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Archival description
Steam locomotives
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[Winter logging at Rock Bay]

Footage. "This reel was photographed by a crewman of the "Columbia", the flagship of the Columbia Coast Mission boats. . . . The location is likely the Hastings Mill Logging Company's operation at Rock Bay, 50 miles north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. The film opens with an aerial shot of an inlet. There is snow on the hills and the clouds hang low above the sea. Various panning shots (filmed from the water) of a small village or logging camp at the foot of a hill just above the beach. There are log booms in the water and a log-dumping wharf protrudes from the camp. A logging locomotive moves toward the camera. Snow between three sets of railway tracks. Steam locomotive is followed by several flatcars loaded with logs. Men pull off chains fastening logs to cars and the logs clatter into the sea. Water tank in [background]. Shot of Locomotive. Group shot of two women and a child and a man with a tripod. Two men outside door of infirmary, one on crutches. Sequence of two logs being yarded into landing by high-lead method, many other cut logs lying on the ground, snow all about. Two steam donkeys operating, one each side of the railroad tracks in the middle of the forest, one loading logs onto railway flatcars. Pan up spar tree and down again. [Long shot of] high rigger up spar tree working on rigging. Pan down tree to men working at the landing and the steam donkey puffing away. Good [medium shot] steam donkey, man sawing wood in [background] with Swedish fiddle. CU men chopping at a log with double-bladed axes. Turn of Logs coming in and being dumped on a pile. Chokerman walks down from setting choker around a pile of logs and waves to the donkey operator. Pan donkey operator, Chinese man sawing up log with Swedish fiddle, and loggers on their break. [Long shot] steam donkey at base of spar tree. Pan of logs on rail cars, steam donkey billowing in distance, logs being loaded onto cars. Two loggers outside shed pointing." (Colin Browne)

W.G. Mellon interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-01-17 SUMMARY: In an interview with Robert Turner, W.G. Mellon discusses his background in railroading: first got a job railroading through a friend's father who was foreman at Port Mann; started off 'pushing waste' and cleaning engines; by 1927, he was firing; in Depression he had a job in a garage; back to railroading by 1939 -- Saskatchewan, Calgary; an engineer out in B.C. by 1945, running a couple of years later; everything in railroading business is done on a seniority basis; worked in the yards in Vancouver and Port Mann in the early '40s; anecdote about big snow of 1950 in the Fraser Canyon; never received overtime; in 1948, they were tied up for a whole month because the road at Matsqui was washed out. [Remainder of interview not transcribed.]

Wally Huffman interview

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0001 RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Robert Turner, retired CPR locomotive engineer and fireman W.F. Huffman discusses: wiping and firing out of Grand Forks; learning the trade and operating during the Depression years. TRACK 2: W.F. Huffman discusses: coal firing a locomotive; move to Revelstoke to operate oil burners; operations out of Revelstoke; company pensioners; bidding for jobs; engineering exams and requirements.

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : W.F. Huffman RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.F. Huffman discusses: operations on Arrowhead branch; helpers out of Beavermouth; comments on 5900s, 2800s, and other power differences with the coming of diesels. (End of interview)

Waddy Weeks interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Locomotive engineer for BCFP (tape 1) RECORDED: Mill Bay (B.C.), 1974-09-25 SUMMARY: Worked at various logging camps in the 1930s and 1940s on Vancouver Island; came to camp 6 in 1937; learned to fire locomotives; description of camp; union and social activities; moved to Port Renfrew; hauled logging trains out of Harris and Bear Creeks; switched over to driving trucks until 1973.

Visit of His Majesty King George VI and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to Vancouver and New Westminster -- May 1939

Special event coverage. "Good long [medium shot of] Royal Hudson Locomotive, 2850, from side. Good [close-up] front of 2850 with scarlet-jacketed, bearskinned guards on either side. Pipe band marching down street lined with people, followed by veterans with red arm bands. 'Inspection of Guard of Honour at Pier C and Procession up Burrard Street through the Welcome Arch.' The inspection is missing, but there are good shots from various angles of the royal car passing through the Welcome Arch. Royal couple en route to and arriving at City Hall, Vancouver, through crowds of people with flags, etc. King and Queen leave City Hall to tumultuous goodbye from crowds. Scenes in Vancouver Harbour as the King and Queen depart for Victoria aboard the CPR ferry 'Princess Marguerite'. The harbour is thronged with small boats waiting for them to pass. Three biplanes fly overhead, low over the Lion's Gate Bridge. The 'Princess Marguerite' sails out under the bridge. King and Queen drive through mobs of people in New Westminster. Veterans pipe band. Children dressed up in May Day costumes are waiting in Queen's Park. The royal couple arrive to a tumultuous welcome. A huge maypole display. Kids perform calisthenics. Crowds at Pattullo Bridge. The King and Queen arrive alongside the CN train and reviewing stand. King and Queen leave car, board train and train leaves, everyone waving frantically." (Colin Browne)

