Fort Steele rings in locomotive’s100th birthday

A ribbon-cutting ceremony went ahead and cake was served at Fort Steele on Saturday to honour 100 years of steam as engine #1077 officially became a centenarian.

The antique engine is kept alive by Fort Steele’s dedicated train crew.

“It was 2013 when I retired, and I’ve been here ever since. I’m department manager and engineer of the train now,” said Gene Roshau, department manager and locomotive engineer. “It’s not even like work, it’s a labour of love.”

Roshau said Fort Steele’s antique engine draws people in on its own.

“It’s the main attraction out here, the fort would be a different place without it,” said Roshau. “Since we got this train, it’s been a major attraction. People from all over just to go for a train ride.”

The #1077 was built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1923 and served as a logging engine for most of its service life.

“It worked for MacMillan Bloedel on Vancouver Island for quite a few years before it was retired,” explained Roshau. “They donated it to the B.C. government where it sat as a static display for about 10 years, until 1979 or ’80. They donated to Fort Steele Heritage Town and it’s been here ever since.”

Since its retirement from the logging industry, the #1077 engine has appeared on the big screen.

“It’s been in two movies: The Grey Fox and Shanghai Noon with Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson,” said Roshau. It was shipped over to Alberta for that movie. We still have some of the stuff they modified the engine with to make it look different, for that era.”

It now serves as the centrepiece of Fort Steele Heritage Town and takes visitors on a scenic track that was specially made for the park.