Beloved 104-year-old Vancouver Island steam locomotive returns to the rails

All aboard for the triumphant return of the Hillcrest Shay No. 1 geared steam locomotive! B.C. Forest Discovery Centre invites train lovers of all ages to Journey of Labour: From Past to Present this Labour Day weekend.

The Shay steam locomotive is only one of 21 of its kind in the world. This labour of love journey to bring this 104-year-old icon back to life spanned over eight years, as 24 volunteers logged more than 14,400 hours, interrupted for two-years by the pandemic. Sixteen major sponsors provided cash and in-kind support estimated around $485,000, with a further $202,493 raised through private donations.

“The rebuild provides the B.C. Forest Discovery Centre with a fully-functional geared steam locomotive,” said Discovery Centre president Alf Carter. “At the turn of the last century, geared locomotives were extensively used in logging on Vancouver Island. While there are a few that have survived as exhibits, the Hillcrest Shay No. 1 is the only one of its kind in Canada that is operational.”

Carter was instrumental in getting the restoration on track. It was a total rebuild from the wheel up, the first undertaking of its kind in the 60-year history of the Discovery Centre.

Restoration work included: a new boiler designed to ASME 2015 standards, a new water tank, a rebuild of both truck sets including profiling of drive wheels, machining of axles and manufacture of new bearings. The locomotive engine was also totally rebuilt along with the drive train, along with an extensive list of other equipment.

All of this work has allowed to Shay to hit the rails again, providing engine enthusiasts a steam train tride hrough the 100-acre park near Duncan.

“It’s such a huge, huge success story,” said B.C. Forest Discovery Centre general manager Chris Gale. “Alf Carter, our president and our team worked on that for eight full years to make it work.

“One of our volunteers here used to ride it to school every day, and a guest we had here last weekend was telling me that they used to catch the train to go into town to do all their shopping, and then take it back home. The rebuild is a part of what makes the centre unique, and its importance cannot be overstated. The revival of this artifact is an essential part of the Centre’s founder, Gerry Wellburn’s vision to provide a collection of our forestry heritage for the enjoyment of patrons far and wide.”

The locomotive relaunch happens during three days of festivities running from Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, with the last train ride at 4 p.m. each day. The special admission price for this event is: Adults $14, Seniors & Youth (13 to 18 years) $12, and Children 3 to 12 years $10, with children under two are free. The Discovery Centre also offers many wheelchair accessible areas, including the train.

“This locomotive spent its entire career in the Cowichan Valley, and it’s fitting and heartwarming that so many members of our community have taken a vested interest in the entire project and are ready to welcome this famous locomotive as it returns to its rightful place running on our tracks and pulling trainloads of visitors around the BC Forest Discovery Centre,” Gale said.

“Today, the fully restored Hillcrest Shay No.1 is so much more besides being Canada’s only operational Shay locomotive – it’s an important part of our forest industry and community’s heritage and culture – one that should be preserved, promoted, and celebrated.”

Learn more at bcforestdiscoverycentre.com and see the train schedule at bcforestdiscoverycentre.com/our-train-collection-schedules

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