“Back on track.”
The very words bring a big smile to the face of Allen Aubert. He is the secretary for the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society (FVHRS) and Aubert was thrilled at the end of August when the railway finally received permission to once again run passenger trains from Cloverdale Station to Sullivan Station.
He said the first two weekends back on the historical B.C. Electric Railway tracks were very successful for FVHRS. He noted it was great to be doing what Heritage Rail does best: taking passengers back in time.
“This past weekend was spectacular at the heritage railway with sold out Sullivan excursions on Sunday,” Aubert told the Cloverdale Reporter. “We are delighted to see that our visitors continue to want to take in the Heritage Railway Adventure as well as the 55 minute ride to Sullivan Park and historic Bose Farm.”
On the first weekend of the return to Sullivan, 140 passengers walked through the gates and last weekend a record 189 passengers rode the rails.
Aubert added that a quartet entertained visitors Sept. 14.
“The Cloverdale Chordsmen, a men’s barbershop chorus, were on site providing spectacular harmonies.”
He also said FVHRS is trying to book the Chordsmen for the annual Christmas train, which will celebrate Christmas as it was 100 years ago in Cloverdale.
Aubert said information on their Dec. 7 - 8 Christmas trains will be available on their website within two or three weeks, likely by the first week of October.
“The two-day Christmas weekend special event offers 400 seats in total and sells out quickly.”
He said their Heritage Railway Adventure—the ride-everything opportunity for visitors, which is a big hit with young families—was also very busy the past two Saturdays.
He said the Heritage Railway Adventure will be open for the next two Saturdays in September: 21 and 28. The adventure offers visitors the chance to ride everything on site at Cloverdale Station, including: the B.C. Electric Interurban Railcar, the Honey Bee Express, the Family Quad Car, and the Velocipede.
The Adventure schedule runs on Saturdays also at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.
As for the Sullivan Excursion, the round-trip run takes just under an hour and goes up to Sullivan Station, located in Sullivan Park. (Not to be confused with the just-up-the-road Sullivan Heights Park.)
There are four trips scheduled for each of the next two Sundays during September. Trains will run at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 29.
Aubert said they will be extending their summer music festival by bringing in more artists to play on the Cloverdale Station’s platform patio over the course of the remaining September weekends.
“We have two weekends remaining until the end of our 2024 season,” Aubert added. “So, anyone planning to take advantage of a heritage railway experience needs to go online to the FVHRS website and book a ticket.”
The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society operates the railway out of Cloverdale Station and the Restoration Car Barn at Hwy 10 and 176A Street, in Surrey—which they now call the Cloverdale Heritage Railway Campus.
For more information on the Heritage Railway, the railway adventure, or to buy tickets, visit fvhrs.org.
