On Thursday March 28, 2019 the West Coast Railway Association was pleased to announce the approval of Canadian Government Federal Funding for the former BC Rail Motive Power Shop (aka MP2)

There are not too many of these builds left on the West Coast, especially in Canada.

After a few speeches in the roundhouse VIP's and guests made their way onto the train for the short trip across the street to view the building.

Second photo is what it look like inside the shop a few years ago.

WCRA Is the host museum for the HRA 2019 Fall Conference from September 18-21.

Wow, that's great, especially given how frugal the Canadian government tends to be. Is that to purchase it from CN or for refurbishment? Is there room for four FM C-Liners in there by any chance?

It was never sold to CN as part of the lease from the Government of BC. The WCRA began leasing the building off the Provincial Government and several years ago started working on a perchance plan which came to reality this year. The goal over the next year is put money into the building its-self to help off-set operating costs, lighting upgrades, electrical, plumbing etc.

Not much room for anything currently, on the far track is CPR 8000 undergoing a cosmetic restoration, followed by a CN coach getting stripped for parts, x Royal Hudson Coach receiving parts from retired coach, BCE 960 Electric Switcher (Pictured), PGE 561 (RSC3), and PGE Clinton a old streetcar.

The service bay holds the CN 6520, and the wash bay holds the BCR Northern Summit business car.

As you can see its a full house!

Christian,

Is this shop building the one you can see in Google Earth immediately next to the roundhouse? Is the turntable and roundhouse original BCR or new construction?

Congratulations on this tremendous accomplishment!

Rob Gardner
ASR VP and 2100 Project Manager

No, that is a different and older, wood-framed shop building that was relocated a couple of decades(?) ago from the railroad facilities.

Rob, You are talking about the old PGE Car Shop that was moved across the street to our museum property in the 90's.

I have circled the building and trackage as part of the deal roughly in the attached photograph.

All that and a brewery a block away! You guys are doing a great job.

Rob the roundhouse and turntable are practically new. Built maybe 10-12 years ago for the museum. The turntable was donated by CN. I don't recall where it originally came from.

Is it the building shown in this photo?

Only time I've been to Squamish was 17 years ago, but, from memory, this photo was taken fairly close to the Museum complex.

Yes that is the building. Quite funny the 561 is currently one track over, not much has changed in 17 years ;)

The smaller building pictured behind the SD40's is the service building, pictured below.

The roundhouse is designed both for displays and to serve as an event/conference center. The rear wall -- toward the public driveway -- is all glass. The CN made a significant contribution toward the construction of the building

From the WCRA website: CN Roundhouse and Conference Center

This is great news, very happy for you guys! A large building like that is invaluable.

On a sidenote, since one of them is in that photo, were any of the CAT-engined RS-18 rebuilds preserved?

There were not any that have been saved, the only remaining one, BCR 629 is down in the states somewhere and is up for sale. It would have been nice to have one but you can't save them all!

If you know/find out where 629 is, kindly post.

Christian Vazzaz, I'd really like to know how you guys do it. This was a Cultural Spaces grant I believe which requires matching funds. If they gave you a million dollars, it would have required you come up with another million.
Also, how are you handling the environmental issues along with the taxes? Both of those are also big money items.

Rob Sterne
Elgin County Railway Museum