PVR News
The Paradise Valley Railroad was conceived in August 2011; the PRFMS decided to build a demonstation loop and operate at Fall Fair.
A glorious Saturday; not so nice Sunday. Thanks to Stephen James, Suzanne Aagaard, the Alburys, Mike Lister, Rudi and Phil for many photos. See the Photo Gallery here
They always do a great job of the entrance display.
952 riders rode the train at the Fall Fair; 680 on Sunny Saturday, and 272 on Soggy Sunday. The record train tow was 19 people.
Public feedback was terrific, so we decided to go ahead with the railroad project
Here is the video
Here's Dan on Saturday with eight on board and one following on the hand car. 952 riders rode the train at the Fall Fair; 680 on Sunny Saturday, and 272 on Soggy Sunday. The record train tow was 19 people. Congratulations to all who participated!
There was a train holdup on Sunday! Our first!!
Our Information table yielded a few new members and a generous donation box - over $1200. All these funds will go towards the Miniature Railway project.
Star of the show was Dan Parson's Steam train, fuelled by coal on Saturday and propane on Sunday during the rain.
Brian Crilly showed his Plantation Chloe, an operable steam train. He has also started a Shay; hopefully we will see these on the main track sometime in the future
Gerri Parsons made our day with a $5000 donation that will go a long way towards building the railway
Here's some video of the Fall Fair 2011 taken by Suzanne Aagaard, edited by Dave Florence
See more photos of the Fall Fair in four folders in the Gallery here
Gerri on stage with Hans and Jerry when we acknowledged the gift of $5,000 for the railway.
Train Rides Sunday With the completion of the train shed, we were able to offer weekly train operations in 2013. Valley Building Supplies donated the material for the shed; the Spreeuw cousins shown here with Doug Lott, the lead member on the shed project, and Hans Maurer on the train.
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A typical Sunday saw over 100 riders on the train in the two hour opening.
More 2013 operations photos here
Fall Fair
Our third "Fall Fair Run" featured two visiting steam trains that carried the main load of passengers during the two days, noon to five pm Saturday and Sunday September 21 and 22.
Fall Fair Saturday was a beautiful fall day, contrary to the forecast.
Sunday was rainy early, but cleared up nicely for mid afternoon.
BCSME Vice-president Kent and Linda Cavaghan; Secretary Gerry Wittenberg; and Communications Manager Joe Holman of the BC Society of Model Engineers, (operators of the Burnaby Central Railway), attended the fall fair. They brought their model Canadian Pacific Jubilee 2930 coal-burning "Live" Steam Train with two 8' ride cars. Thanks, Burnaby!! Check out BCSME newsletters here
In addition, the Ian and Phil MacGregor of the Burnaby club brought their Climax locomotive, which is the same make as the train in our logo.
Saturday we used the Jubilee and our 0-6-0 to haul most of the 500+ passengers; on Sunday the Climax and Jubilee carried most of the 200+ passengers
Many thanks to all the members of our Railroad Section, who spent many hours making the operation possible.
We welcome new members, so pass the work along and join us if you'd like to get in on the fun.
Mid-summers Night Feast
September 27 was our final day for 2014 - we offered free rides to everyone, and had lots of riders.
A great Fall Fair! Record ridership, an instantly popular wheelchair car, and some fun train robberies by Theatre Now
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The trestle bridge is reminiscent of the original railway bridge that crossed the trail.
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During August, the BOMB Squad (Bloody Old Men's Brigade) constructed the by-pass, which remains as a permanent access to Second Beach.
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 Sep 5-8
On the first weekend, four sets of three 12" metal pipe pilings that would form the foundation were driven into the bank. The culvert and surrounding fill were removed. The 300 trail walkers began using the bypass trail built by the BOMB Squad. The large shovel with pile driver attached drove in piles and removed the fill The fill was dragged up to raise the grade five feet, back to the level of the original railway grade. South side with 3 lower piles and one upper in place
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Along the Willingdon Beach Trail, the Forestry Heritage Society built the Second Beach Trestle to replace an unsafe culvert that crossed Wisk Creek, near Second Beach in 2002/2003.
