Alberni Pacific Railway

The Alberni Pacific Railway is a heritage railway originating in Port Alberni, British Columbia. The Alberni Pacific Railway returned to operations along the Port Alberni Waterfront in summer of 2024, and is expected to run until the end of September. The Santa Train will also return in 2024 along with other popular events.

History The Alberni Pacific Railway began heritage operations in 1984 overseen by the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society. Their primary motive power was Alberni Pacific No. 2 Two-Spot, which was retired in 1996 and replaced by the No. 7 steam locomotive.

On June 16, 2026, a fire engulfed the restored 1930s Comox Logging and Railway No. 104 crew speeder, destroying the rail car entirely. This came after repeated vandalism to the speeder, volunteer vehicles, and general railway equipment, with the electrical cables coupling passenger cars being cut on June 8. A group of three youth were promptly arrested after security footage found them to have started the fire inside the rail car before quickly escaping. The railway intends to preserve the crew speeder and restore it in the future if possible.

Rolling stock The railway is powered by locomotive No. 7, a 1929 Baldwin 2-8-2ST steam locomotive departing from the 1912 CPR Station. It uses rebuilt Canadian National Railway transfer cabooses as passenger cars. The 40-minute excursions go to the McLean Mill National Historic Site.

Along with the steam locomotives, there is an Alco RS3 diesel electric locomotive. There are five running coaches, three open and two covered.

Locomotive roster No. 2 is a Lima 2-truck Shay steam locomotive. It is on display on special occasions. It no longer holds pressure due to boiler problems. No. 7 is a Baldwin . This engine returned to service in November 2024 following a 6-year repair.

No. 112 is a Baldwin . It is currently in the initial stages of rebuilding.

No. 11 diesel is a World War II locomotive built in 1942 later used as a MacMillan Bloedel switching locomotive and weighs . This locomotive is used as the back-up motive power for trains on the APR if the No. 7 breaks down.

No. 8427 is an ALCO RS-3. It weighs and has a output. It is out of service requiring work on its wheels. 8427 was built in 1954 for the Canadian Pacific Railway. It was purchased by Crown Zellerbach Ltd. around 1970's and used in their logging operation in Ladysmith. The Western Vancouver Island Industrial Historical Society acquired it around 1994–1995. This unit is believed to be the last surviving unit of a CP RS-3.

Alberni Pacific 2

Revenue service (1912–1950) Alberni Pacific No. 2 is a Class B Shay locomotive built on June 28, 1912 by the Lima Locomotive Works originally as Weist Logging Co. No. 1. In 1918, the locomotive was sold to the Alberni Pacific Lumber Company at Franklin River, British Columbia as "US Army No. 7089". Between 1936 and 1952, the locomotive operated as "Alberni Pacific No. 2" in the Ash River Valley. The engine was retired in 1950 and the locomotive was donated to the City of Alberni in 1952. It stood on display in a small park at the corner of Third Avenue and Redford Street until 1978.

Excursion service (1984–1994)

In 1980, Robert Swanson decided to restore the locomotive into operating condition, and the locomotive returned to service in August 1984. In May 1986, it participated at SteamExpo 86 in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1994, the locomotive made its last run. As of 2024 the locomotive is on static display with no plans of returning it to operation.

Alberni Pacific Railway

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