PRIVATE VARNISH
Five private passenger cars (including three domes) traveled to Seattle with the Coast Starlight, arriving July 3, as part of a trip to the NMRA Convention in that city. On Sunday, July 4 they made a Seattle– Vancouver round trip with the Amtrak Cascades service. Another special trip was over Stampede Pass to Cle Elum, WA and back July 6th, with a return south out of Seattle with the Coast Starlight split over July 7 and July 11. (R.B.) Another private car was reported in British Columbia, the Scottish Thistle (in CN colours) was reported in with Amtrak Cascades and on to the north with VIA, including a run with the Skeena. (B.M.)
AMTRAK NOTES
For reasons unknown, Amtrak Cascades had a pair of F59PHI units on the southbound end of the Seattle—Vancouver train for several days the last week of June….Amtrak celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Chicago—Seattle Empire Builder on June 11th, with events across the route of the train and special souvenirs for passengers on board at the time. The train was inaugurated June 10, 1929 by the Great Northern Railway.
CN / BCR TRANSACTION CLEARED TO COMPLETE
This will be the last column in WCRA News headed BC Rail, as the operating contract agreement with CN has been cleared by the Federal Competition Bureau and should have completed by the time you receive this newsletter. As part of the conclusions, CN has been required to provide shipper commitments for Peace River grain, access to other carriers at Vancouver, and to benchmark transit times over the former BC Rail line. We won’t cover details here as it has been covered extensively in the press.
NEW COAL CONTRACT
Watch for unit coal trains into Neptune Terminals off BC Rail, as a contract for coal from the Willow Creek Mine in the north has been concluded. The deal will see two unit trains a week from July 2004 through May 2005. (B.M.)
PASSENGER TEST RUN
A test run of a passenger train to Whistler was operated by CN on June 16, 2004, with participation by both contenders for the future rail passenger service franchise, Great
Canadian Railtours and Whistler Rail Tours. Consist was BCR Dash 8-40CM # 4620, a VIA Rail Canada F40PH-2 Rocky Mountaineer coach, VIA Rail Skyline dome, and CN business car Pacific Spirit. ( Photo of the train by Ken Storey)
BUDDS LIVE ON
Following the last run of the BC Rail Cariboo Prospector on October 31, 2002, the railway proceeded to dispose of its Budd car fleet. Almost two years later, the BCR Budds live on, with two at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park. But where are the others?
Perhaps the best known around here are the trip of cars (BC 31 / BC 10 / BC 11) that ended up in Oregon. The Lewis & Clark Explorer train has now started its second season of operation between the Portland area and Astoria, and continues to carry sell-out crowds. The ad pictured here on the right is from Oregon Coast Magazine’s summer issue.
Two other cars, BC 30 and BC 15, are working away in a small tourist operation in New England. The Wilton Railway at Wilton, New Hampshire, had a few teething problems getting started, but had a good first season, making 110 trips with an average of 70 passengers per trip. The two hour excursion passes deep ravines, picturesque Zephyr Lake, and fall foliage that the area is so famous for. Check out www.wiltonscenicrr.com (D.K.)
CN NOTES
Canadian Pacific will be detouring eight trains weekly over CN between Edmonton, AB and Mission, BC (four each direction) to alleviate westbound congestion and allow for track work blocks. CP units will lead the trains, which will be potash, grain and sulphur. Preferred detour days are Sundays through Wednesdays…CN’s operation to the new Rocky Mountaineer station has been issued in a bulletin—the train arrives by traveling straight through the CN yard, then backs into the station track. Departures are lengthy, pull forward to clear yard switch, reverse the train around the wye to clear the BNSF main switch, then proceed forward up the cut. (J.M.)
RITCHIE GETS ANOTHER AWARD
CPR’s CEO Rob Ritchie has won another prestigious award, being named National Transportation Week’s “Person of the Year”. He was earlier named “Railroader of the Year” by Railway Age. Ritchie is aggressively advocating for improved railway transportation infrastructure to help build Canada’s economic expansion.
CPR GIVES AMTRAK ITS BEST OT PERFORMANCE
The best on time performance in the Amtrak system has been achieved on the Milwaukee corridor, thanks to the dispatching efforts of CPR. The corridor, which handles the Empire Builder and the Hiawatha service trains between Chicago and Milwaukee, achieved a 95.5% record for the period October, 2002 to September 2003. (MOM)
CPR AND NS TO SHARE EASTERN TRACK & YARDS
Canadian Pacific Railway and Norfolk Southern have announced a plan to share both yards and trackage in a move to streamline operations and save costs, while also improving service in the Eastern US. The agreement will see CPR close its Buffalo, NY yard and move in with NS, while NS will shift to CPR’s yard at East Binghamton.
VIA’S MALAHAT HITS GRAVEL TRUCK
VIA Rail Canada’s Malahat Dayliner had a mishap on its Vancouver Island route, when the northbound train hit a gravel truck at Ladysmith on June 16. The lead car of the 2 car train, RDC-1 #6148, received considerable front end damage, and there were apparently some injuries. The 6135 returned to Victoria that evening, arriving at around 2000 hours, while the damaged 6148 was parked overnight at Chemainus and brought down to Victoria on June 18 with the Rail America freight, and put into the shops. (P.J.S., G.M.)
THE CANADIAN
VIA’s Canadian is running summer length consists again, it was observed westbound on June 29 at 0740 with two F40PH-2 locomotives and 20 cars, including four domes.
MAINTENANCE CENTRES ISO CERTIFIED
VIA’s two Western Maintenance Centres, in Winnipeg and Vancouver, successfully achieved ISO 9001-2000 certification in December 2003 for their Quality management systems. ISO is a structured approach to assure top quality work is carried out by the shops in servicing and repairing the VIA fleet. (VL)
GENERAL NEWS
GREEN KID TO SERVE NEW INTERMODAL FACILITY
IDC Distribution Services Ltd. has signed a letter of intent with Railpower Technologies to purchase a Green Kid hybrid powered switching locomotive for use at its new multi-modal container handling facility. The new facility, which will start operations in August 2004, is adjacent to the Fraser Surrey Port on the Fraser River. (D.K.)
CANADIAN MUSEUM OF RAIL TRAVEL TO OPEN NEW SITE SEPT. 3 & 4
The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel will officially open its new site in Cranbrook on the Labour day weekend, with gala celebrations planned for September 3 and 4. Canadian Pacific’s restored Hudson #2816 will participate, and excursions are offered Fernie to Cranbrook Sept. 3 and Cranbrook to Fernie Sept. 4. Gala celebrations and special concerts will be held both days. For information, tickets and details call the museum at 250-489-3918 or check out www.trainsdeluxe.com . (HC)
BC ELECTRIC INTERURBAN 1225 COMING HOME
The Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society has made a deal with the Orange Empire Railway Museum of Perris, California, that will see BC Electric interurban car #1225 return to Canada. The FVRHS has made a 10% down payment on the $200,000 purchase price for the car, and now must fundraise the balance before the car will come north. Car #1225 was built by the St. Louis Car Company in 1913, and served the BCER until the end of operations in 1958, making the last run on the line. It was then sold to OERM, and traveled south the Perris, CA on its own wheels in a freight consist, making some operating appearances en route. The car requires some considerable restoration, but remains operational to this day. The FVRHS is also working to acquire former BCER #1304.
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