[Travel scenes in British Columbia and other provinces]

Amateur film. "1939 - The famous Mr. Charles Jones in Burnaby with his birds and family. (Mr. Jones had an uncanny relationship with local birds which did not fear either him or his family. Many amateur film buffs took their cameras to his backyard to watch him feeding birds from his mouth and letting them perch on his arms.) Jericho Beach Golf Course. Theodore Phipps. T.G.S. Chambers. Pattullo Bridge. Kamloops, looking up South Thompson. Kamloops, looking up North Thompson. Wild sheep. Seven Sisters and lake near Lake Louise. Emerald Lake near Field. July and August 1939 - Sir Theodore Chambers KBE. Emerald Lake. CPR [train] coming up from Field, drawn by Hudson locomotive. Kicking Horse Falls. Mount MacDonald. Looking down onto Field. Silver Falls near Winnipeg. T.G.S. Chambers fishing. Perch, pickerel and catfish. LaVerendrye monument. Fort Garry Gate, Winnipeg. Tame chipmunk. Golf course outside Winnipeg. Royal Train arriving. King standing behind Queen. Leaving Winnipeg at 20 mph into the sunset." (Colin Browne)

[Train moves again]

News item. An old CPR engine and passenger car (Victoria Pacific) are being moved from the junction of the Old Island Highway and the Trans-Canada Highway to Ladysmith. Restoration will take place there, possibly for a short run, a CBC television series pilot, or a museum display, or all three. Short but very interesting footage.

Stan Malm interview ; Leo Cahill interview

CALL NUMBER: T2611:0001 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1973 RECORDED: Lillooet (B.C.), 1976-06-17 SUMMARY: Stan Malm, PGE locomotive foreman (1923-1973), Lillooet, BC, and Leo Cahill, PGE locomotive engineer (1920-1961) describe their experiences working for the Pacific Great Eastern Railway.;

CALL NUMBER: T2611:0002 - 0003 PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1973 RECORDED: Lillooet (B.C.), 1977 SUMMARY: Stan Malm, PGE locomotive foreman (1923-1973), Lillooet, BC, and Leo Cahill, PGE locomotive engineer (1920-1961) describe their experiences working for the Pacific Great Eastern Railway.;

Royal Hudson records

  • GR-3626
  • Series
  • 1975-1993

The series consists of correspondence, society bylaws and constitutions, publicity material, agreements, meeting minutes and agendas, cabinet submissions, financial statements, survey results, and marketing plans relating to the Royal Hudson and the Royal Hudson Steam Train Society. The records were managed and created by the Ministry of Provincial Secretary and Travel Industry, and its successors, between 1975 and 1993. The series provides an overview of the activities of the Royal Hudson from the commencement of the route as a tourist excursion service until the early 1990s. The series includes scripts used by staff on board the train as well as hiring information. The series heavily documents the partnership developed between Harbour Ferries Ltd and the Royal Hudson. The series also documents the business activities of the Royal Hudson, including its role in other BC promotional programming and its journeys across Canada and the United States. The series includes contracts and agreements with a variety of service providers and third parties, as well as the records of the Advisory Committee and the Board of Directors.

British Columbia. Ministry of Small Business, Tourism and Culture

Royal Hudson mainline special : Vancouver to Calgary on CP Rail

The item is an audio recording of railroad sounds recorded along the CPR main line on the B.C. section of the cross-Canada bicentennial trip of the B.C. Museum display train, between Vancouver and Calgary. The recording begins on March 30, 1978 with the departure of the Museum Train from Vancouver's CP Rail station, pulled by the Royal Hudson 2860 steam locomotive. About 1/3 of the way through this track, the train approaches Mission City and passes through. The last sequence is the approach to North Bend in the Fraser Canyon. The second track begins with the train leaving Golden and labouring through Kicking Horse Canyon. Sound of 2860 and train departing from Banff. Near Cochrane, Alberta, a westbound CP Rail freight passes, and 2860 continues towards Calgary.

Royal Hudson

The item is a composite print of a travelogue from around 1977. It depicts the popular excursion run made by Royal Hudson steam locomotive 2860 between North Vancouver and Squamish on Howe Sound. Includes colour footage from the May 1939 Royal Visit.

