Hi List Members:
Just got home after setting up our display for Western Rails Show Sunday
March 19.
My friend from Victoria was there, retired a couple of years ago from
the Royal Canadian Navy.
On some of the Navy ship visits to China a few years back, he made
mention of one of the large Steam locomotive builders of Mainland China
taled with on of their officials. This particular official made mention
that they have blueprint copies of former Canadian Pacific Steam.
I was told(believe it or not) that this particular steam locomotive
builder could be building two replicas of CPR's light-modern G-5 Class
4-6-2's of the 1200 Class-evidentally for the new Tourist
railroad-"Pacific Wilderness Railway" to start up out of Victoria, B.C.
within the next couple of months running north on Vancouver Island to
Malahat Pass and return(3 trains each way). The talk right now ex CPR
light modern 4-6-2 G-5 Class 1293-built 1948 by Canadian Locomotive Co.
of Kingston, Ont. could be coming for service presently on Ohio Central.
The particular trackage is owned by CPR and leased to Rail
America-Victoria north to Courtenay via Nanaimo.
This company to run the excursion passenger service want to purchase the
E&N(CP) Victoria roundhouse with five stalls to be dedicated to steam
locomotives. CP want $10 million for all the area property including the
yards and infrastructure. The talked about two light 4-6-2's all CP
design would also handle excursion service.
We will wait and see the outcome.
Anyway "Believe it or Not"
Don Scott-Coquitlam, B.C.
