Summerland’s mayor and council have purchased memberships to the Kettle Valley Railways Society to launch a fundraising initiative for the tourist train.
At the municipal council meeting on Sept. 11, Gerry Conrad, president of the railway society, spoke on the need for the fundraising drive.
Work on the Trout Creek trestle bridge, with an estimated cost of $600,000, is essential to the current operations of the steam railway and should begin as soon as possible.
“We’re not quite robust enough to take on this kind of one-time large bill,” Conrad said.
He added that the railway society hopes to have the necessary funds in place by the end of next year’s operating season. Construction would take place during the off-season.
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Donations to the railway can be made to www.kettlevalleyrail.org or by calling the steam railway at 250-494-8422.