Cloverdale’s heritage railway welcomes 17 new volunteers
Published 10:30 pm Wednesday, April 15, 2026
They’ve had a lot of volunteers over the years.
Now embarking upon their 25th anniversary, the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society (FVHRS) recently welcomed 17 new volunteers to their team that works out of the Heritage Rail Campus in Cloverdale.
Allen Aubert, FVHRS secretary, said they are always in need of more people to help run such a big operation.
“We are delighted to be welcoming 17 new volunteers for our 2026 season,” Aubert told the Cloverdale Reporter. “As we grow it is necessary to add new people who bring experience, enthusiasm, and great ideas.”
He added those in the recent intake bring in a variety of skills and experiences that will augment the army of volunteers at the heritage railway.
Aubert noted that prospective volunteers can apply via the FVHRS website. Several legacy projects are underway to mark the society’s big 25th anniversary milestone and more volunteers are needed.
“It’s hard to believe that we are celebrating 25 years,” he remarked. “As we say, we offer ‘a journey through time.’ So much has happened since we started.”
Aubert was one of the heritage railway founders. He was there bvefore Day 1, working on the prohect for five years before FVHRS came into being.
“I was part of the Surrey Heritage Advisory Commission (SHAC) heritage railway feasibility study team from 1996 to 2000,” he noted. “Then an executive board member of the Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society since inception in 2001.”
At the time, Surrey City Council approved the SHAC recommendation in July 2000, under then Mayor Doug McCallum, to proceed with the heritage railway project as a non-profit society.
Cadres of volunteers have worked tirelessly over the past quarter-century to make the railway what it is today.
Aubert said several projects are in the works to celebrate 25 years of heritage rail in Surrey. The society is planning to add a new rail siding to access Sullivan Station in Sullivan Park. Plans are underway to start running two B.C. Electric Railway cars together, doubling their capacity for the Sunday runs to Sullivan—though Aubert cautioned that many tests need to be completed before that endeavour gets the green light. And they plan to restore yet another car, the BCER 1207, their oldest interurban. When completed, FVHRS would then have four restored interurban railcars.
During the 2026 summer season, several special 25th anniversary celebration events are planned for weekends at Cloverdale Station, but they are yet to be announced. Aubert encouraged railway supporters and fans to check their website periodically for details.
“One thing is certain, each year we welcome many visitors from far and wide who are extremely interested in heritage railways and as such we continue to play a part in making Cloverdale a very special heritage tourist destination,” he added. “Our railway—featuring operational B.C. Electric interurbans—is unique.”
FVHRS will hold its 25th anniversary AGM Saturday, April 18 at the Museum of Surrey. They are also publishing a special 25th anniversary issue of Signal Magazine.
The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society operates the railway out of the Cloverdale Heritage Railway Campus, which includes Cloverdale Station and the Restoration Car Barn, at Highway 10 and 176A Street, in Surrey.
For more information on volunteering, on the railway, or on how to get tickets for their 2026 season—which opens May 2-3 weekend—visit fvhrs.org.