Heritage Railway Society sets 2015 as target for getting 2141 steam engine back on track

NEWS/ CITY HALL — If plans stay on track, the historic 2141 locomotive will be operating again next year.

Kamloops City council today agreed to put another $227,000 toward rehab of the old locomotive in hopes it will be ready for the 2015 season.

The train was restored by the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society but has relied heavily on city funding over the years, though it brings in revenue of its own when it’s running.

Council contributed $54,000 last year so the society could begin the long process of testing every rivet, plate and tube on the steam engine, and society president Bill Abley said the 2141 should be ready for the 2015 season once final inspection is done this coming December.

Society treasurer Doug Baleshta told council the $54,000 provided by council turned out not to be enough but the society was able to come up with the shortfall, which brought the total cost of the testing to $75,000.

Some repairs will be necessary to the boiler and smoke box area but there are no major issues with the running gear. The testing has showed “no show stoppers,” he said.

The next step after repairs is to recertify the engine and get it operational again. The next round of City subsidy will be covered by a special fund previously set up in the City’s budget.

“I’d rather have a properly running train in the long haul than a flash in the pan,” Mayor Peter Milobar said of delays in the testing due to extra care being taken.

Arts and culture manager Barb Berger said a service agreement will be negotiated between the City and the railway society before the 2141 fires up for a new season.

Asked about long-term plans for the steam engine, Abley assured council it won’t sit idle, and will be operated on seasonal runs and special-event runs, and there’s even interest from Armstrong in re-inventing a trip between Kamloops and the Okanagan city.

However, trackage at the Armstrong end isn’t serviceable right now.

Coun. Arjun Singh asked about “governance issues” with respect to the society and in apparent reference to past controversies but Abley told him, “We have stability on the board.”