Coal mining in BC began over a century ago. Some of the first coal discoveries were made on Vancouver Island, where a large seam extended 140km along the east coast from Ladysmith, south of Nanaimo, to Campbell River. Cumberland was once a bustling coal mining community, with workers streaming from China, Japan, and Europe.

Union was the original name for Cumberland, the mining town founded by the Union Coal Company in 1870. The name was changed the following year when coal was discovered and mine-owner Robert Dunsmuir brought over miners from the coal-mining county of Cumberland in northwest England.

This housing project takes its name from the steam engines that worked at the Cumberland mines.  The three house plans have been named after the hard working trains of the mining period; the "Wellington", the "Queen Anne", and the "McGinty".

There were 20 engines that were used during the 77 years the mines were operating. At any one time 3 large engines would be operating on the mainline to the Union Bay wharf and 3 smaller engines would be working at the mine site or the Union Bay wharf.

Because No. 19, known as the "Victoria" when it worked in the Nanaimo area, came up to Cumberland from Wellington, it was quickly dubbed the "Wellington" by the local workers and people. It was given the task of hauling the coal cars from the Scott's Slope entrance across the narrow trestle bridge which spanned White's Bay to the mainline loading facility at the No. 4 mine site. The No.19 was a small tank 15 ton locomotive.

The "Queen Anne" (No. 3) was a small train, with a 25 ton switching engine. The "McGinty" (No. 12) was a 35 ton, saddle back Baldwin. The reference to a saddleback meant that the water tank was placed over the boiler (like a saddle).

Today, Cumberland is a quiet village with a main commercial street and side streets with old houses remaining from mining days as well as new homes. Visitors can still see the sealed coal shafts and visit the mining museum to appreciate the glory days of one of the province's most important mining communities.