If you enjoy Christmas lights and trains head out to the BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan for their Christmas Express. You will have an opportunity to ride through the forest and among their many historic buildings in one of their old steam trains, ”Sampson” built in 1910. Take a look at the stats, impressive:
Cowichan Valley Railway Locomotive No. 25 “Sampson”
Technical Data:
- Designation: Class C-6, 0-4-0 ST.
- Weight: 18 tons.
- Built: 1910, as c/n 1549.
- Cylinder dimensions: 10×16
- Boiler pressure: originally 140 pounds per square inch – now 150 psi).
- Hauling capacity on straight level track: 95 tons.
- Gauge: narrow (36 inches).
- Fuel: originally coal – now oil.
Live Christmas music, a chance to have your photograph taken with Santa and hot chocolate and snacks. That’s enough to keep the kids entertained as well as many of us grown up kids.
I’m planning on heading down to the Forest Discovery Centre this weekend so promise lots of photos in about a week. In the meantime, here’s a photo of one of the old steam trains in the snow.
Christmas Express Hours:
December 4 – 13
Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays – 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
December 18 – 23
Friday-Wednesday – 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Steam Locomotive at the BC Forest Discovery Centre, Duncan, British Columbia
Does the steam railway run any time other than at Christmas?
Hi Charlotte,
The Forest Discovery Centre certainly runs the trains at most of the events they put on. The schedule is on their web site at BC Forest Discovery Centre trains.