qathet Regional District, Powell River, BC
At 4365 McLeod Road on Sundays from 12:30 until 2:30 pm with the Farmers Market.
Upcoming events: Sundays, 12:30 to 2:30 pm
May 18: our Food Bank Day, all rides by donation, all proceeds to the PR Food Bank
June 15: Fathers’ Day …. you guessed it – Dads ride free!!
We plan to meet occasionally, through the spring/summer, either Tuesday evenings at 6:30 pm for the metal-work projects at Dan’s, or outdoors at the park on suitable weather days.
See recent work party details here
Continue reading “Railroad Work Parties 2025”
The wheelchair car is a nuisance in the shed. It is hard to walk past, and leaves no floor space for working at the workbench. We had considered storing the wheelchair car outside on a track with a fold-back cover over it, but now more of us like it in a mini-shed.
From the qathet Museum newsletter
Good to see!
We completed one of our four Infrastructure projects on April 9, 2025. We had begun last September, did more in January, and more in March
Eventually when the ties rot, we’ll do the whole thing as a poured surface, but this will do us fine for now.
Continue reading “Paving stones for the station”
The gutters were installed on March 18 by Joe Huetzelmann & Company.
Our latest thinking, May 4, 2025, is to proceed with an outdoor loop in the grove next to our shed. We would clear the salal and other brush, cut no trees, and build up the ground with big boulders. We’d run power from our shed.
A romp through our year
To keep the file size manageable, we need to break it into annual or smaller sizes.
Work Completed Tues Dec 17 . Thanks to Dan, Bob, Russ and Dave for attending. Dan added the springs to the switch on Dec 21. The switch is ready to install near the shed!!
Work Party Monday Dec 9 from 10 am to 1 pm:
We got the decorations down with an efficient crew. Thanks to Allan, Karl, Russ, Leslie, Dan, Bob, Laura, Rob, and Dave for attending.
We stored the two picnic tables in the Quonset. Juhli moved them to the back of the Quonset rather than inside the front door where they would have interfered with Sunday winter markets.
The woodpile has the leftover bonfire wood; enough for next year, but more smaller stems or split-small wood is welcome from future windfalls
Bob/Laura brought rocks to pack around the switch post when modifications are complete. Dan will change the rod to a larger one and fix a sleeve so the rod runs easier. Then Rick will make 3 more switch posts.
Bob took the other truck from pax car #10 to Dan’s for wheel/bearing/axel refurbishment (the first truck was fixed last month; it was in steady use since before arrival from Nanaimo in 2011).
Looks well used!!
Dan took his green loco back home for around-the-farm duties, along with his pax car and his two hand cars. So the shed now has our pax cars #10, 11 and 12, the caboose, plus the loco and tender ready to go to Karl’s for the hydraulic mod being led by Russ.
Work Party Nov 27 from 10 am to 1 pm:
Go lots done from 10 to 1 pm; thanks to Dan, Bob, Laura, Russ, Karl, Allan, Dave:
Still to do:, date tba
– move the picnic tables out of the Station.- Bring split alder over for the bonfire woodpile
– install the remaining two fencepost repair bars on the broken fence posts
– install the footings for the shed lean-to, and review the planhttp://qathet.prfhs.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Shed-extension-NOT-as-RFP-Nov19-2024.pdf
Unadvertised specials:
1 After Dan and Bob installed the repaired truck to pax #10, Dan cut off parts of the awkward side bits that made loading difficult.
2 After digging out the hole location for the switch post and imagining which way to orient it, Dan concluded that how the post-switch is built inhibits connecting the necessary 5/16″ connecting rod to the track switch. Dan will make the necessary modifications, perhaps at the next Tuesday-evening metal-work session, and test it on-site so that Rick can make the follow-on switch posts to the same design.
3 Broken brake lever on #1 loco. The wrap-around headlight wire fiasco did some previously undetected additional damage: the brake connector rod was broken. Dan went home and made one; he, Russ and Bob installed it.
4 Russ and Bob built a hook for the blower so it’s easily accessible near the entrance to encourage frequent track-blowing.
cheers, Dave Florence
Done:
.. blew the track,
.. Lights:
– – re-installed the 336′ string,
– – installed lights over the ghost hoops and steam donkey,
– – added a string over the two horse crossings to avoid disconnecting;
– – tested the whole set.
.. re-installed the truck under pax car #10,
.. put up some Xmas decorations; Laura went and got some more at the Dollar store
.. tested the new loco #2
.. brought Rick’s switch-post on-site and finalized the design of the connecting bits (more below)
Some metal work at Dan’s shop in late September at 6:30 pm
Ad-hoc work party Thursday, Sep 12
Dan has been busy modifying the out-of-service bench eLoco with the new trucks and controller. Dave and Russ joined him at 10 am Thursday to bring it to the shed and test it. The photo-story is here
We drove the new Bench eLoco most of the way around the track. It works fine: Fast, great regenerative braking.
