Summerland’s steam train will mark its 30th anniversary later this month.
On Sept. 20, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m., the Kettle Valley Steam Railway will have an event to mark its anniversary at the railway station at 18404 Bathville Rd., Summerland.
The steam train was formed to recapture Summerland’s railway heritage, providing a train ride on a portion of the old Kettle Valley Railway track in the community.
The Kettle Valley Railway Heritage Society was formed in late 1989 and marked the first serious attempt to save the historic railway, which had ceased operations.
The society acquired the 16 kilometres of track between Trout Creek and Faulder to operate as a preserved railway. While Canadian Pacific initially refused to sell or lease to the railway society, the province later announced it would purchase the railway line from CP.
The railway ran its first train on Sept. 17, 1995, with around 1,000 people at the railway station for the event.
Since that time, the railway has become a popular tourist attraction in the Okanagan Valley. For the 2025 season, the railway anticipates between 33,000 and 35,000 passengers.
Dave Smith, chair of the railway society’s board, said the train has an appeal for many people. “It’s a romance of the past and a romance of the train,” he said.
The railway initially consisted of a 1924 Shay locomotive, originally used for logging. This locomotive was on loan from the B.C. Forest Museum. The passenger cars were former Canadian Pacific cars from the 1950s.
Later, the railway acquired a 1912 steam locomotive, built by Montreal Locomotive Works and used in southern British Columbia and Alberta.
The steam railway has also held train robberies, organized by the Garnet Valley Gang. These train robberies have become popular attractions for passengers on the railway.
Summerland Singers and Players have held some dramas aboard the train in recent years.
The steam train has also been used in some motion pictures. The 2001 movie, Lunch With Charles, includes scenes featuring the steam train and the trestle bridge over Trout Creek Canyon. The train and the train station have also appeared in some made-for-television movies, including Our Holiday Story in 2024 and The Christmas Yule Blog in 2020.
Upcoming events, including the Christmas Trains, are already beginning to fill up.
While the railway has had changes, two of the staff have been present throughout its history.
Ron Belisle, senior conductor, has been with the railway for 30 years. Brad Coates, locomotive engineer, is marking his 32nd year with the steam railway.