Of mines and men

Industrial film. A comprehensive look at mining in B.C., made to attract employees to the industry. Shows prospecting, core sampling; mine interiors, including the Sullivan mine (with electric trains); train (with steam locomotives) taking ore to smelter; smelter operations (including lead and zinc refining and production of fertilizer from smelter by-products); Bralorne mine; open-pit coal mine at Corbin; discussion of safety and health care for miners; amenities provided for the comfort of miners in mining camps, and for their families at larger camps.

Miscellaneous film footage

The item consists of six reels of film footage including:

  1. Billings IWA reply, John Macdonald Billings responding to IWA contract demands, 1972: negative picture with optical sound
  2. W.M. Skillings, Minister of Industrial Development, Trade and Commerce, being interviewed about the "Home Grown BC Quality" products campaign, 1972: negative picture with optical sound
  3. Boeing 737 press flight: negative
  4. Interview with D.R.J. Campbell, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Grace McCarthy, Member without Portfolio, about the job opportunity program of the Social Credit government. Campbell comments on the success of the program, 1971: negative picture with optical sound.
  5. Last steam locomotive, Various shots of steam locomotive at logging site. Train pulls up to water tender, loading water, coupling train of logs, etc.: duplicate negative
  6. CP Air : executive jet service, Shot at Vancouver International Airport, this item features Canadian Pacific Airlines, demonstrating the "executive service" offered to business travellers by CP Air: edited master.

[Kootenay, ca. 1939]

Amateur film. Footage of the Kootenay Lake and Lardeau area, including views of and from a steam train en route to the region; arrival at Argenta steamboat wharf (?); a passenger train pulled by Motor Car M600 (a Ford Model B Truck on flanged railway wheels, which ran on the CPR line between Gerrard and Lardeau); the sternwheeler "Moyie"; children at a local school; a log cabin at lakeside; men hauling in a fishing net.

Kootenay east

Travelogue. From Revelstoke to Golden over the Big Bend Highway, and south to the U.S. border and Creston, with views of Kootenay and Yoho National Parks and southeastern BC. Footage of interest includes: Revelstoke station and rail yards with locomotives; coal mines and miners at Fernie; coke ovens at Michel; farming in Creston area.

[Kamloops] : [footage and out-takes]

Footage. Various shots of commercial activity and social life in and around Kamloops, including: high-angle views of the main street and store fronts; high school classroom and office interiors; students outside school and enroute to Kamloops Athletic Association, where they take part in gymnastics; sandwich shop storefront and window display; Kamloops Motor Co. Limited (car dealership and service station); farming scenes; cattle; a dairy operation (including milking machines, milk processing and bottling); Silver Tip Bottlers soda pop bottling plant and delivery truck; more storefronts; Palm Dairies Limited; pool hall interiors (game in progress); White Way Laundry & Dry Cleaners (lots of interior shots -- washing, drying, pressing, etc.); panoramic views; bus depot and departing bus; beer parlour interiors (with card game); the Kamloops Indian Residential School (showing children at play on the school grounds); fire engines; arrival of CPR train at railway station (with large steam locomotive #2707); warehouse; log boom; camping and trail riding scenes (mostly b&w), ending at a dude ranch (?); panoramic view of Kamloops and surroundings (b&w); CPR engine #2703 and train departing (b&w); fishing on lake (b&w).

John Kloss interview

The item is an audio recording of an interview with John Kloss in 1974.
T0540:0001 track 1: Mr. Kloss discusses his experiences on logging railroads. First worked in the woods, 1927; various woods jobs; working on steam locomotives for various coastal logging companies; work and wages; unionism and strikes in the 1930s, including the formation of the I.W.A.; 1934 strike at Alberni-Pacific Logging Co.
T0540:0001 track 2: Mr. Kloss discusses the 1934 forest industry strike (cont'd); logging camp life on the coast, 1927-1946; Canadian Forest Products' Englewood camp. Mr. Kloss provides details about logging locomotive operation, including: the end of steam locomotives and the advent of diesel electric locomotives.

T0540:0002 track 1: Mr. Kloss describes the differences between steam locomotives and diesel electric locomotives. Movement of rail operation from Englewood to Beaver Cove and Woss run, 1957. Life in various Nimpkish Valley camps: Nimpkish and Woss. Minor railroad accidents described. Problems of union organization at Salmon River and other logging camps. Summary remarks.

John Davies interview

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : John Davies RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-09-17 SUMMARY: John Davies, a former CPR shop foreman, discusses: railroad shop practices; machinist apprentices; all components of steam locomotives required attention at specific intervals; describes different roundhouses in B.C.; class two repairs were much more extensive than class three ones; job was to keep the traffic moving through the roundhouse; foreman was very connected to floor of shop but also to office demands; Revelstoke shop maintained a large number of locomotives. (Rest of interview is not transcribed).

