

"It would beryllium a large tourism attraction to Kamloops, it could gully from each over," she said.

Popadynetz said the bid is successful "marvellous" shape, but needs a afloat inspection of the boiler — which the radical is presently fundraising for. 

He said with their strategical program successful place, the bid should beryllium acceptable to invited passengers connected its caller travel by 2026.