Two decades ago, deregulation of US railroads led WCRA Director Hugh Little to found a “transload” business. In this case BC lumber is transloaded from trucks to railcars destined for the US. The fledgling business began on property adjacent to Burlington Northern’s New Westminster yard on Braid St. A year later in 1984, Westran opened a second facility for the loading of piggybacks and boxcars at BN’s Vancouver terminal. With the business expanding, Westran took on contracts to wrap and load lumber for shippers and shipments
headed from New Westminster to destinations all over the US.
As the business established itself, Westran was able to secure rail freight contracts with BN. This led to Westran’s initial lease of 75 new centerbeam cars. These 73-foot centerbeam cars were new technology in 1987 and they proved to be far more efficient than bulkhead flatcars. Further innovations to loading systems lead to the purchase of 58 bulkhead flatcars built in 1977. These modified cars are still in service today. Westran is recognized for their innovation to both railcar and truck design.
Westran’s business diversified in the 90’s when it begins handling weather sensitive commodities. Under the name Westran Intermodal, a 143,000 square foot warehouse was constructed at Fraser River Port in Surrey for the handling of materials such as MDF (medium density fiberboard). An additional 16,000 square foot shed was added 10 months later for the handling of lumber exported to Japan. One hundred new center beam flatcars constructed by National Steel Car in 1998 joined the roster, today’s fleet has 225 cars. In 20 years Westran has handled more than 43,000 carloads, as Hugh reports “end to end, a line of railcars from Vancouver to Northern California.
Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Westran pulled out all the stops for the 20th anniversary celebration. Approximately sixty business partners and friends joined Westran and BNSF personnel for a special tour of the BNSF’s coastal route between Seattle and New Westminster on Friday, September 19. The guests traveled by bus to Seattle, boarding a special train and departing at 1255 north for New Westminster. The train consist was lead by a pair of BNSF units, a C44-9 in the Heritage II paint scheme and an EMD unit in Santa Fe blue and yellow. Behind the locomotive were four stainless steel cars, Cajon Pass—a crew sleeper with 10 bedrooms, Bay View full dome with lower level lounge, lounge car Mountain View and business car Atchison with open platform on the tail end.
The train had the high iron all the way, with no delays except five minutes at the New Westminster bridge for an SRY freight to clear. Arrival at new Westminster was at 1650, the power was cut off and the passenger cars switched into Westran’s facility where guests cleared customs and disembarked. The trip was repeated in reverse on Sunday, September 21. The pictures really tell the rest of the story. Congratulations to Hugh and to Westran on 20 years!