Construction would block the trail for six weeks, so an alternate route was required.
The bridge as it was. The sand above the culvert had slumped to the point the crossing was unsafe for vehicles.
Contact Us
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Postal: PRFHS
PO Box 186
Powell River BC V8A 4Z6
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Closed file - news we posted in 2013 |
| The Sponsors page has been updated to include donations from Robert G, Lacey ($1000); Branch 164 of the Royal Canadian Legion ($500); Brian Kukulies ($100 for the Railroad); and Economy Rentals for in-kind equipment for trail maintenance. The page can be seen here; errors or omissions appreciated to the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">website editor. |
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| Some progress on the new riding car; photos here |  |
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 On Tuesday afternoon before theevening meeting, Mike, Chet, Geoff Hans, Phil and Dave winterized the museum. Dave photographed the museum to aid photo re-installation next year. (Photos here) |
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| The 2013 Newsletter and previous editionscan be read here. | ||
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For Arts Alive at Willingdon Beach Saturday Aug 17, we had the tent and small display near the Rotary Pavilion. Sharon staffed the Forestry museum from 11 am. We sold tickets at the tent from 11 am until the 4 pm draw for Debra Bevaart’s Seal Head carving. Ron Hunter carved with us from 1 to 4 pm. | |
| Dave and Erin Mastrodonato, Ontario Street, won our2013 prize, a "Neptune's Eyes" sculpture by Debra Bevaart of Tug Ghum Galleries. | 
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Click to see the poster for more information| Dave Formosa donated this original PLSC shingle (right)stored on the property at the Shinglemill. It's now mounted in the Shingle Bolt bay in the Forestry Museum. It reads:
Mfd Powell Lake Shingle Co. Ltd; No. 1; XXXXX; Powell River BC Formosa Holdings recently became a sponsor of the PRFMS at the Silver level.
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Howard Kelly selling raffle tickets at Quality Foods in August. Thanks Howard! |
| Sea Fair Weekend went well. Betty Wilson and Ron Hunter drew good crowds Friday 4:30 - 8 pm, a challenge with the wind.
Saturday was full; going right from 11 am to 8:30; with Hans Maurer staying on to turn lights off for the fireworks. Linda and Dave were there for a few hours Sunday; only 8 tickets sold. We sold several hundred dollars in raffle tickets overall; thanks to the sellers and buyers. more photos here |
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| Mayor Dave Formosa with Betty Wilson; Nicholas Simon in the background. Dave visited the museum and signed on Formosa Holdings as our newest Silver Sponsor |  |
 Ron Hunter's carving is always popular |
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Many thanks to weekend ticket sellers Dave and Linda Florence, Peter Sansburn, Richard Parker, Jerry Oszust, Mike Lister, Chet Fee, Hans and Carol Maurer |
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 The new portable BS&W railway display made by Dave Florence was enjoyed by many visitors. It will be shown at the Sunday train runs. Full size 5 meg image here |
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We are beginning to restore our Washington Iron Works |
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| Abandoned donkeys in the Powell River area
Here's an update on the Chippewa Bay donkey http://vanishinghistory.ca/?p=2616 Our 2007 field trip videos of Chippewa #2 are here We'd like to compile a list of local donkeys - photos, GPS location, history welcome. |
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| Aboriginal Day, June 21. How many kids can fit in the video room? Always a popular spot. Gail Blaney welcomed the classes to the day. The singers did the welcome song. Gail introduced the many information stations, including the Forestry Museum. We enjoyed visits from many James Thompson classes; several from Edgehill; plus others; perhaps 250 visitors in all. Thanks to Chet Fee, Jerry Oszust and Dave Florence for tour guiding; to Gail; and all the classes who chose to visit the Forestry Museum. more photos here |
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| We have our 2013 prize, a "Neptune's Eyes"sculpture by Debra Bevaart of Tug Ghum Galleries in the Lund Hotel.
