Internet discussion forums were invented.
You would have to take a ferry to get to the Island, about 30 miles across.
CP Rail sold their barge services to the Washington Group (MRL).
The Esquimalt and Nanaimo division was sold to Railamerica.
www.railamerica.com/railmaps/ENRR.htm
Most of the traffic switched to trucks and Railamerica wants to leave. Now they just handle a few propane tankcars and not much else.
Via Rail still operates the Dayliner from Victoria to Courtenay (140 miles) every morning and return every afternoon.
www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=162443
www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=162057
www.rrpicturearchives.net/locThumbs.aspx?id=162444
At the north end of the Island is the 60 mile Canfor logging railway. This site has a picture of a SW1200RS which has a cat engine installed by BC Rail.
www.trainweb.org/rosters/CANFOR.html
This map is centered on mile 73
http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=49.171996,-123.946466&spn=0.135192,0.316372
What will be the mode of travel in about 6 months if Gasoline reachs around 5.00 per gallon? Carpool?Taxi?Motorcycle,Shoes or maybe back to taking the train. Davebr.[8][V]
…since they started using metalic wheels
…so many lines have been abandoned that in parts of the country you can’t even see a train anymore.
The significant changes that really altered things to the point I lost interest in prototype railroads was the mergers and corperate sterilization that stripped individual quality and flavor and reduced variety, that eliminated lines in so many towns and geography. The loss of steam and 4 track mains, train order use, widespread classy passenger trains certainly took away from the greatness in intriguing qualities of the railroads but the thing that killed them to me as a subjest of interest was teh reduction to a small number of class ones that for the most part are adorned with uninteresting un railroad like corperate paint schemes, look alike trains and power no matter what region you travel to, sterile rights of way devoid of small shippers in little communities and station architecture. I know change was needed in order for them to survive and Im glad they did, but the result was they became something that no longer interests me in the least. I know there are a few who have the idea that if it is a flanged wheel on a steel rail and you were once a railfan you still need to be a railfan, but sorry, that may work for you, but it doesn’t for me. You can go out and spend all sorts of time with a camera some place, I’ll be happy in the thought that today’s railraods are healthy and a major piece in our nations ecomomy but I’ll turn to the period of when railroads had variety and individaul personality to satisfy interest in railroads that I might have. I wouldn’t bring back the good old days/stuff even if I could, but I will remeber what was great and take no interest as an enthusiast over what is on the rails today.
Since BNSF was created!
Speaking of how railroading isn’t like it was back in the good old days I have to say one thing. GOODNESS I miss the BIG BLUE. Things just aren’t the same now that it’s basicly gone but, not forgotten.
Smokey,dirty steam engines replaced the beautiful,noble horse[:(!]!
I agree every time I go up to Altoona or Sand Patch. I also, miss the time when railroads were a part of every day life for most people in the United States.
…the yellow fungus acquired the Southern Pacific.
Ok, I guess a bridge is kind of out of the question.[;)] Thanks- that was interesting. And you can ride an honest to goodness passenger train in your neck of the woods? [8D]
What has four legs and a tail? And eats all the time.
Allan.
Railroads just aren’t the same since Southern Pacific was swallowed, tunnel motors ceased to be the dominate road locomotive around here, SP’s GP9s were retired, and SP painted and numbered locomotives became rare.
I feel your pain. I felt the same way about the Great CNW Railway.
Allan.
They tore up all those old lines in my state-and yours.[sigh]
Railroads just aren’t the same since…
There were no flame wars
There was no name calling
You could have an opinion without being publicly humiliated
You could exchange thoughts and ideas and be validated for YOUR opinions
You didn’t have to be so politicaly correct
We all got along just fine…
Yeah, right!
MS,
I feel compeled to disagree. No not just because you are much better than I at starting such interesting topics.
But, as the mispellings of this post would indicate, I got to visit home–and a non-ergonomic keyboard–during my rare break from work, I saw a train doing the local switching in town. The x-wabash goes through my home town of Mt. Olive, Il–the car super train highway. Anway, one of the through trains witch had five engines on point did the switching at a local plant. Of the five engines, three were EMD and two GE, none were the same it was very interesting.
I am with you. Were I to see two Geeps do swithcing on a shortline RR about 30 miles north of me, I would find it more than neat, it would be enchanting. Nonetheless, I think the five different engines on point today of a major rail artery demonstrated, there is still a lot of excitement in current RR.
Gabe
P.S. Sorry for the mispelings, I am on a keyboard I am not used to.
Yah, a whole lot of changes, and part of the railroad’s problems from my perspective, is the abysmal lack of knowledge of railroads on the part of the media and public. Whenever a train goes on the ground,is involved in a grade crossing accident, the 6 O clock news shows it’s woefull ignorance of a vital industry. Part of this lack of knowledge can be laid right at the feet of the railroads, who simply do not advertise in the manner they used to. Notable exceptions, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific. The trains we see today aren’t as colorful, nor is there the variety of motive power and rolling stock many of us were used to. Still, when you realize that over 40% of the nation’s commercial traffic rolls on the rails, and that an overwhelming amount of hazardous material arrives at it’s destination without incident, railroading is still a viable and needed part of the nation’s infrastructure. BTW, I still miss GP-9s and cabooses.