Big Artifacts for a Small Museum...			...in Smithers, B.C.
			by Lillian Weedmark

The Bulkley Valley Museum is a small community museum with some large, impressive artifacts in its collection. The Museum's largest item is a piece of railway equipment, known as a Flanger, that was used to plow the snow and ice from between the tracks. It was built in 1915, with some modifications added in 1949. Built as a 'two-way' flanger, it was able to go up and down the track without turning around.

The Flanger in 1991

The Flanger was brought out from the east in the late 1960's/ early 1970's to replace the old 'one-way' machine. It was operated by a two-man crew and used mainly west of Smithers, but also on the Endako run. In the late 1970's, new safety regulations restricted the use of wooden cars and the Flanger went out of service. The Museum acquired her in 1991 and the Town of Smithers approved a site on Alfred Park across from the Railway Station for her final resting place.

Moving to Alfred Park in 1996

For the next few years, she stayed in the CN railyards while the Museum raised funds to move and conserve her. A road bed and tracks were laid in Alfred Park and, in 1996, she was carefully picked up by two machines and brought across Railway Avenue. During the summer of 1998, volunteers scraped and repainted her in 'CN red'. A committee has been formed that will decide on future restoration.