Was there any industries along this line that the former Alberta Resources Railroad served or was it just used as a shortcut for trains from Grande Prairie, Alberta to Edmonton or points west? I did hear that coal was shipped out from around the Grande Cache area & I guessing there was some lumber/pulp & paper mills scattered along this line. I did read or hear that the ARR used CN engines on their trains.
This site explains everything pretty well-
http://railways-atlas.tapor.ualberta.ca/cocoon/atlas/Chapters-13-2/
It is now part of Alberta RailNet-
http://www.albertarailnet.com/
I believe the main function of this railway is to carry all the money to the bank from the profits of the oil revenues generated in the “BOOM” they are still having, oops! (I wasn’t supposed to use that word !) there is still talk about more and hi-speed rail service to Fort Mac, but people have been waiting 30+ years for decent train service between Calgary and Edmonton.