My dad got a new run for his train stimulation collection. It is a run from Vermillion to North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It is a run I want to try out when I get there. Does anyone know what goods that CN hauls on this line?
The simple answer I would say is that it is a grain branch. I couldn’t sleep, so after a bit of research I found that it is the northernmost of two parallel CN lines, from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba through Saskatchewan to Edmonton, Alberta, built by the Canadian Northern Railway about 1905. The fact that both of these lines still exist tells me there is enough grain trade to keep them both busy. The main Potash line out of that part of Saskatchewan is the CPR line from Macklin, SK through Hardisty, AB to Wetaskiwin, AB. The CPR line is south of the other CN line which was built by the Grand Trunk Pacific about 1908. This second CN line is the Transcontinental line as well as the VIA passenger line.
I was actually quite surprised looking at the SPV Atlas and seeing the proximity of the three lines that they were all still in service in that part of Alberta and Saskatchewan.
AgentKid
If it’s the new version of the route, I think it will come with some realistic activities already in.
I guess it is safe to assume that CN can use this subdivision as an alternative route to Winnipeg if their main line through Wainwright and Saskatoon to Winnipeg gets too busy.
It would certainly be taking the long way around. I doubt any trains would run the length of that line and more likely it is operated in segments with long distance cargo moved down to the mainline at the earliest opportunity.
Canadian Northern made a reasonable but incorrect guess that North Battleford would become the major city in central Saskatchewan. Battleford was a “place” going back to fur trading days if I remember my history classes from school correctly. The numbers and speed of homesteaders coming north never lived up to their expectations, and when GTP passed through the already existing town of Saskatoon it kind of sealed the deal. Saskatoon went on to become Saskatchewan’s largest city.
TrainBoy’s comments about a new route has me curious. My SPV Atlas shows no changes in the alignment on the Alberta portion of the line. I am wondering however if CN has gotten into the potash hauling business from that part of Saskatchewan. The other thing I’m wondering about is, is there any traffic related to the Lloydminister Heavy Oil Upgrader’s at or near “Lloyd” or Vermilion. I’m curious to hear.
AgentKid
Years ago when I spent a couple of days in Lloydminister I saw a 122 frieght train of CNs run through there. It consisted of mostly B.C. Rail cars which got me thinking that CN used that line when traffic got too busy on its mainline.
Just east of North Battleford, around Delmas, there is a line that went to Prince Albert but if it is still being used I don’t know as it has been 5 years since I’ve been down there.
CN does haul a lot of potash in the area. Just east Saskatoon, at Delisle and Vanscoy there is a couple of potash mines that both CN and CP use. I wonder if that is the only reason that CP keeps their Saskatoon to Edmonton line open considering that when I was there for several years that there was only one general frieght between those two cities.