The cars were used to run the Okanogan Express, in the early 1980s, which was, as far as I'm aware, the last passenger train to operate on the line to Penticton. The line has mostly been removed, though a short segment remains at Summerland and is operated by the Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

After the early trips 83-84 (approx), they did some runs to Kelowna, BC. It's not far from Penticton, but reached via a different line.

I think the last trip they ran was in 1986? Maybe 1987? I was crew on 4 or 5 of the earlier ones, and they used some of the Mount Rainier Scenic's coaches on those trips. Later, those cars went north and became part of this collection.

Does anyone know if they've been used since the 1986 runs?

I actually have to agree with Mr. Rowland here. It is a real shame when historic equipment or historic artifacts end up in the "custodianship" of someone who has unrealistic ideas. Whether it is literally sitting around and waiting for the Monopoly Man to show up, or developing fanciful, unrealistic schemes for operation.

The best tourist railroads and railway museums have one thing in common, they are grounded in reality. Others should learn.

There is no way that the head locomotive of the Hinton, Alberta in 1986 crash survived.

From the article: Do they allow any new members?

6300 was buried back in the train and still got damaged:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinton_train_collision

Here is a photo of where her nose used to be:

[/url]http://www.google.ca/imgres?biw=1333&bih=708&tbm=isch&tbnid=uCrXvYofDzrrsM:&imgrefurl=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx%3Fid%3D1326854&docid=CKCs2U7fkMJ7ZM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%25255C18491%25255CVIA%2525206300-2%252520%28Large%29.jpg&w=1024&h=655&ei=n1NUUsNYx8jbBc6SgcAN&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:0,s:0,i:77&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=179&tbnw=259&start=0&ndsp=14&tx=158&ty=69[/url]

Steve Hunter

Here's a photo of some of the cars being used on the "North Pole Express" which apparently ran in Vancouver, BC last winter in stealth mode. I sure don't recall seeing anything about it. (Edit - It appears to have been on static display at the Vancouver VIA station, but they did have a special move to and from the storage location.)

It gives you a glimpse of some of the coaches.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NRHS-BC- ... 328&type=1

[quote="JimBoylan "Do they allow any new members?[/quote]

If you go to the NRHS website you can find a list of their officers and their address.

Bob H

Some words are missing from the articlethe rear section of

Hey now, there's only 4 Canadian locomotives there now, as opposed to the 8 in the past hahahah