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Museum celebrates logging locomotives

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Engineer Spoolie (John) Kusha (third from left) with others in front of International Timber co. locomotive at Camp 2

If you like to take a walk in the woods around Campbell River you have probably come across old railway grades, or even remnants of old trestles.

The Museum at Campbell River’s new temporary exhibit brings the time when those railways were built and in operation back to life.

Logging Locomotives is a photographic exhibit that features a selection of the Campbell River region’s more prominent logging camps, and their trusty steam engines.

From the comical tales of Lamb Lumber’s combined logging camp and farm operation, to the tragic wreckage of Bloedel, Stewart and Welch’s iconic Shay, this new exhibit explores some of the stories from the history of our logging industry.

“This exhibit shows how something as short-lived as the railroad logging era can still have a profound impact on a region, both socially and geographically,” says interim curator Suzanne Bonner.

“The exhibit hopes to spark memories from those who recall the days of railroad logging, and the interests of budding locomotive enthusiasts.”

Logging Locomotives runs until Feb. 21 at the Museum at Campbell River.

The exhibit can also be viewed during the Annual Train Show with the North Island Railroaders January 30 and 31.

For more information call 250-287-3103 or go online to www.crmuseum.ca