I was just curious if someone could tell me about Prince George's current role with CN. i.e- what the subdivision is like, what is mostly carries through there, how big the yard is, where it goes and leads to, ect. If anyone has any maps or anything online, that'd be great.
Prince George Traffic to Prince George on the old BCR line has decreased to about two trains a day in each direction. Once the expansion is complete in Prince Rupert, and CN starts shipping China containers through here, Prince George will see an increase in carloads. There are negotiations under way between The Rocky Mountainer and CN re running tourist passenger trains on the BCR. News story on Prince Rupert and CN - http://tinyurl.com/qtswb CN's Prince Rupert news - http://tinyurl.com/msorp There have been a few CN derailments on the BCR sparking a government train length restriction - http://tinyurl.com/7ddso News article with pictures on one of the derailments - http://tinyurl.com/p63sw
AFAIK, that's only on the BCR line south of Prince George, the BCR lines to the north are still as busy as they were under BCR.
I've a feeling that if traffic remains light, south of Prince George, the old BCR doesn't have a bright future. :sad: Boxcab E50
There may not be the same amount of traffic south of Prince George, but there is still a lot of tonnage moving on the south end.
Tyler- That sounds good to me. Any info on operations west to the coast, from Prince George? I have a wild daydream about making it up there this summer. But with my luck.... Boxcab E50
Just caught a BCR n/b around Horseshoe Bay after coming back from Bowen Island on the ferry. Nice long one with 3 units up front and a mid train helper.
Rail traffic moves east-west, not north-south. CN has invested considerable money in reacquiring the RailAmerica Canadian assets with an eye to re-opening the old NAR line from Edmonton through Dawson Creek to send freight, containers and grain, through Prince Rupert. However, they've kind of shot themselves in the foot — after acquiring the NAR, they did zero maintainance on the track and let several trestles rot away. Now they are faced with significant capital costs to restore the roadbed and rebuild the trestles before they can start sending traffic north and west from Edmonton, relieving the congestion in the Thompson and Fraser Valley corridors. Just the same, for people in NW Alberta it will be good to have regular rail service again. Cheers Scott Fraser Calgary
