The city’s own steam locomotive is being readied for service as the Kamloops Heritage Railway prepares for its triumphant return to the tracks.

Efforts are underway to get the locomotive back in operation and pulling guests as soon as 2026.

The non-profit society, which acts as a steward and operator of the 2141 “Spirit of Kamloops” locomotive that is owned by the city, has a brand new board of directors and a new plan for operations.

During the pandemic, the former board was faced with few  opportunities to run the train, due to major impacts on tourism and gathering restrictions, as well as a new coal shipping agreement between CN Rail and CP Rail, leaving nary a rail for the 2141 to puff its steam on local lines.

At that point, the society’s former board moved toward turning the backshop, which houses the locomotive, into a museum that would showcase the engine but see it remain stationary.

With the society at risk and the 2141 in need of rescue, one of its former stewards swooped in and returned to Kamloops.

Jordan Popadynetz has a long history with the 2141, having served as a volunteer and the events and experiences manager for the Kamloops Heritage Railway (KHR) in the past.

When Popadynetz heard there was trouble, he quickly returned to Kamloops, leaving his fiancé in the Yukon, where he had left to in 2019. He quickly formed the new board and made a plan to get the train back on track.

Popadynetz said it only made sense to keep the locomotive operating, given all the volunteer work put into its restoration and maintenance over the years.

The Spirit of Kamloops was built in 1912 in Kingston, Ont. While there were 24 locomotives of its class constructed, it is the only one remaining, Popadynetz said.

Kamloops Mayor Jack Fitzwater brought the train to Kamloops in 1961, and for more than 30 years, until 1994, the locomotive sat as a stellar — but static — attraction in Riverside Park.

“It was a beach towel drying rack,” Popadynetz said.

The locomotive’s first major restoration saw 120,000 volunteer hours poured into it over eight years. Operations began in 2002 and continued with only minor interruptions until 2020.

“I was on the first trip when it left the station after restoration. I was five years old, holding my mom’s hand. The train came down the platform. I saw this white cloud of steam and I think it got right into my blood,” Popadynetz said.

That history is just one part of why Popadynetz wants to get the 2141 back on the rails and out into the community.

“Let’s get it out there. It’s not called the Spirit of Kamloops for no reason,” he said.

KHR’s new plans include a longer route stretching from Kamloops to Armstrong, which Popadynetz said will help bridge the Thompson and Okanagan regions in a unique way.

Over the past six months, the new board has done a lot of strategic planning work, which includes relationship building with CN Rail and the City of Kamloops. Future work includes working with communities along the new route and leaning heavily into the unique educational opportunities the locomotive presents.” I want this shop to be a shop that TRU students or a class can come into and it’s safe, it’s ready, and they can learn down here,” Popadynetz said.

The opportunities for trades work, such as carpentry and power engineering, are numerous and would be mutually beneficial for the society and for TRU students.

“This really is a culmination of all skills. Hospitality, guest services, finance, business, admin, there’s a whole slew of skills required to put this train on the tracks,” he added.

The 2141 is set to be inspected sometime in 2025, as part of its certification to operate, as mandated by Technical Safety BC. While the locomotive is as old as the titanic, it must meet the same modern safety standards a brand new diesel-electric unit would be held to.

While the society is in a good state, financially speaking, that inspection is expected to be a costly one, requiring a tear-down and heavy scrutiny over a two-week period by a private engineering firm.

Inspection costs are just one reason why the society is appealing to the Kamloops community for donations.

“If you can spare a donation, please do, because this is only going to happen with the support of the community,” Popadynetz said.

Donations of any amount can be made online at kamrail.com, or by contacting Popadynetz directly by the society’s website.