Dave blew the track of leaves in preparation for fall fair.
In-park Work Party Sep 10 from 10 am to 2 with Pizza
We had a great work party on Tuesday, Aug 13, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Thanks to Russ, Karl, Mary, Bob, Dan, Leslie and Dave for attending. We got lots done and enjoyed a pizza lunch with the Farmers Market folks. Completed Tasks:
We had a great work party on Tuesday, July 23, from 10 am to 2:30 pm. Thanks to Karl, Mary, Bob, Aldo, Dan and Dave for attending.
A major task was to dig in the 3/4″ black poly pipe, connect it to a garden tap, and leave the other end to connect to the Water Tower. When we add gutters to the Station, this will collect rainwater for the garden
The above was the fun part. Then, when moving the windfalls, Dan’s eLoco quit working; no battery, but then mysteriously started working later.
While attempting to get the non-working eLoco home with the gas loco, the brakes failed. While looking at those Bob and Karl realized a weld job was needed so Karl took that home.
While looking a the brakes, Bob/Karl realized the rubber drive with chunks out of it wouldn’t make it next Sunday, so tried to install the new white cone. But it doesn’t fit. So they put in a new rubber one. We tested it, and it works fine. Yea!!
By now it was 2:30. We had worked past lunchtime; not a Pizza work party, so Mary’s blueberry muffins saved the day!! Thanks, Mary.
Read more for work done at previous work parties
Tuesday July 9 – at the park, joining the Farmers Market folks at lunch for pizza. Thanks to Dan, Bob, Rob, Karl, Mary, Russ, Dave, and new member Aldo Conti . Photos by Karl and Dave
We moved the fence to save a volunteer fir tree.
In discussions,
Next outdoor work party Aug 8, 10 am to 2 pm, pizza lunch with the Market folks.
.. add Carb cleaner to the loco gas if not already done
.. Clean up windfalls from the loop/trestle areas and chainsaw and stack burnable wood for Ghost/Santa fires
.. move three 4x6x8′ boards from the Donkey to Dan’s; available for benches or whatever
… do the Ghost/Santa lights repair
Next indoor work party for Climax, right-hand switch and 80′ track for the shed TBA
July 5 – Dan made 6 new pucks from hockey pucks
Tuesday, June 18 , 6:30 at Dan’s shop:
July 6, Dan replaced the battery in #1 loco with this one that came out of Dan’s eloco
Shop tasks:
See all our projects here
Upcoming Park tasks
Previous work below.
Tues June 11, from 10 am to 2 pm. Allen, Karl and Mary, Dan and Lynda, Russ and Dave met to complete park tasks and enjoyed pizza lunch with the Farmers Market folks.
Monday June 3: Thanks to Karl and Allen who installed the picnic tables on Monday afternoon with me. Welding and drilling the anchor parts was done at Karl’s place. The Market’s picnic table is now west of the loading ramp. The padlocks are slightly underground, the tables could be moved or stored inside for winter. Keys are in the sheds on the same ring as other locks.
On Tuesday evening, May 14, Dan, Karl and Dave:
… Stephen took the lead on the drive repair. Shortened the cone and used shorter bolts. A test run confirmed his re-design is right, but a new shortened rubber cone is needed
… Using Dan’s ATV and tailor, Moved the event-location woodpile and clean up partially burned wood to the main burn pile
… collected windfalls and had a fire in the main burn pile (but still have many windfalls to collect around the track)
… blew track, lopped low branches and cleaned gutters
… didn’t identify any track levelling problems on our one test run, but more testing is needed
… Laura tidied the garden in the Y and changed decorations on the station ropes
.. Dan brought the tractor down and moved some of the mulch from the tree grove area and other tasksRolling stock tasks
.. service loco oil … complete essential repairs on the loco drive (Stephen did this May 3)
Other tasks.. saw deck boards on Donkey (Mark Mathews did that another day)
It was rainy Friday, but perfect weather Saturday. A bit of a lineup Saturday
In November 2024 we upgraded our four-foot “bench loco” to look more like a locomotive, with decoration reminiscent of children’s toy trains.
A photo story of our 2024 gardening experiment! (We’re switching to a no-watering garden this year, except for our new rain barrel
Raffle: Ralph Merkosky of Powell River won our raffled Sealhead carved by Debra Bevaart at Tug Ghum Gallery in Lund. Net proceeds of approximately $2000 will be directed 50-50 to the Forestry Museum and the PVRailroad insurance expense. Photo is with Nancy Merkosky.
We had a good time at the Fall Fair on Sat/Sun Sep 14/15, 2024, from noon to 5 pm.
1400 to 1500 riders!
We’ve enjoyed having the Pipe Band ride the train for several years. (65 seconds)
We’ve updated our sponsor’s page
Things we need, ideally donated or at Garage Sale prices
We have some exciting projects happening on the railroad and other forestry heritage locations.
We welcome new participants!
