The West Coast Railway Association (WCRA) is celebrating 50 years since its incorporation this weekend with a celebration at which its founding members will be honoured and a parade of heritage trains will operate at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park, with free admission to the park all day long.
The event, planned on Saturday (May 21) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., will include a ceremony at 11 a.m., WCRA officials said in a statement.
On May 17, 1961, a group of 12 young railway enthusiasts incorporated what has become one of Canada's leading railway heritage organizations, with a mission of "Preserving British Columbia's Railway Heritage."
Today, the West Coast Railway Heritage Park is a 12-acre destination attraction and home of 95 pieces of heritage railway rolling stock, including the world-famous Royal Hudson steam locomotive. Last year, the CN Roundhouse and Conference Centre opened on the site. The WCRA also operates the Locomotive 374 Pavilion at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver's Yaletown area, and West Coast Rail Tours, a travel agency specializing in rail travel.
On Sunday (May 22), a celebration at the Locomotive 374 Pavilion in Vancouver will mark the anniversary of the locomotive's arrival on May 23, 1887.
