In early July we went on vacation in British Columbia. While railfanning wasn’t the main purpose of the trip my wife is somewhat tolerant of it, so I was able to check out a few areas. Here’s what we saw:
While on the Trans-Canada Highway and other major roads, all overpasses identified what passed under the highway, including all the rail lines (“Canadian Pacific”, “BC Rail”, “E&N Ry”, etc.) This is in contrast with the US, where the bridge signs usually say “[Local Siding] Overhead”. Crossbucks are just reflective white with a red outline. Were the old “Railway Crossing” signs replaced when French became a second offical language?
Went through Hell’s Gate and rode the skyway. Great views of passing trains from the restaurant area in the river canyon.
Highway 1 follows the transcontinental rail lines for some distance so you can railfan while you drive.
Stayed over night at a B&B in Savona, which is west of Kamloops (central southern region of British Columbia). B&B was within earshot of both the CP (1/4-mile south - ok .5 km) and the CN (1 mi./1.5 km north on the other side of a lake). Transcontinental traffic had a lot more variety of freight cars; not that many stack trains
Checked out the museum in Squamish. Lots of interesting equipment on display including GN #182 and the 2-8-2 #2860 “British Columbia” (which I last saw in Los Angeles in 1977).
Followed BC Rail (now to be CNR?) back along the coast into Vancouver. Very scenic; sorry we missed the BC passenger service by a couple years.
Checked out Granville Island. This is an art section in downtown Vancouver; it used to be a warehouse/manufacturing district. Many of the abandoned railspurs are still in place in the streets…there’s even an alley called “Railspur Alley”. Checked out the Model RR museum there…detailed mountain layout and great collection of Lionel, Marx, and other “toy” trains including many pre-war pieces in great
Glad you were able to visit our fine province --Pleased you were able to visit the Squamish museum .I was there last weekend greasing the rods on #2860. One of my tasks till it takes it’s place in the restoration shop. Did you stop in Kamloops ? A crew change point for CN and CP.-- Most double stack action starts at Deltaport near Roberts Bank over to the south of Vancouver,so being in downtown you would only have seen a small number of trains.For scenic action you need to spend a lot of time in the Fraser canyon – maybe next time ---- cheers.
Thanks Grinandbearit. My photos clearly show 4-6-4. All I can say is it was “after Midnight” when I was typing and I had brain fade…
Athelney - I sent in a membership application for the museum. If you would like a photo of the Royal Hudson from '77 I can scan and send it…maybe to the museum email address? It had a “crest” instead of the “British Columbia” lettering back then…
Saw ads for Kettle Valley (bike path) and Revelstoke but did not get to either of those…plenty to come back to see another day.
Did not make it over to Kamloops, though the map looked interesting (several rail junctions). The B&B owner is a railfan and mentioned a steam excursion in Kamloops, but said the insurance costs were eating them alive.
Welcome aboard the WCRA – send your scan to newletter@wcra.org – CP # 3716 2-8-0 is being restrored at the Kettle Valley , they also have a shay they use on their excursion train .Kamloops steam excursion using CN 2141 is alive and well and running , at least for now . They also have WCRA #16 2-8-2 they are overhauling for Squamish.
Vancouver has a heritage tram system that runs around the CBD during the summer. Too bad you didn’t See it.
The City of Vancouver is seriously considering bringing back their streetcars year round. There is some info at: http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/engsvcs/transport/railway/sponsorship.htm
I have a link to some route maps etc but just can’t seem to locate it at present.
My grandfather drove a streetcar in Vancouver fomr about 1918 until about '45 when someone decided that buses and cars were the way of the future.
Glad you noticed that , yes they have plans to operate in downtown. Did your father just drive in Vancouver ? Or did he come out with the interurban cars to Abbotsford and Chilliwack? We still have a few relics in the area of that system , one that comes to mind is the substation just out of Abbotsford next to the border - It’s a house now - kind of – but still carries the BC Electric railway name on the front of the building
More reasons to come back some day.
I did notice the “trackless trolley” bus system, those are rather rare these days too (though of course I’m biased toward the true trolley [tram?] version…
Yes, the Port Alberni Subdivision has been out of service since late 2001 when the last customer in Port Alberni, the pulp mill switched to truck, taking 85% of the E&N’s freight traffic with it.
I agree BC is a great place to vacation. My wife and I took the last circle tour offered by BC Rail two weeks before they shut down passenger service. We levt their North Vancouver station at 7AM on a five car RDC train. I like the RDCs as DART in Dallas, whose board I served 7 years, owns 13 of them for their TRE service. The ride along Howe sound was spetacular. After Squamish we climbed into the mountains passing the WQhistler ski resourt. The ride along the Fraser river was wonderful. The salmon were spawning and the river was full of them. The canyons around Lillooet were spetacular, although due to the curves no real speed could be obtained. We overnighted in Prince George where we caught the VIA Rail Skeena to Prince Rupert. Two days were spent there on our own. Then we were on BC Ferries to Port Hardy on the northern end of Vancouver. Over nighted in PH then bussed to Courtenay where we overnighted. Then on a single VIA RDC on the E&N to Victoria. Quite a trip and would recomment it to all, except you cannot do it any more. Such a shame. Perhaps a tourist line will run trains from Vancouver to Prince George in the future.
Yes CN has been talking with Via and the Rocky Mountaineer people to revive passenger service on the old BC Rail right-of-way, it sure would be nice to have the passenger service back because it is one heck of a beautiful stretch of track.
The old trollies that run from Granville Island to Science world run on the weekends, and stat. holidays.
It sure would be awsome to see them expand that trolly system to make it run through all of Vancouver, I can’t wait to see what happens in the next few years.
More on my posting about our vacation on the last run of the BC Rail circle tour. BC Rail split the train at lillooet with half of the cars returning to North Vancouver. They had the new stainless rail buses in the yard that will replace the transit to the towns along the line that only have access by rail. Unfortunately I could not walk across the yard to get a close up picture of them. The Skeena from Prince George to Prince Rupert was curtailed thanks to CN putting a grain car on the ground. Buses provided ther service to Smithers where we picked up the Skeena. Rode in the dome car the whole way. Quite a view. On the BC ferry ride to Vancouver island we saw whales, bear, elk, and many bald eagles. Also saw many great places for a fishing lodge. Prince Rupert is a great town to visit. Lots of interesting shops and galleries plus a great First Citizen museum. Heard that CN is going to upgrade the intermodal terminal at PR. Hope this comes to pass. In Victoria BC Rail arranged for a tour through Buchart Gardens. If you have any interest in a plant this is a great botanical garden. Been there several times and will go back again.
Hope CN and VIA will reinstigate the service on BS Rail. If not tourists will miss out on a great area.