Curator & Collector

Having a train to herself: the miniature Burnaby Central Railway

Railways are almost indigenous to British Columbia, the province having developed in the Canadian context to a great extent because of the railway. Since that is so, there are a variety of rail-related tourist hotspots in BC, the Burnaby Central Railroad being among them.

While not an official “museum,” the BC Society of Model Engineers’ miniature railway in north Burnaby deserves and rewards time for those with interests in culture or history. Numerous switches, “frogs,” bridges, signs, and tunnels exist on the tracks, of which there are several. The engines, with designs based on real railway designs, are created, maintained, and operated with care by the members of the BCSME. It’s quite a lot of fun, and at approximately 15 minutes per ride, the $2.50 per person is quite worth it. The train operates from Easter to [Canadian] Thanksgiving, on weekends and statutory holidays only.