(The following story by Tom Fletcher appeared on the BC Local News website on February 6.)
VANCOUVER, B.C. — CP Rail and the provincial government are sponsoring a vintage train tour in June to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding the Crown colony of British Columbia.
The CP BC Spirit of 150 Train will use an Empress 2816 steam locomotive pulling two vintage passenger coaches, a business car and a baggage car containing a traveling museum. The museum display is a mobile version of Royal B.C. Museum display highlighting the 150th anniversary. The main exhibit is called Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and B.C. and opens at the Victoria museum on March 13.
A series of community events are also being held this year to mark the anniversary. Current ones include a 90-km trip from Sooke to Port Renfrew using historical transport methods, and Spirit of B.C. family skate days at various locations: Feb. 9 in Burnaby, Feb. 10 in Surrey and Vernon and Feb. 16 in Nanaimo an Prince George.
Details of the train tour are to be released closer to the event. A full calendar of 150th anniversary events is available online at www.bc150.ca.