It started as a far-fetched idea between 12 railroad enthusiasts, but 50 years later it stands as a testament to Canada's past and the steel highway that helped shape this country.
The West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) celebrated the organization's 50th anniversary by recognizing its 12 founding members in a ceremony at the CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre on Saturday (May 21).
"We really had no idea it would evolve into this," said Keith Anderson, one of the 12 founding members. "The whole museum and the roundhouse are really something to be proud of. It helps preserve the history and lets us tell some of the stories from the past."
Anderson, along with Doug Cummings and Glen MacGregor, represented the original 12 at the ceremony. Anderson said that the group, which officially formed on May 17, 1961, felt Squamish was a logical choice as a place to store and display their railroad memories.
"I remember when we got the B.C. Car and started acquiring other cars and pieces of equipment," he said. "The problem was that we started to have no place to put all of this stuff. Squamish really was the best option. The town was very co-operative and already had a railway past. Everything lined up well but we have to really thank [former mayor] Corinne Lonsdale for her help in making this place a reality."
Anderson lives in Coquitlam and said that the founding members of the group came from all over the Lower Mainland but had a common passion - trains. Founding member Hugh Little, who could not attend the event because of a family function, seemed to agree in a statement he submitted that was read by WCRA president Don Evans.
"When we first started this group we had big dreams and no money," Little wrote. "I don't think any one of us would imagine what it's become. Hats off to the members of the last decade who have really built up this park and I think all the founding members are delighted."
The official ceremony began at 11 a.m. inside the Roundhouse, with Evans going over the history of the group, followed by a First Nations welcome. Mayor Greg Gardner also was on hand to congratulate the founding members.
"It's been amazing to see the process here since 1994," he said. "This all started with a small group of aficionados and we've watched that group continue to grow. I congratulate everyone involved in the WCRA, in particular the volunteers."
Evans said the founding members' four original goals consisted of providing assistance for railroad enthusiasts, preserving equipment, constructing and maintaining a museum, and creating goodwill in the railroad community.
"Those are still our four core goals to this very day," Evans added.
Bob Phillip, the chair of the WCRA, also tipped his hat to the original group.
"Everyone at this ceremony, just like founding members, are interested in preserving history," he said. "It's people like you that help keep history alive. We would like to thank all of our supporters and the founding members and we're only going to get bigger and better in the future."
The 12 founding members recognized were the aforementioned Anderson, Cummings, MacGregor and Little, along with Roger Burrows, Larry Russell, Gary Oliver, Martin Jergens, Brian Biddlecombe, Russell Savage, John Morton and Bob Gevaert. The names of all 12 will be permanently displayed in the Roundhouse on a plaque near the front of the building.
After the speeches, a celebration cake was served and admission to the park for the day was completely free. In addition, a parade of heritage trains operated within the park all afternoon long.
For more information on the WCRA, visit www.wcra.org.
