FOREST DISCOVERY CENTRE SHAY LOCOMOTIVE PROJECT
Since its inception some 50 years ago, the BC Forest Discovery Centre has offered a collection of some 5000 artifacts from the early days of logging in the Cowichan Valley that provide a unique bridge to the history of forestry and the people of that industry. This industry and its proponents were instrumental in the development of this area and pr
ovided the necessary stable employment to ensure community growth. While many exhibits illustrate machines and equipment both used and developed by the industry in the harvesting of trees, few have the attraction of the various steam engines used to transport the harvest to tidewater. Several of these locomotives remain as static displays while 2 narrow gauge units potentially offer regular service with the 2.5km excursion through the heavily wooded park-like 100 acre site. This train ride is a huge attraction to young and old and remains the focus of family visits with the facility now attracting some 50,000 visitors annually. The two narrow gauge locomotives were built at the turn of the last century with the current in service unit dating back to 1910. It has been in service without a major refit for 17 years and has been the primary engine of late for the excursion ride since the Shay locomotive was taken out of service in the late 1990's due to extensive thinning in the firebox area. While both engines have different drive mechanisms, the Shay unit is a mechanical marvel with the basic design dating back to the 1880's. The design was heavily favoured by Vancouver Island logging companies as the unit was a geared locomotive which could tolerate extreme terrain variances and severe track curvatures. This minimized the capital investment of a given railroad spur to harvest the timber in that area. The Forest Discovery Centre has the last known narrow gauge Shay on Vancouver Island. There are four known former standard gauge units that are not usable and remain as static displays only. (Two of which reside at the Centre). Because of this unique opportunity combined with the resources at the Discovery Centre, it has been decided to focus on the Shay restoration which will entail constructing a new state of the art boiler, a fully engineered design approved by the B.C. Safety Authority. Geo Tech Inc. of Crofton, B.C., with extensive experience in pressure vessel repair and design have offered to manage this construction to completion with significant contribution as a donation to the project. Support within the community is also expected to be high although the restoration is expected to cost $125 K with some unknowns along the way. Completion of this project will place the B.C FDC in a very unique position:
• It is a working example of one of a kind on Vancouver Island.
• A steam locomotive from a bygone era that was purchased at the turn of the last century by a well known local forestry company.
• The cost price at the time $ 14K.
• A unique glimpse at a machine that spent its entire existence in the Cowichan Valley. Any funding help to get this project away from the starting gate would be greatly appreciated.