Tickets are available from members, from the Forestry Museum, or Tug Ghum Galleries; $5, with the raffle date August 17 at Arts Alive in the Park. As of July 27 a the end of Sea Fair we had sold $600 in tickets from the museum, with more to come from Debra Bevaart at Tug Ghum Galleries and member consignment books. |
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The AP Allison 28 minute logging video on YouTube. original footage of contract logging in Haida Gwai for the PR Company This is popular in the Forestry Museum - it plays better there than over YouTube, so drop in and ask to see/hear CD #1 |
| Meeting June 11, 2013. l-r: Phil Kemp, Richard Parker, Rudi van Zwaij, Dan & Lynda Parsons, Jerry Oszust, Linda Florence, Ken Day, Treasurer Chet Fee, Hans Maurer, Stephen James, Secretary Peter Sansborn, President Dave Florence photographer. - Seal Head raffle approved - Steam Hammer project - Rudi van Zwaaij will lead more on the steam hammer project here - a few trail signs to be moved - work party - Water wheel purchase approved - insurance quote $1,885 approved - new Donkey may be moved to the train loop temporarily |
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On Saturday May 25 we had a work party to set up the museum. Thanks to Linda Florence, Phil Kemp, Hans Maurer, Jerry Oszust, Sharon Taylor, Mike Lister, Chet Fee, Ron Hunter; and Dave Florence on the camera. | ||
 Jerry Oszust completed the annual varnishing of the grizzly bear at the ferry terminal on May 23.
Jerry has been doing this since the project was completed in 2002. Next will be the log sign at the museum |
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| Trail Drainage Work Party On Thursday evening, May 16, Rudi van Zwaaij, Doug Fuller and Hans Maurer took a compressor and cleared one drainage pipe on the trail. Another required a trench dug. One more drainage pipe needs attention. Thanks to Rudi, Doug and Hans for doing this. |
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| April 30 meeting. Secretary Peter Sansburn (back to camera); clockwise Dan Parsons, Chet Fee, Hans Maurer, Mike Lister, Sharon Taylor, VP Rudi van Zwaaij, Cathy McLean,; President Dave Florence on camera. |  |
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The AGM was held March 19, 2013. For 2013 (March 19) AGM Minutes, click here Officers elected for Mar 2013-2014: |
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| Doug Lott, lead on the Shed project, presents a thank you montage to Vic and Ron Spreeuw, owners of Valley Building Supplies, in appreciation for donating the material to make the shed |  |
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Rudi advises: We had a good work party with 6 folks and after two hours of work it was done. Also pruned off any branches hanging down. We got two culverts that need more work as we cannot find the intakes and I will follow up with Doug Fuller. ...Rudi |
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| Relocating the new Donkey is a 2013 project Some Photos in the Gallery: | |
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| Ongoing project: City of Powell River officials are investigating the possibility of relocating Powell River Historical Museum and Archives to the former Catalyst Paper Corporation Engineering-administration building in the Townsite. The PR Peak story published Nov 21 can be read here.
Vice Pres Rudi van Zwaaij will lead the PRFMS participation in any discussions that arise; and Secretary Peter Sansburn will be a valuable resource with his connections to the Townsite HS and PR Museum. Views of members are welcome; please direct them to Rudi. |
A combination of the PR Forestry Museum building with a re-located City Museum would have staff savings plus a 12-month exposure of the museum artifacts. However, we'd lose a wonderful current location.
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For those not comfortable with online credit card use, Peter Sansburn, our secretary, keeps the administration binder for the winter/spring season. He can accept membership applications, and issue receipts for donations for the Friends of the Society program. Peter is often at the Townsite Heritage Society office at Henderson House on west Walnut Street. Call to set up a suitable time: 604-483-3901
Annual 2011 2mb file; 15mb available on request What's new file from 2012 - click here
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