Jim Wolverton interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1978-11-08 SUMMARY: In an interview with Robert Turner, Jim Wolverton discusses his experiences in railroading: started in 1913 at 16 years of age; started firing on a 23 ton, then a 40 ton shay for the Puget Sound Northern Timber Company; burned coal in those days; became an engineer when his supervisor retired; no exams in logging in those days; paid $110 a month as an engineer in the beginning; long and tiring hours; stayed at Port Angeles from 1913 to 1920. [Remainder of interview not transcribed.]

Horace Hinton interview

The item is an audio recording of an interview with Horace Hinton in 1975.
T0500:0001 track 1: Mr. Hinton discusses early logging experience: move to Nimpkish Valley from Washington State, 1919; description of English Logging Company Camp #1; railroad personnel; aspects of railway logging; problems of isolation; logging camp life; life in Englewood, ca. 1926.
T0500:0001 track 2: Mr. Hinton comments on Shay and Climax engines; Japanese mill workers at Englewood; life in the logging camps during the 1930s; railway logging in Nimpkish Valley, 1930-70; railway maintenance and accidents, 1930-70.

T0500:0002 track 1: Mr. Hinton discusses Japanese mill workers at Englewood, 1920-40; Chinese mill workers at Nimpkish Lake; floating camps (description and conditions); repairing logging equipment particularly steam locomotives. T0500:0002 track 2: Mr. Hinton discusses repairing locomotives (cont'd); working hours of locomotive engineers, 1920-40; the change from steam to diesel locomotives, 1951-52; registration of locomotives at Nimpkish; farms in the Nimpkish River area, 1920s; recreation and holidays from the camp, 1920s; travel on the union steamship line along the B.C. coast, 1930-40; description of company personnel, Frank Coleman and Russell Mills.

T0500:0003 track 1: Mr. Hinton discusses company personnel (cont'd); Eli Tibiff, 1920s; mechanical training of Hinton, 1930s; description of William "Bill" McMahon.

George Lutz and Jack Vetleson interview

The item is an audio recording of an interview with George Lutz and Jack Vetleson in 1974.
T0538:0001 track 1: Lutz and Vetleson came to Nimpkish Valley, 1943-44. Story of Lutz's arrival, 1943. Description of Englewood B.C. ca. 1943. Bunkhouse conditions, 1940s. Description of Immigrant labourers. Hiring practices and anecdotes about hiring practices. Holiday shut downs. Anecdotes about loggers and alcohol. Attitudes toward loggers. "Spending sprees". Loggers' salaries. Falling techniques and early chain saws. "Eight Day Wilson" and other legendary loggers. "Mancatchers" and other anecdotes.
T0538:0001 track 2: Anecdotes about drinking. "Mancatcher" story (cont'd). Vancouver "hangouts" of loggers. Black's (a loggers' agency). Working conditions in tough camps. Loggers' financial problems. Problems with coastal travel and transportation. Ship schedules to Englewood. Anecdotes about loggers' games and competitions. Description of railway logging. Bringing in a locomotive to the Englewood area and re-building the railway line, ca. 1946. More on railway logging (methods and techniques).

T0538:0002 track 1: Learning how to run different types of equipment (grapples, cat-sides). Duties of the Equalizer (foreman). Uses of the steam locomotives and laying track. Moving a skyline, by hand. Lack of concern for minor injuries. Anecdotes about card playing, movies and recreation. Laying track, runaways, accidents while working on the railway. Anecdotes about working on the railway. Replacing the steam locomotives. Anecdotes about the camp sanitation facilities. Rough-housing in the camp.
T0538:0002 track 2: Community life in Woss. Laying in and cutting wood supplies for the winter. Superintendent McEachern, C. Hunter and railway anecdotes. The process of building the railway. The track laying machine built at Englewood. The many uses of powder and blasting. The innovative nature of loggers. Sam Madill equipment manufacturer. Using old logging equipment. Superintendent Russell Mills. Making logger's punch. Safety concerns in the 1940s. Introduction of hardhats, 1952-53.

T0538:0003 track 1: Work safety, 1940s through 1970s. Establishment of first safety committee in the Nimpkish Valley, 1948-50. Problems enforcing safety regulations, 1970s. Safety rallies in 1950s-60s. Working in the winter, 1940s. Camp pets, anecdotes. First aid men, 1940s and 1970s. Single men and married men in camp. Choosing supervisory personnel, 1970s.
T0538:0003 track 2: Supervisors in 1949. Worker advancement in the 1940s. Management of loggers in 1940s and 1970s.

Also included are two photographs.

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