Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society

The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society (FVHRS) is a non-profit organization that runs a historic railway in Surrey, British Columbia.^[1][2] The organization restores and operates historic interurban streetcars previously operated by the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER). It is one of seven operating heritage railways in the province.

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society
Overview
Status	Operating
Locale	Surrey, BC, Canada
Stations	2
Website	https://fvhrs.org/
Service
Type	Heritage streetcar, seasonal operation
Rolling stock	Historic Interurban
History
Opened	15 March 2001
Technical
Line length	7.4 km (4.6 mi)
Electrification	None; electricity supplied by portable diesel generator
Route diagram Legend Cloverdale Sullivan This diagram: view talk edit

History

The FVHRS formed in 2001 under the advisory of the city of Surrey with a mission to acquire, restore, and operate BCER interurban cars.^[3][4][5]

The FVHRS established its headquarters on the site of the original Sullivan Station, which was part of the BCER's Fraser Valley Branch line. The line opened in 1910 and extended from Chilliwack to New Westminster, where passengers could transfer on to Vancouver. At 120-kilometre (75 mi) the line remains the longest interurban rail line constructed in Canada.^[6]

A reproduction of the BCER Sullivan Station was constructed along the original tracks in 2001. This station was the base of operations and used to store rolling stock from 2001 until 2012.^[7][8][9]

In 2004, the FVHRS agreed to purchase BCER interurban car 1225 from the Southern California Railroad Museum, who had bought the decommissioned car from the BCER in 1958. The car was transferred to Canada in 2005.^[10][11]

The FVHRS relocated to the site of the old Cloverdale Station in 2013 after construction of a replica depot was completed in addition to a carbarn. The historic rail system began operation in June 2013 with seasonal return service from Cloverdale to Sullivan Station.^{[1][2][12][13]}

In 2016, the Edmonton Radial Railway Society donated the former Edmonton Transit Service 2001, a 1912 electric locomotive that once ran on the Oregon Electric Railway as well as the BCER. This locomotive was in turn donated to the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society in 2017.^[14][15][16]

Sullivan Station, the first station replica created and former HQ of the FVHRS.

From 2013 to 2022, the FVHRS had an agreement with the city of Surrey to run the heritage line from Cloverdale to Sullivan. This agreement was not extended in 2023 and thus the Cloverdale to Sullivan excursion had to be cancelled for the 2023 season. In its stead, the FVHRS launched the new "Heritage Railway Adventure" where guests ride on a variety of the organizations rolling stock.^[17][18]

In the new excursion, guests ride interurban car 1225 for 0.8 kilometres (0.50 mi), then take the speeders on a similar route. A video is then played about the history of the BCER on car 1207 and the tour ends with a ride on a velocipede.^[17]

In September 2024, an agreement was reached with Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) and BC Hydro to resume service for 5 years between the Cloverdale and Sullivan stations. Approval was required from the two organizations as SRY owns the freight rights on the old BCER track and BC Hydro owns the passenger rights. The restored line can be ridden as part of the 55-minute Sullivan Excursion.^[19][20]

System

Cloverdale Station platform, the headquarters of the FVHRS.

Interurban with its power generator.

The heritage line is 7.4 kilometres (4.6 mi) long, using only a small fraction of the original 120-kilometre (75 mi) interurban line of the BC Electric Railway that connected Vancouver to Chilliwack.^[12]

One of two operational interurbans is run seasonally on weekends, from stations at Cloverdale to Sullivan. The line's vehicles do not use a trolley-pole, and are instead powered by a Cummins diesel electric generator towed on a small flatcar.^[21][22]

The FVHRS aims to have a new spur line created at the Sullivan Station by mid-2026. The spur line will connect the station directly to the line, which will allow passengers to board and disembark at Sullivan Station.^[22] Following the creation of the new spur line, the FVHRS aims to expand the line further to Newton. This would involve the creation of a new replica Newton station, as well as upgrading the existing generators to compensate for the grade.^[22] FVHRS is also exploring the possibility of converting its trains to be hydrogen powered.^[23][24][25]

Collection

Image	Date	Builder	Type	Operator	No.	Withdrawn	Service	Notes
	1913	St. Louis Car Company[26]	Interurban Streetcar	BCER	1225	1958	Lulu Island line (Marpole to Steveston) and Burnaby Lake line[27]	Restored and operational. Runs from Cloverdale Station to Sullivan Station on weekends in the summer.[28]
	1911	BCER[26]	Interurban Streetcar	BCER	1304	1954	Fraser Valley line[29][30]	Restored and operational. Nicknamed "The Connaught Car" as The Duke and Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia of Connaught rode it while on a royal visit to BC in 1912.[30]
	1905	BCER[26][29]	Interurban Streetcar	BCER	1207	1958	Lulu Island line (Marpole to Steveston)[31]	Car 1207 is ready to be restored as of July 2025. The restoration is estimated to take four to five years and cost $750,000.[22] Currently used as the "1207 Theatre" where visitors board the car and watch a video about the BCER. Donated to FVHRS by the Downtown Historic Railway along with 1231.[32]
	1913	St. Louis Car Company[26][29]	Interurban Streetcar	BCER	1231	1958	Lulu Island line (Marpole to Steveston) and Burnaby Lake line[27]	Sister car of 1225. Restoration is ongoing. Donated to FVHRS by the Downtown Historic Railway along with 1207.[33]
			Railroad Speeder		FVR-11 FVR-12			Nicknamed the Woodlings speeder. Part of The Honey Bee Express.[34]
			Railroad Speeder		FVR2			Nicknamed the Fairmont speeder. Part of The Honey Bee Express.[34]
		Volunteers	Handcar					Designed and built by volunteers, The Family Quad Car sits 4 people and is hand operated.[35]
			Velocipede	CN	22128		Previously used in the Mt. Robson area.	Visitors can ride the Velocipede, which was restored by FVHRS.[36]

See also

• British Columbia Electric Railway
• Southern Railway of British Columbia, uses BCER tracks