An investigation is underway to determine the cause of an early-morning fire that has heavily damaged a railway car along the Whitehorse waterfront.

A social media post from the Whitehorse Fire Department stated, “At approximately 1 a.m. (Tuesday), fire crews were dispatched to a ‘shed fire’ at Front and Wood streets.

“Upon arrival, firefighters discovered that the ‘shed’ was actually the trolley car located on the tracks to the north side of the station.

“There was heavy smoke and fire venting from the trolley car upon arrival.”

The red car is not to be confused with the antique yellow and white trolley that took passengers back and forth along the waterfront between 2000 and 2018.

“The (red) car was fully involved and firefighters attacked the fire and achieved knock down fairly quickly,” the fire department said.

“Crews continued with operations, including interior attack and search.”

Nothing was found inside.

The scene was secured until the fire investigation could commence later today.

As of late this morning, fire chief Jason Everitt said he had no further details about the blaze.

According to sources at the MacBride Museum, the self-propelled car is known as the Red Line. It’s a replica of an earlier model, and it dates back to the late 1990s.

It was purchased by the White Pass and Yukon Route railway in 1998 to take hikers between Fraser and Lake Bennett, B.C. The Yukon government eventually bought it, and it’s been used for some interpretive events.