Preparing a historic museum for a new season is rarely straightforward. At the BC Forest Discovery Centre, reopening each year requires extensive hands-on work to maintain one of its most defining features: a fully operational narrow-gauge railway that runs through the property and brings British Columbia’s forestry history to life.
This year, that preparation included a large-scale refurbishment of its railway tracks. Volunteers and staff worked across the site to repair and reinforce sections of track using a specially modified jackhammer. However, the dilemma for the Discovery Centre was that the restoration project depended heavily on pneumatic tools and consistent access to compressed air. To support this effort, VMAC provided a new G90 gas driven air compressor with FlexDrive AirFlow Management System (AMS), helping crews maintain steady progress ahead of the Centre’s seasonal opening that was set for the first week of April.
The BC Forest Discovery Centre is not a traditional museum. Located in Duncan, British Columbia, it spans approximately 100 acres and operates as an open-air, working environment that preserves and showcases the province’s coastal forestry heritage.
One of the most prominent attractions is the operational railway. This narrow-gauge system runs through the property and serves as both a transportation feature and a key interpretive experience. Passengers ride through different areas of the site, gaining a sense of the scale and complexity of forestry operations.
Maintaining this railway is essential to the visitor experience. Unlike static displays, it requires continuous upkeep, inspection, and repair to ensure safe operation. Each year, significant effort is required before opening day to bring the track up to standard.
Railway maintenance at the Discovery Centre involves physically demanding work that must be completed efficiently within a limited timeframe. Tasks include removing and replacing worn ties, aligning track sections, and securing rails with spikes driven into place using pneumatic tools.
In this year’s project, volunteers were tasked with replacing ties along a 2.5-kilometre railway loop. The scale of the work meant that even small inefficiencies could quickly compound, slowing progress and increasing physical strain on the crew.
Before the introduction of a mobile air compressor, the Discovery Centre relied on a stationary compressed air setup. A 240V shop compressor was used to fill large receiver tanks, which were then transported to different sections of the railway.
These tanks powered a modified pneumatic jackhammer used to drive spikes. While functional, this method introduced a clear limitation. Each tank provided only a small amount of usable air, allowing volunteers to complete only a few spikes before needing to return for refilling.
Across a large site, this created a repetitive and inefficient workflow.
Another Centre staff member, Victor, described the physical aspect of the process:
“The work we're doing right now with the loan of the G90 compressor, the curve going down the hill after many, many years was gradually getting dragged down the hill to the train and was pulling the curve side. The ties were also getting worn out and they're 60 years old. We're putting in a lot of new ties, some new track, as the rail itself was wearing. Without the G90 compressor, it would have just taken us a lot of time.”
This stop-and-start approach affected more than just speed. It disrupted the natural rhythm of the work, reduced tool performance as air pressure dropped, and made it harder for volunteers to maintain momentum throughout the day.
These challenges are not unique to this site. They reflect a broader issue seen in many outdoor or distributed job environments where compressed air is not readily available at the point of use.
The introduction of VMAC’s G90 gas driven air compressor changed how the project was approached. Instead of relying on stored air in tanks, volunteers now had access to a continuous supply of compressed air directly at the jobsite.
This shift removed the need to transport tanks and allowed work to proceed without frequent interruptions.
“Last night we came in and did some tracks with the G90 air compressor and I think we spiked 10 ties in an hour and a half. Normally, we do like five or six ties in a full day, so it's way faster, for sure,” said Nolan. “We could start working and keep going. That alone made a huge impact.”
“…spiking with your compressor was a treat! I used both over the last few days and after around 150 spikes between the two all I can say is WOW. The diesel tow-behind I borrowed is a great machine for what it is, but the VMACs performance is almost unbelievable! Your compressor combined with my spiker and a repurposed jackhammer the museum has, for ballast tamping would really modernize the big jobs!”
When speaking with the dozens of Discovery Centre volunteers and staff about the restoration work underway, they all shared that the G90 helped them stay on schedule for opening. Without the G90, the work would have simply taken much longer to complete.
By removing the constraint of limited air supply, the workflow became more stable and predictable.
A mobile air compressor addresses these issues by bringing the air source directly to where it is needed.
This approach provides several practical benefits:
For railway maintenance, where work is spread across long distances, these benefits are particularly relevant.
The G90 is equipped with FlexDrive AirFlow Management System (AMS), which automatically adjusts airflow and pressure based on the tool and application. This allows the compressor to respond dynamically to changing demands without requiring manual intervention.
In the context of railway restoration, where tools and workloads can vary, this adaptability supports a more consistent and reliable workflow.
Team members operating high-demand tools such as jackhammers were able to maintain steady performance without adjusting settings or managing output levels. This reduced complexity and allowed them to focus on the task at hand. As Victor, shares, “The G90 has worked perfectly every time we've used it, it just starts right away. The nice thing about it, it's quiet.”
The transition to a mobile air compressor also addressed several secondary challenges that had previously affected the project.
Time spent transporting tanks was eliminated. Physical strain associated with moving heavy equipment was reduced. Interruptions caused by limited air supply were minimized.
These changes contributed to a more sustainable pace of work, particularly for volunteers who were dedicating their time and energy to the project.
In practical terms, the work shifted from a fragmented process to a more continuous one. This not only improved productivity but also made the overall experience more manageable, especially with the countless Discovery Centre volunteers.
Tod Gilbert, President of VMAC, commented on the collaboration:
“Projects like this depend on efficiency, reliability, and the ability to adapt to changing jobsite demands. VMAC is proud to support the BC Forest Discovery Centre and its volunteers by providing equipment that helps them complete the work safely and on schedule.”
This support highlights the role that equipment can play in enabling volunteer-driven initiatives. By reducing barriers and improving efficiency, it allows the Discovery Centre to focus on the work that matters most.
The work itself remains demanding. What has changed is how that work is carried out. With continuous compressed air available on site, the process has become more efficient, more consistent, and easier to manage.
For visitors, the result will be a fully operational railway that enhances their experience of the site. For the Discovery Centre team, it represents the successful completion of a complex project within a limited timeframe.
When compressed air is limited or difficult to access, it can become a major constraint on productivity. Addressing that constraint by providing mobile, continuous air at the point of use can significantly improve workflow and outcomes.
At the BC Forest Discovery Centre, the use of the G90 enabled the team to complete all required railway work on schedule, ensuring the site opened successfully for the Easter weekend as planned.