Story:
After a long and hard winter, the West Coast Railway Heritage Park is pleased to announce the return of the West Coast Mini Rail trains to operation.
Starting Easter weekend, the popular little trains will once again be able to provide rides to people of all ages - starting with a shortened ride at first, but quickly expanding to the full three-kilometre ride around the Heritage Park.
The winter was not kind to our mini rail tracks, and much repair work has been needed, but things are now starting to return to normal.
In addition, we will be offering pump car rides on our full sized tracks on Easter weekend and then on selected weekends throughout the year going forward. This is great family fun as you operate an old time handcar vehicle along the tracks, accompanied by one of our attendants.
If you hear the Royal Hudson whistling a bit these days, it is because the locomotive is being readied for some possible main line trips as well as a number of events at our own site through the year. The beautiful steam engine passed her boiler certification last week for the coming year, and a number of maintenance items and improvements have been taking place over the winter.
Train #2860 is now ready to perform in style for another year.
Remember that Thomas the Tank Engine is coming back. Mark your calendars for a date in June as the famous cartoon character locomotive returns for four days of family fun June 6 and 7 and June 13 and 14.
The Heritage Park will again become a Day Out With Thomas theme park with a host of activities as well as a train ride with Thomas. Tickets are now on sale for this event through TicketWeb; the cost is just $20 for all day admission including the train ride and many other activities.
More information and access to tickets is available through our website www.wcra.org (click the blue Thomas tab) or call the Heritage Park at 604-898-9336 and we'll be happy to help you.
The new CN Roundhouse & Conference Centre also continues its construction, and one can see the changes occurring every day as this great new structure takes shape.
It's fun to drop by and be a sidewalk superintendant as this building grows to become our new feature exhibit building and community events site.
Time now to re-acquaint yourself with the Heritage Park - come on down and see what's happening, better yet, become a member and visit as often as you want. All aboard! For a great 2009 season.
