The Little Prince has been the cute cherry-on-top of Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park for decades, but its historical value brings more to the table than meets the eye. With operational costs looming, and repairs causing a hiatus of its typical summer schedule, CFURadio dives into what makes this little engine special, beyond its endearing size. Photo Credit - Exploration Place Museum & Science Centre
While many local park goers have noted the small steam powered locomotive at Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park known as The Little Prince, not as many are familiar with its hundred year past, and involvement building the full size rail infrastructure across BC’s north. Fewer still have considered the complexity of its current existence: navigating municipal ownership, non-profit operation, provincial oversight, and archaeological processes required ahead of any currently required track repairs to name a few. While the Fort George Railway must take a break to lay new track, we examine the hyper-local tourist transportation economy.
In Part One of this program, CFURadio explores the Little Prince’s big role in local railway history, with Executive Direct Alissa Leier of the Exploration Place Museum & Science Centre, which oversees the locomotive on behalf of the City of Prince George. We also got into the nuts and bolts, with Fort George Railway’s Chief Engineer Sean Allen who operates the Little Prince, on the unlikely steps that prevented the mighty machine from getting scrapped alongside another five identical miniature counterparts into a historical dump.
- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter