We have been running the Christmas Express for almost 15 years now and are consistently amazed by the excitement and support we receive from this community. This year we added 30 additional runs to the event over last season and still sold nearly all tickets within the first 48 hours. The enthusiasm and interest are gratifying for everyone who helps put this event on and we are constantly accepting feedback on how to improve for next year. One of the main things we have seen for this year is a desire for even more opportunities to ride the train. To address this, we are launching a fundraising campaign to build a fourth passenger car that would increase our capacity at major events by 30 percent! 

If you were not already aware, the excursion features a 2.5 km narrow-gauge track that winds its way through a 100 acre wooded forest area, dotted with many artifacts that were used in the forest industry. For our Christmas Express, we have the entire property decorated with lights, blow-ups, and holiday displays. This attraction has been the mainstay of the BC Forest Discovery Centre for years and is the focal point of most families’ visits.

The BC Forest Discovery Centre has recently completed an 8-year refurbishment on one of our steam locomotives. With the return to service of the Hillcrest # 1 Shay, we now have a locomotive capable of pulling four cars around the track at the Discovery Centre. 

Your donations to our Fourth Passenger Car fund will help the BC Forest Discovery Centre increase ridership on our extremely popular Halloween Train and Christmas Express events. Our goal is to have this project completed in time for the 2025 season.