On the first weekend of June, Port Alberni residents were greeted by a familiar sound: the horn of the No. 11, a 1942 diesel-electric locomotive pulling passengers by train across the town’s waterfront.
The train will once again be taking regular trips across the Port Alberni waterfront this summer, thanks in part to the work of volunteers from the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society (IHS).
The IHS was formed in 1983, made up of a group of model railroaders who wanted to restore the run-down Two-Spot to working order. Since then, the group has worked to restore, maintain and operate hundreds of vintage vehicles, trains and equipment. The IHS operates the Alberni Pacific Railway, and also maintains the city-owned Industrial Heritage Centre in the city’s former hockey arena.
The society’s current president, Ron Corbeil, first got involved with the IHS when he was on city council (between 2018 and 2022).
“While I was sitting on council, I got to learn more about the IHS,” he said. “These are salt-of-the-earth people, good volunteers who just want to restore things and show them to the community. But they get bogged down on the political side of things. I don’t mind trying to wade through the politics.”
When Corbeil first became president of the society, his main goal was to get the train running again. In 2024, the City of Port Alberni agreed to enter into a one-year agreement with the IHS to operate a short-track passenger train service along the waterfront. It was the first time since 2018 that the train had been on the tracks.
Now, Corbeil says the society is “very close” to signing a five-year agreement with the city.
“We had a really successful first year last year,” said Corbeil.
Ticket sales for this year’s rides have been going “very well,” said Corbeil. The train will be pulled by the No. 11 on Saturdays and Sundays in June, with hourly departures starting at 11 a.m. Train rides will take place Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting July 4, and a few steam train excursions have also been planned for Canada Day weekend as well as three other weekends.
The train has been running along a shortened track, but Corbeil says the ultimate goal is to get the train running back out to McLean Mill. The society is currently working on a feasibility study for this plan.
“That is our goal,” said Corbeil. “We’re going to have to do it bit by bit. The first step is going out to the Barclay (hotel).”
Corbeil says the society is also working closely with the Island Corridor Foundation, with the goal of seeing the train one day travel all the way out to Parksville.
“With a road like ours, you never know if something is going to happen,” said Corbeil. “It would be nice to have the railway as another option. We want to slowly expand our way to McLean Mill and beyond. It could be an amazing tourist attraction.”
But the train is only one part of the IHS’s responsibilities. The Industrial Heritage Centre displays an impressive collection of antique and historic trucks, machinery and equipment. Corbeil says he wants to see this building open with regular hours and expand its displays.
“There’s so much heritage in the Alberni Valley — from the forest industry, but from other industries, as well,” said Corbeil. “We recently hosted the retired loggers social [at the Industrial Heritage Centre], and so many people said they’d never been there before,” he added with a laugh. “Which is so funny to me, because this is their history. That was one of the biggest meetings we’ve hosted in a long time.”
The Industrial Heritage Centre has also offered tours to school classes, senior care homes and the Port Alberni Association for Community Living (PAACL). The IHS has a busy summer planned, with fire department anniversaries, Canada Day celebrations, an antique truck and machinery show over August long weekend and the Fall Fair parade.
Because the society is made up entirely of volunteers, the IHS’s biggest challenge has always been their budget. Taking care of antique machinery can be expensive, and a recent facility condition assessment from the City of Port Alberni shows that the Industrial Heritage Centre’s roof will need to be replaced by 2035.
“It’s something we have to start planning for,” Corbeil acknowledged.
More volunteers are also needed. Although the IHS has approximately 100 members, many of them are retirement age. Getting younger people involved is “always a concern” said Corbeil, but that’s not unique to the IHS.
“That’s a problem with all volunteer societies right now,” said Corbeil. “People’s lives are so busy.”
Fortunately, the IHS was successful in applying for a grant that will allow them to hire four summer students. These students will be working at the Industrial Heritage Centre and the railway, which will help to establish routine hours.
Overall, Corbeil sees a bright future ahead for the IHS.
“This is a dedicated bunch of volunteers,” said Corbeil. “They do a tremendous job. There are things that go on behind the scenes that people don’t see, whether it’s giving tours to seniors from retirement homes or train trips for elementary school students. Hopefully we come out of this with a good future. I, personally, think we’ve got a good future.”
To learn more about the IHS, visit www.ihsportalberni.ca. To purchase tickets for train rides this summer, visit www.albernipacificrailway.ca.
