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Speeders coming to Parksville

Twenty tiny rail vehicles will visit the city this Sunday
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Similar to trips they did in the area in 2012

The speeders are coming! Around 20 or so of the tiny rail vehicles from across western Canada and the U.S. will stop in Parksville next week as part of their circuit of rail adventures.

Organized by the Motorcar Operator West club out of California, part of the North American Railcar Operators Association (NARCOA), they are doing a series of short trips on the Island around Woss Camp, back and forth from Parksville to Duncan and Port Alberni.

The local members of the association have spent the last few weeks clearing the otherwise unused tracks between Parksville and Port Alberni.

While they make appearances across the continent, the little vehicles don't do great distances very well, explained local member Gordon Grenon, so they are generally trucked from area to area and their size makes them easy to load on and off rail lines.

Grenon said the Woss trip will be particularly interesting as they get to tour around a rare active train logging operation and they are looking forward to the trip to Port Alberni and a visit to the McLean steam mill.

The public are invited to view the speeders parked about 4 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 14 on the tracks behind the Recycle bottle depot in Parksville. They will be a few minutes up the secondary track on Sunday and on the main track after 5 p.m. Monday and around 8 a.m. Tuesday.