Join the discussion on the following article:
Crews salvage historic Esquimalt & Nanaimo route into Victoria, B.C.
Just plain dumb and short-sighted; but about par for the course in B.C.
I quite agree Thomas. Much discussion here for those interested.
http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?board=Vancouver
Really a shame. The former station was in a great location in downtown Victoria, convenient to a lot of things.
It doesn’t appear that the locals or the province is much interested in maintaining their rail service. Within a few years it is probable that the whole thing will be torn up and forgotten.
I live in Metro Vancouver and have ridden the Malahat Dayliner over the complete line from downtown Victoria to Courtenay. This is an important transportation link for so many people on Vancouver Island, and there should be no question that this line and passenger service be fully restored! Don’t let another piece of historic value fade away to nothing!
From Guelph Ontario, Thomas ,take a trip to Vancouver by The Canadian and experience what a wonderful country Canada is , Vancouver Island by The Malahat , the scenary is spectacular , Smart remarks by an armchair critic indicate ones limited knowledge of our beautiful country .
I travelled on this line in March 2007
I’ll never forget the sight and sound of the old Budd clanking as it crossed the bridge as it came into Victoria station. The ride to Courtney and back was really good fun a great but tiring day.
Still they’ve tried before to close this line before and it’s always stayed open, I suppose I’ll have go back to Sudbury Ontario for another day out on a Budd Railcar
Great passenger train to ride. Would suggest it to all visitors of Victoria BC. The amount salvaged doesn’t sound like much. Just a walk accross a short bridge to the track. I’ve actually done it. I think this line is coming back with the mine coming and the short rail hall to Port Alberni, BC
Thank goodness in 1999 I had the chance to ride from Victoria to Courtenay on the Via Rail Malahat. It was a great trip and I wish others in the future could experience it, but one RDC trip a day hardly justifys maintaining the track. In 1999 it looked to me as though the track condition would soon end the service, so I’m surprised it has lasted so long.
Yes, short sighted.
AND that station is shown in a janes’s book about railways.
Had a memorable trip from downtown Victoria to Courtney in 2008. I hope I get the chance to take this train again.
When will people learn? If it is expensive now in the future when it will have to be repalced it will be twenty times more, fools.
My family and I made the Budd Car trip from Victoria as far as Parkesville in February of 1988 with my late brother who was a Nauturalised Canadian… Amazing scenery from the train even with the snow, so I am sadened to read the line has been moth balled and perhaps may not reopen. A lot of history in that region I am sure… Would be a shame to lose it… Thank you
My family and I made the Budd Car trip from Victoria as far as Parkesville in February of 1988 with my late brother who was a Nauturalised Canadian… Amazing scenery from the train even with the snow, so I am sadened to read the line has been moth balled and perhaps may not reopen. A lot of history in that region I am sure… Would be a shame to lose it… Thank you
To:Ian Parker, The White River Rocket from Sudbury is a train ride to behold, I took it 2 summers ago to Localsh for a fishing trip, Where else in Canada outside of the Old Newfie Bullit can one spend all day on the train, meet the most marvelous people sell a case of Molsons at 10 bucks a bottle , and I can!t wait to ride it again, VIA has done themselves proud with this winner