Duncan Railway Station - Duncan, BC - Train Stations/Depots on Waymarking.com

This station was built in 1912 by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) on the Esquimalt & Nanaimo (E&N) rail line. A restoration was completed on September 10, 1980, and it was designated a Heritage Railway Station of Canada on January 7, 1994. A plaque on the side of the station states that the station was built in 1887, but the current building replaced the original 1887-built station building in 1912. VIA Rail, the primary passenger train operator in Canada, took over operation of CPR's passenger service in 1978, but service was suspended on March 19, 2011 due to track maintenance issues. Negotiations are currently underway regarding the restoration of service.

The following is a historical description of the station from the Parks Canada website:

The former Canadian Pacific Railway Station (VIA Rail) is a two-storey, wooden railway station with a station agent’s living quarters above, built in 1912. It is located in the city of Duncan, in British Columbia. The formal recognition is confined to the railway station building itself.

Heritage Value
The former Canadian Pacific Railway Station (VIA Rail) at Duncan reflects the Canadian Pacific Railway’s (CPR) commitment to sustaining the pivotal role of its subsidiary, the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway (E&N), in the economy of Vancouver Island. This station ensured access to products in the timber, mining and agricultural markets of the Cowichan Valley, and facilitated the expansion of tourism in the area.

Designed by CPR Divisional Engineer R.A. Bainbridge, the generous size and distinctive appearance of this Station reflects the CPR’s optimistic view of Duncan’s prospects as a key stop on the E&N main line.

The former Canadian Pacific Railway Station (VIA Rail) at Duncan serves as a focal point for the downtown area. It has been renovated twice by the community and houses the Cowichan Valley Museum. The station retains its relationship with the tracks and with the generous lawn formerly used as a station garden.

Is the station/depot currently used for railroad purposes?: No Is the station/depot open to the public?: Yes If the station/depot is not being used for railroad purposes, what is it currently used for?: The station may be used for passenger rail service again in the near future. The station building also houses the Cowichan Valley Museum. What rail lines does/did the station/depot serve?: Esquimalt & Nanaimo Station/Depot Web Site: Not listed

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