Coghlan Substation. This BC Electric Railway power station was named after two brothers, Henry and Nathaniel Coghlan, who cut more than 20,000 ties for the BCER when it was constructed through the Fraser Valley 110 years ago. (Today it is a private residence.)
The station is one of five that boosted power to the BCER trains in Cloverdale, Langley, Clayburn, Sumas and Chilliwack along overhead wires. Later, Coghlan Substation provided electricity to the growing communities of Langley, Milner and Fort Langley. Each station was designed by architect Henry Barton Watson in the Classical Revival style of the Edwardian era. Only two remain standing, and commuter service has never been the same since they shut it down in the early 50s.
Small communities grew around these stations — including the creation of a community hall, right across the tracks.