Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society

Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society Society members restore, maintain and operate vintage vehicles, trains and equipment used on mid-Vancouver Island, including the 1929 "Baldwin" steam train

CHILDREN FROM MAQUINNA ELEMENTARY ATTEND 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CENTER--Part One Early this mon...
06/24/2026

CHILDREN FROM MAQUINNA ELEMENTARY ATTEND 100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY AT THE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CENTER
--Part One

Early this month, two Grade Two classes from neighbourhood school - Maquinna Elementary - made an excursion to the I.H. Center to celebrate a One Hundredth Party - for the 1926 "Federal" Tow Truck that was restored by the volunteers.

Before the visit, many of the children entered a Colouring Contest. The prize is a ride in a vintage truck for the Winners, who can bring a friend or sibling with them.

Here are some of the Entries. It is tough work deciding on who are the Winners! You try to judge!

June 21, 2026 - APR Train Ride - Part TwoThis weekend, the "floating Condo" Cruise ship - "The World" - was visiting Por...
06/21/2026

June 21, 2026 - APR Train Ride - Part Two

This weekend, the "floating Condo" Cruise ship - "The World" - was visiting Port Alberni.

Some Passenger took advantage of the visit to take a train ride. Some Crew Members also 'took a break" between shifts to go ashore. Like their Guests on board, some Crew members also took a train ride.

APR TRAINS ON SCHEDULE The Alberni Pacific Railway is in the third week of their 2026 season.In June, the trains have be...
06/21/2026

APR TRAINS ON SCHEDULE

The Alberni Pacific Railway is in the third week of their 2026 season.
In June, the trains have been running Saturdays and Sundays with Departures from the Port Alberni Train Station at 11 a.m., Noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.

You still have one more chance to ride today - on the 2 p.m. Excursion.

Diesel Engineer-in-Training, Daniel Ennis, is in the cab of the "MBL No. 11" today, with Laurie La Plante - Engineer Trainer - in the "Cab Conductor" seat.

Pam Craig and Joanne La Plante are the Ticket Agents.

TRUCK SHOW SEASON IS APPROACHINGThe warm weather means that it will soon be 'Truck Show Season".The Industrial Heritage ...
06/18/2026

TRUCK SHOW SEASON IS APPROACHING

The warm weather means that it will soon be 'Truck Show Season".
The Industrial Heritage Society is already working on the organization of our annual big event, scheduled for September 5 and 6, at the Industrial Heritage Center in Port Alberni.

Admission is FREE for Visitors and Participants.

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of welcoming Stephen Mantle and his wife to the Industrial Heritage Centre. Stephen is one of the Organizers of the big Truck Show in Keremeos - the "Frank Mantle Memorial Truck Show". People come from all over the province to take part in this Show. Last year, there were more than 90 trucks at the Show, including some from Vancouver Island.

This year, the Keremeos Show will take place July 24, 25, 26 at the Rodeo Grounds. Keremeos is on Highway 3, just before the Okanagan Valley.

The first Truck Show that we will be attending is the ATHS Show at the BC Forest Discovery Center (aka. the "Forest Museum") in Duncan on Saturday. July 18. This will be a one-day Show.

The same day, there is a Show and Parade at Port Hardy. This is their annual FiLoMi (Fishing, Logging, Mining) extravaganza on the North Island. Great small town event!

In mid-August, there will be a 'Trucks & Antique Machinery Show" at "Heritage Acres", beside the Pat Bay Highway in Saanichton (near Victoria.). A good excuse to visit Victoria and include a visit to the 'Martin Mars" at the BC Aviation Museum at Victoria Airport.

VANDALS DESTROY VINTAGE LOGGING CREW SPEEDER in Alberni Railyard.Industrial Heritage Society volunteers were angered an...
06/17/2026

VANDALS DESTROY VINTAGE LOGGING CREW SPEEDER in Alberni Railyard.

Industrial Heritage Society volunteers were angered and disheartened yesterday when they learned that three vandals had set fire to the vintage "Comox Logging & Railway" Crew Speeder.

Vandals had already smashed out two windows of the rail car last week. To find the car now destroyed is just painful.

The 'Crummy" - a gas-powered bus on rails - was built in the 1940s to transport Loggers from Ladysmith to the logging operations up the Nanaimo River Valley. The Nanaimo River logging operations (Macmillan-Bloedel and "Comox Logging") were the last railway operations on Southern Vancouver Island.

The rail car was on a steel frame and powered by a "Ford" V-8 flathead. The body was of plywood attached to the steel frame, with a sheet metal roof and cupola. It had wooden benches lining the walls for the loggers to sit on. It was NOT a tourist car. The windows were small and the bench seats faced inwards. Tired, wet loggers were not concerned about the view! These 'crummies" were a big step up from riding home at the end of the day, sitting on top of a loaded log car!

This Crummy was the last surviving one from those operations. We obtained it when the Ladysmith Rail Heritage Club (1st edition) shut down.

