British Columbia and Manitoba. The trackage in Manitoba is from the original original (pre-GN) Hill road.
The BNSF here in BC is very importnat as it is the primary rail link between (western) Canada and the (western) US. There is a fair amount of traffic and a medium sized yard just outside of Vancouver in New Westminster. There are 2 sets of switchers out here, and I believe they are both 2 sets of 2 SW1500s. We get all sorts of units here, there is no standards at all as too what we see. Amtrak runs on the line between Seattle and Vancouver and BNSF seems to do a really good job of keeping it on schedule. UP uses a barge for interchange, I have always thought that that is really kind of stupid as it is so slow and takes along time to load... Happy Railroading! Dane
It gets better, BC Rail king, You see, UP has trackage rights over the Seattle-Vancouver line, but BNSF won't let them use them because of congestion on the line. This gets back to the no sidings between the border and Vancouver issue I talked about in some other forum.
LOL... I get a good kick out that one, I never knew that! I continue to be suprised that some one doesn't pay for a siding between New West and the Border. Not only for freight it would make sence but AMTK. could get the other Cascade set up here and have service running Vancouver-Seattle-Vancouver. There is definatly a market for it! (and its one of the few times I can't blame Amtrak ) As for getting some sidings, if I was an exec. at Amtrak I would go to the CANADIAN government and ask for some money. The current sitting federal government seems to love trains, and yet they are the ones the cut Via very harshly (10 years ago)... I have a feeling they would actually spring for at least part of the cost as it would benefit the transport market, but like with all gov'ts ya never know Happy Railroading! Dane
Dane, CTHippo is a friend of mine as we both live in B ham area. I have something that he told me. There are four parties that are effected by putting in a siding in to ease congestion. Here is what he told me: The four parties are BNSF, Amtrak, WA state, and BC, are all involved with this little scuttle. And until some one pays for that siding, no one will and so no more amtrack trains until that is sorted out. Here is the break up of what each party figures BNSF believes since Amtrak would be using the line they should pay for it. WA State Believes that BNSF and Amtrak should pay. BC couldn't care less And Amtrak believes that BNSF should pay for part of it because they would be using it as well. and WA should pay for it because it will bring Canadians down to Seattle and points south. Dane, I hope this makes sense, CT or I would be happy to field any questions, Hope this helps.
BC couldn't care less Well, it almost happened, then the gov't got elected out. With the thinking of our new gov't they will most likelly pay to have needed sidings removed Happy Railroading! Dane [ 28 January 2002, 00:28: Message edited by: BC Rail King ]
It seems that the BC Government is against the Railways, it's not lifting a finger to save the E&N and it's severely cutting back on services offered by BC Rail....what next?? Will the CPR mainline become a bike trail????
I can agree to a point but companies come and go. the E&N was a shortline that relied on one customer and what is the government supposed to do? I don't think they could live with out rail up there.just my 1 cent not even worth 2
The problem with the E&N is that CP Rail had from 1989-1996 refused new customers and forced previous customers to use trucks, but after 1996 the damage was done, it was very hard for the CPR to undo the damage done by the previous management, CP Rail. Rail America also tried but failed.
