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The Kettle Valley Steam Railway - Something Special |
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2007-05 - by Susan McIver -
Ron Restrick, the new general manager of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway in Summerland, continues his family tradition of railroading. Restrick assumed his duties last fall following a 32-year career working for BC Rail plus training in tourism management at Capilano College. He is one of a few Canadian engineers to hold a Steam Locomotive Certificate.
Restrick's railroad background includes having a father who was a locomotive engineer for CPR and an uncle who was a conductor on the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, which eventually became BC Rail. The young Restick's friends were fascinated with his father's work, but for him railroads were just part of his environment. When Restrick was seven, his father not only gave him an electric train for Christmas but also built an especially large track with mountains and grass. "It was something every boy wants but few ever receive," he said.
In later years, one of his brothers became a locomotive engineer and another brother a conductor. His own professional career began one week after his graduation from high school in 1971 when he traveled from his home in Winnipeg to Vancouver to accept a job as trainman on PGE. "My initial intention was to work only for the summer before going on to school, but I remained for over 30 years," he said.
During those years, he rose to become a locomotive engineer working on such well-known trains as the Royal Hudson, Starlight Express and North Winds. Among the highlights of his career are the people he met, including the famous Canadian journalist and historian, Pierre Berton. A train buff himself, Berton authored the books "The National Dream" and "The Last Spike". Both books focus on the trans-Canada railway during the period of 1881 to 1885.
Upon retiring from BC Rail, Restrick was accepted into the Tourism Management program at Capilano College. As part of the program, students must find employment for a summer in a tourism related industry. "I did my practicum at the Kettle Valley Steam Railway where I worked as a locomotive engineer and mentored under Debbie Kinvig who was the general manager then," Restrick said. A few months after completing his studies in 2006, Restrick was appointed general manager of the KVSR. "I was excited to return to the most inspiring community in the Okanagan corridor. Nowhere else have I witness such enthusiasm, pride and commitment from its residents," Restrick said.
The Kettle Valley Railway that was built during the period of 1910 to 1915 once stretched from the Midway to Hope. The railway transported agricultural products and people, created employment and became an intriguing part of BC history. Passenger service ceased in 1964 and the last freight train ran in 1989.
 The Kettle Valley Railway Society, this is a non-profit, charitable organization, has preserved Ten miles (16-km) of the original railway Today, passengers from all over the world enjoy the scenic ride with vistas of orchards, vineyards and Okanagan Lake. Rock cuts and natural landscapes provide another kind of beauty as the train goes onto the Trout Creek Trestle Bridge 238 feet (73 metres) above the canyon floor. A restored 1912 locomotive called the 3716 or a 1924 Shay provides the steam for the two 1950s passenger coaches and two open-air cars that leave from the station in Prairie Valley.
The railway was voted the South Okanagan's best tourism attraction for the years 2000 through 2005 by readers of Okanagan Life Magazine. It posted a record high of 25,000 passengers last year. Restrick has many plans to build on this already successful venture. "The challenge is to give fresh approach to what we do while maintaining the legacy," he said.
Among his plans are adding a new coach, upgrading existing coaches and expanding the station. Currently, Restrick is actively seeking volunteers who do everything from working on engines or in the station's gift shop to taking the tickets. "We take our volunteers seriously. They're a great asset," Restrick said.
For additional information, including train schedule, special events and fares visit the website www.kettlevalleyrail.org or call 1-877-494-8424 or 250-494-8422. |