Possible volunteer? Info sessions each Sunday, 12:15 to 12:30 and 2:30 to 3 pm
Plastic ties became too expensive, so, we are back to wood ties for now. Bob cut and donated some 2x2s, and Dan cut up leftover log ends from the Anderson sled project into 2x2s. Then we re-sawed into ties. Dan and Scott cut 120 more a few days later. About 300 now stored in the old shed rafters. More to go – Dan needs his ATV Trailor back, and 2x2s for another few hundred are stored there.
Up McLeod Road from Paradise Valley Road
Admission by Donation for Railroad equipment upgrades.
From previous years:
More photos and information is located here: http://qathet.prfhs.org/steam-donkey-1619-display/
The fairlead and pulley are part of the Anderson Display.
Andrew Martin scanned this lantern slide photo, marked “Edward Bros., Bear Creek”, along with a Sliammon photo (shown below the “continue reading”) and wondered if there is a closer “Bear Creek” to Powell River than the ones north of Comox, near Port Alberni, northeast of Port Renfrew, or north of Sprout Lake. Does anyone recognize which “Bear Creek” logging show this photo of a Baldwin locomotive might have come from?
https://www.facebook.com/groups/423298261169886/permalink/2514709755362049
Continue reading ““Bear Creek” photo near Powell River?”We’re glad the spring weather is here, and the Paradise Valley Railroad looks forward to resuming regular Sunday operations beginning May 7 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm beside the Farmers Market at 4365 McLeod Road.
Come for a ride on the train or on hand cars! Prices are the same as last year, $2 per ride, except May 14 when Mothers ride free!
Anyone considering joining the volunteer railroad crew is invited to an information session to be held at the train station at 2:15 pm Sunday, May 7.
After 100 years of involvement by volunteers maintaining the historic Willingdon Beach Trail, the Forestry Heritage Society, the maintainer for the past 37 years, turned over its few remaining trail maintenance tasks to the City shortly before the trail re-opened late in 2022, following the installation of the wastewater treatment pipe down the centre of the trail.
We introduced a new car at the Fall Fair; an easy-access car for folks having trouble mounting the ride-astride cars. Thanks to Kiwanis Powell River for sponsoring our fabrication of this car.
Our Raffle winner for 2022 drawn was Suzanne Goulet of Montreal. The $2,000 funds generated paid for our insurance bill!
Tickets were $5 each, or 5 for $20, and could be purchased at Tug Ghum Gallery in Lund or at the Railroad on Sundays.
What fun to have the Pipe Band on board!
Some other photos of the railroad during the Fall Fair 2022.
We updated our website that shows all our current rolling stock.
We are lucky to have our chief engineer Dan Parsons bring his various steam trains to the PVR. For Fall Fair 2022 he brought his 1/8 scale Shay steam train “ALBERNI PACIFIC #8”, seen in this 8-minute video.
More July 10 photos here https://photos.app.goo.gl/SWbizJzuUKDgyYma6
Photos from Father’s Day June 19, 2022
More model Shay photos (2019) .. … … … … More Vintage car 2021 photos
The poster we used to advertise the event is below.
Dave Florence presented “qathet Region Forest History, an overview” at the qathet Museum and Archives’ Spring 2022 Speakers Series on Thursday, March 10, 2022, at 6:30 pm.
It consisted of a heavily illustrated set of 118 slides, and took about 70 minutes followed by a question and answer session.
A Youtube zoom recording of the session is here (1 hour 23 minutes)
A .pdf version of the slides is here.
A few of the slides follow below.
Continue reading “Forest History Presentation at the Museum”was held December 10, 11, 2021: Friday, Saturday, 5-7 pm
Nice turnout today! We appreciate all the support to the railroad this year!! It was our final Sunday this year at the Outdoor Farmers Market. See you at Ghost Train Oct 30 and 31.
Photos by Phil Kemp – click on More.
Continue reading “FREE TRAIN AND HANDCAR RIDES SUNDAY SEPT 26!!”
We introduced this photo display of our first ten years. See each panel here.
We were delighted to enjoy viewing fourteen cars from the Vintage Car Club who visited. Photos here.
We did the Raffle draw: the winner of the Debra Bevaart Sealhead carving was Lynne Andrews of Surrey
Thank you to everyone who participated. More details here.
Photos of the day by Phil Kemp below
More than 200 smiling faces for our re-opening day.
We did the Raffle draw Sep 19: the winner of the Debra Bevaart Sealhead carving was Lynne Andrews of Surrey.
To help cover our insurance costs in a no-revenue Covid year, we did a raffle.
For 2021 we were pleased to continue our partnership with Debra Bevaart at Tug Ghum Gallery in Lund.
Tickets were $5 each, or 5 for $20, at Tug Ghum Gallery or from members.
Thank you to everyone who participated. More details here.
Saturday April 17, 10am-2 pm
11 April, 2021 at 1 pm. 2021 AGM and regular meeting.
Minutes AGM Minutes Regular Meeting. Presidents report
Christmas drive-by the lights Dec 11-12, 2020
