Some photos of the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island, the old Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway. The Blue and black GP9's replaced the red-white-blue GP38's over a year ago and Washington Group is running the freight service and supplying crews for the VIA Rail trains. Dayliner in front of the burned out Nanaimo station. Switching a customer in Nanaimo Passing the Nanaimo station.
They were hauling poles out of Courtenay for a while, but due to the Forest Product worker's strike the shipments stopped. They're back to work but I haven't heard if the railway is hauling the poles again. I haven't seen the pole cars in Nanaimo for a while.
I sure hope they're getting enough loads, to make this go very well. Are there hints of any new shippers coming on line? Boxcab E50
I haven't heard of anymore customers coming on line lately. Columbia Fuels has started bringing bio-diesel over from the mainland in tank cars and is unloading them in Nanaimo.
An update on the SVI for those interested. They are hauling poles out of Courtenay again, apparently they are running to Courtenay on Fridays ahead of the VIA train and meeting the VIA train at Dunsmuir, the only siding between Parksville and Courtenay, on the return trip to Nanaimo. The odd occasion they meet at a place called Buckley Bay, using the old Team track. As seen in this photo http://forums.railfan.net/forums.cgi?board=Vancouver;action=display;num=1198986590;start=20#35
Another update on the old E&N. Lake Cowichan Mayor Jack Peake, head of the Island Corridor Foundation has been in Ottawa getting support for upgrades to the railway. While the feds support the plan to upgrade the E&N, the provincial government doesn't(surprise surprise. We're talking about the same government that sold BC Rail). For more information go to http://www.ourcorridor.ca The link below outlines the business plan for the E&N http://www.ourcorridor.ca/library/ourcorridor_casebook.pdf pg. 17 shows the traffic that Southern Railway of Vancouver Island is going after. -Lumber -Veneer products -The pulp and paper traffic that RailAmerica lost to truck -Steel for Victoria Shipyards(a Washington Corp. company) -Scrap metal and muncipal waste -Garbage Also, in order to be a more "green" railway, the SVI has converted to biodiesel for the locomotives. Things are looking up for a railroad that was set to be ripped out six years ago. Rail on Vancouver Island is still viable. Key Supporters -VIA Rail Canada -Tourism Vancouver Island -Lafarge Canada -Lafarge International -Columbia Fuels -Western Forest Products(not currently using the railway) -Northern Pressure Treated Wood Ltd. -Superior Propane -Canadian Railroad Historical Association - E&N Division -City of Duncan -Town of View Royal -Capital Regional District(Victoria) -Community Futures - Alberni-Clayoquot
It's fascinating to know how the whole scenario has turned around. Which is the reason I am so opposed to removing rail lines. Even they seem to have no future at all. Interesting reading! Thanks! Boxcab E50