The car was restored in the Industrial Heritage Center more than 15 years ago by a crew of Volunteers, including Johnny Reeves, Tony Super, "Soup" Campbell and Gordon Blake. Several others also lent a hand.

And now it is gone.

Question..... to build a new 'Crummy' on the frame or
restore the last remaining Speeder from Franklin River
logging camp? (It is in the City Works Yard, awaiting
interest and TLC. )

"A BUSY DAY FOR THE I.H. S." June 13, 2026 -- Part Two Members of the I.H.S. took six vintage trucks over to the Glen...
06/16/2026

"A BUSY DAY FOR THE I.H. S."
June 13, 2026 -- Part Two

Members of the I.H.S. took six vintage trucks over to the Glenwood Center on Saturday morning, taking part in the 'Alberni Co-op Community Day".

Alberni District Co-op is one of the important Community Sponsors of the Western Vancouver Industrial Heritage Society and we are grateful for their ongoing support for our endeavours.

The Co-op sponsored two visiting Daycare group visits to the I.H. Center in April, as well as the visit by two Grade Two classes from Maquinna Elementary School last week. Co-op employees Livi Peters and Diena Tyne both helped in person with the Programme for the Daycare groups.

Part Three: Ted Maurice's 'Celebration of Life"
took place on Saturday afternoon. Several I.H.S. Members took part in that event, too.

Saturday, June 13 - a busy day for members of the Industrial Heritage SocietyPart One - Taking a vintage Fire Truck to t...
06/16/2026

Saturday, June 13 - a busy day for members of the Industrial Heritage Society

Part One - Taking a vintage Fire Truck to the "Lake Days Parade" in Lake Cowichan.

Tim Pley took the 1928 "Chev" fire truck to Lake Cowichan.
Here is his report, with some photos.

"On June 13 Tim Pley represented WVIIHS at the Lake Cowichan Lake Days Parade, driving the 1928 Chev fire truck.

The ’28 was the oldest fire engine in the parade, alongside vintage fire equipment from Lake Cowichan and Youbou.

The parade was well-attended. Many people along the parade route took photos and videos of the ’28, and several called out asking what year the truck was. Despite the display of WVIIHS signage, several folks asked where “PAFD” was from.

The WVIIHS entry was awarded second place in the heritage category, probably behind what looked like a privately owned 1928 Ford coupe convertible.

Trailering the ’28 was uneventful, and the unit ran very well in hot and sunny conditions."

Thanks, Tim, for representing Port Alberni and the Industrial Heritage Society in Lake Cowichan.

"Part Two - June 13" -- to be continued.

BUSY MORNING AT THE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CENTERIt has been a busy week for members of the Industrial Heritage Society-- ...
06/13/2026

BUSY MORNING AT THE INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE CENTER

It has been a busy week for members of the Industrial Heritage Society-- the Hometown Makeover event, hosting two classes from Maquinna Elementary, getting trucks ready for the Co-op Community Days and the Celebration of Life for Ted Maurice.

Today, the Shop was busy as volunteers were checking and preparing six trucks to be driven over to the Glenwood Center to take part in the Alberni District Co-op Association's "Community Day" event tomorrow.

As well, the little 1928 "Chev" fire truck was being readied for a trip to Lake Cowichan tomorrow, to take part in their "Lake Days" Parade and event. We will be promoting Port Alberni and our annual Truck Show while down there.

VANDALS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO 'ALBERNI PACIFIC RAILWAY' COACHES AND VEHICLESAfter a successful launch to the 2026 Trai...
06/12/2026

VANDALS CAUSING MAJOR DAMAGE TO 'ALBERNI PACIFIC RAILWAY' COACHES AND VEHICLES

After a successful launch to the 2026 Train Season last weekend, it has been a bad week for the APR and some of the personnel working and volunteering on the Railway.

Some of the town "No-Goods" cut off the electrical cables linking the Passenger coaches. This is the second time that this has happened since the Railway resumed operations in 2024. This will be an expensive repair job.

The vandals - the same or maybe a different gang - also smashed the windows of the restored rail logging Crew Speeder. This also was not the first time. Gauges have been smashed or stolen before and the wiring ripped out another time. The wiring issue is just gratuitous destruction as the thieves are going to get very little money for a handful of copper wires.

Operations Manager Richard Spencer was personally affected by the vandalism as 'person(s) unknown' smashed every window of his pickup truck, outside his house. Does someone have a hate on for the railway?

Last weekend, Engineer Laurie La Plante's car was parked at the Train Station while the train was operating and some 'No Good" broke a window to gain entry.

We find this discouraging and maddening.

Address

3250A-Ninth Avenue
Port Alberni, BC
V9Y4T2

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 11am
Tuesday 9am - 11am
Wednesday 9am - 11am
Thursday 9am - 11am
Friday 9am - 11am
Saturday 9am - 12am

Telephone

+12507245509

Website

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