By Railfan & Railroad Staff

Steam fans on Vancouver Island got an early Christmas gift this year with the return of Alberni Pacific Railway 2-8-2 7 to service for the first time since 2018. The locomotive’s return means the tourist railroad’s Santa Trains this month will be hauled behind steam. 

The oil-burning 90-ton Mike was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in Philadelphia in August 1929, for Campbell River Timber Co. In 1938, the timber company went bankrupt and the assets of the company were sold to the H.R. MacMillan Export Co., which assigned the locomotive to the Alberni Pacific Lumber Co., in Port Alberni. It was there the locomotive received the number 7. Later it was transferred to MacMillan Bloedel’s Franklin River logging division and renumbered 1007. In 1954, the locomotive was involved in a bridge collapse. The locomotive plunged into the river, killing the engine crew. The locomotive was repaired and reentered service. 

In 1958, the locomotive was leased to the Comox Logging & Railway Co., in Ladysmith, B.C. In 1962, it went back to MacMillan Bloedel and was assigned to its Nanaimo Lakes operations. In 1968, it was then assigned to a sawmill in Chemainus, where it worked until being retired in 1971. At the time of its retirement, it was one of the last operating steam locomotives in regular service in North America. Due to its historic nature, the locomotive was later acquired by the British Columbia government. In 1994, the locomotive was donated to the City of Port Alberni and then restored to service by the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society. It entered excursion service in 1997. 

The locomotive operated regularly until 2018, when three boiler tubes ruptured, taking it out of service. Since then volunteers and members of Local 359 of the Boilermakers International Union have worked to get the locomotive back in service. On Wednesday, November 27, the locomotive’s restoration was approved by the provincial boiler inspector and the following day engine 7 returned to the Alberni Pacific main line. The day after that, the Western Vancouver Island Industrial Heritage Society announced the locomotive would lead its holiday excursions during the month of December. For more information, visit AlberniPacificRailway.ca.