Kamloops Heritage Railway to reopen as museum in 2025

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Heritage Railway has been shut down for the past year as the society deals with losing its track access to run the historic 2141 steam engine and works to transform into a heritage railway museum.

With use of the track not feasible due to increased traffic for what General Manager Ken Milloy believes will be at least the next 10 years, the society is working to upgrade their space in Pioneer Park. The current workshop and grounds need require a host of change to bring the site up to code and allow for a needed zoning change.

“Basically, what you have to do bring the building up to building code is you have to add accessibility. We are terrible when it comes to accessibility here. If you are in a wheelchair, it’s almost impossible to see anything. We can get you inside but it’s a bit of a trick,” said Milloy. “What we need to do upgrade the outside a little bit, add a ramp to move people in, extend the doorways — they are not wide enough. We need a second door at the far end. If you look to the side, upstairs where our offices are, that has to come out. That wasn’t built to code. It will be rebuilt and built down here.”

The society plans to apply to rezone the property next year. As for the funding needed to complete the necessary projects, Milloy isn’t sure exactly what the price tag will be until they move forward with more detailed plans.

“I think there is so much support for the organization in the community and outside the community. I think as long as the number is reasonable when it comes back, I think we will be able to get there without to much difficulty. My hope is we can reopen in 2025. I don’t think next year, unless it comes in a whole lot cheaper than one can imagine and fundraising goes that much better. We could open in the spring, but I just don’t see that happening right now. I think we are looking more at (the) next year,” said Milloy.