Cloverdale鈥檚 heritage railway enjoyed a successful 2024, says Allen Aubert.
After facing some adversity in previous years, the railway is building on its return as it looks to put on another successful season in 2025 and host 25th anniversary celebrations in 2026.
Aubert, secretary for the Fraser Valley Heritage Rail Society (FVHRS), said the success of their 2024 summer season and their 鈥淓lectric Express鈥� Christmas train proved the railway is still very popular.
He also noted the all-volunteer team at the heritage railway campus will soon meet to start preparing for its late-spring opening.
鈥淓verything is set for an exciting 2025 season at the Cloverdale heritage railway,鈥� Aubert told the Cloverdale Reporter. 鈥淎s time passes, the FVHRS has adapted and responded to the growing interest of visitors keen on exploring the unique heritage railway available in historic Cloverdale.鈥�
The 2025 summer season will open on the first weekend in May (May 3-4) and run until the end of September鈥攁n extension of a month over its usual Labour Day weekend season finale.
鈥淲e are delighted to report that the FVHRS has received approval from Southern Railway to operate the Sullivan excursion each weekend during the 2025 season,鈥� Aubert added.
Heritage Rail is also planning a Halloween train in 2025鈥攖heir first in two years. Their annual Christmas train, the 鈥淓lectric Express,鈥� will return too. It will showcase Christmas as it was 100 years ago.
Aubert said their recent Electric Express, which ran Dec. 7-8, was sold out.
鈥淎ll the seats were booked up within two weeks of becoming available during the first week of October,鈥� Aubert noted. 鈥淭his was a record.鈥�
Aubert said the railway enjoyed high attendance numbers over the course of their 2024 summer run. Not only did FVHRS welcome guests from 性视界传媒, the Lower Fraser Valley, and around the Lower Mainland, he said, but they welcomed guests from other countries as well.
鈥淢any of the visitors were very knowledgeable about heritage railways and keen to ride on a B.C. Electric interurban as a unique experience,鈥� Aubert explained. 鈥溞允咏绱解�檚 Heritage Railway offers the only operational B.C. Electric interurban railway using restored original equipment.鈥�
In 2025, Heritage Rail will return to its recently successful schedule of running their ride-everything experience, called the Heritage Railway Adventure, on Saturdays and their Sullivan Excursion on Sundays.
Aubert said the on-site 鈥淎dventure鈥� is very popular with young families.
鈥淭he Adventure provides an opportunity to experience four different rides including the interurban, the speeder, the velocipede, and the quad cart,鈥� he explained. 鈥淭he Adventure also includes a video on the interurban history and a guided tour of the Cloverdale heritage railway campus. The Adventure is an excellent way to sample a variety of rides and heritage railway experiences.鈥�
Aubert said the train ride up to Sullivan Station, a 50-minute journey to Sullivan Park and back, will return on Sundays. The Sullivan Excursion runs four times each Sunday, with the first train leaving Cloverdale Station at 10 a.m. He noted last year that many visitors took in the Heritage Railway Adventure on Saturday and returned on Sunday to ride the rails up to Sullivan.
鈥淲e have created something special for people of all ages to enjoy,鈥� he said. 鈥淪ome visitors are keen to explore everything and the Saturday Heritage Railway Adventure fits nicely 鈥� there are many visitors keen to experience the Sunday Sullivan excursion, 50-minute interurban ride.鈥�
The Cloverdale Station Summer Music Festival will be back again in 2025, Aubert revealed. The two-month music fest features artists performing sets on both Saturdays and Sundays on the platform at the train station.
鈥淭he festival was a great success during 2024, with many visitors returning each weekend to take in the various presentations,鈥� he added. 鈥淭wo performances are scheduled each Saturday and Sunday with a wide variety of music on offer.鈥�
Aubert said the 2025 performance schedule will be out soon. He said the music fest is free, so even if a person wants to come down and just visit the station and take in the music, there鈥檚 no cost.
鈥淟ast season the festival was supported with a cultural grant from the City of 性视界传媒,鈥� he noted. 鈥淪ponsorship opportunities [for 2025] are available.鈥�
Aubert also revealed that planning for the 25th anniversary of FVHRS, which will take place in 2026, is already underway.
鈥淲e are looking forward to announcing a variety of special events to celebrate this milestone,鈥� he added. 鈥淭here will be opportunities for the community to participate in supporting these legacy celebrations.鈥�
The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society operates the railway out of Cloverdale Station and the Restoration Car Barn at Hwy 10 and 176A Street, in 性视界传媒鈥攚hich they now call the Cloverdale Heritage Railway Campus.
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