On the morning of August 4th Pete and I boarded the Alberni Pacific Steam Train in Port Alberni and took the 35 minute trip up to the McLean Steam Sawmill. The train is pulled by an authentic 1929 Baldwin Steam Locomotive. This is a restored ex-logging locomotive. We sat in one of the open cars and enjoyed the trip through Port Alberni and then through the forest to the Sawmill.
The McLean "Steam" Sawmill is the only steam-operated sawmill left in Canada. The sawmill cuts wood for demonstration and sale. You see the old original buildings and lots of restored logging equipment around the site including a steam donkey, logging trucks, graders and lumber carriers. You really get a sense of the life that people led in this camp that was literally on the edge of the world at that time.
On the trip back to Port Alberni the train was held up by the dreaded "Beaufort Gang" on horseback and they stole all the Sawmill profits. The children on the train had so much fun during this.
All in all a great day.
A closeup of the wheels
A closeup of the wheels
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