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Post by CN2972South on Jul 2, 2008 15:50:56 GMT -8
I'd rather have a commuter rail system running between Duncan and Victoria, and possibly between Qualicum and Nanaimo and Ladysmith and Nanaimo instead. The Dayliner is the only thing keeping that railroad alive right now, loose it and the E&N becomes a bike trail. Commuter trains are coming, as is improved passenger and freight service, it just takes time.
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Post by corporalrabbinoff on Jul 17, 2008 11:31:24 GMT -8
Hear is a video of the Southbound Pole train I captured on our northbound trip up to Campbell River this year.
The video was shot on June 20 at about 1:50ish pm just before the first 4 lane stretch of Highway in Dashwood after leaving Qualicum.
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Post by CN2972South on Jul 21, 2008 10:45:46 GMT -8
E&N Days this year will be at the roundhouse again on August 16 and 17 from 10:00 to 16:00. With Railway Equipment Displays, Speeder rides, Mini Live Steam train rides, Historic Fire Truck rides, Food, Clowns, and Community and Railway displays. No Admission price, that's no cost for admission. Donations welcome.
Special Dayliner run between Langford and Victoria in the works as well more info to come.
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Post by CN2972South on Aug 14, 2008 5:50:27 GMT -8
Just a reminder, E&N Days this weekend. From 10 AM to 4 PM at the roundhouse in Victoria and outside the station at Langford(Saturday only). Train rides, speeder rides, historical displays(at Victoria and Langford), food, etc. Good time for all.
On Saturday only VIA and the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island will be running a Budd Car between Victoria and Langford. Running hourly leaving Langford at 11:00.
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Post by Canucks on Aug 16, 2008 21:43:22 GMT -8
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Post by CN2972South on Aug 18, 2008 1:26:28 GMT -8
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Post by corporalrabbinoff on Oct 5, 2008 17:35:37 GMT -8
Today (Sunday) I took a walk along about a 3 km stretch of the Courtenay line after #6135 passed northbound and thought I would share with you the shocking pictures I took of the dispicable condition of the tracks. These pictures are small but please click on to the direct link to my Webshots site for the bigger pics. Link to bigger pictures here: good-times.webshots.com/album/567715514xDvOruJust a little something to think about the next time you are on the Dayliner
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Post by CN2972South on Oct 8, 2008 1:49:42 GMT -8
The tracks are in very rough shape but to be honest I have seen tracks on CN much worse than that. At least the E&N's tracks are good for 20-40 MPH. I've been down some CN branch lines on the Lower Mainland where there are no ties at all(every single tie had rotted away) and the tracks are being held together by weeds and dirt. The train has to creep at a slow walk down the tracks because any faster and it would be on the ground.
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Post by waynem on Nov 14, 2008 16:35:52 GMT -8
Does anyone have any photos of RS3 # 8427 in Port Alberni and of the former BCR Budd RDC 1 BC 21 ?
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Post by Canucks on Nov 14, 2008 16:53:12 GMT -8
I have photos of the RS3 for sure and maybe the Budds. There are on film though and my scanner sucks so it isn't great quality. If you are interested I can maybe dig them up and post them.
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Post by waynem on Nov 15, 2008 9:01:13 GMT -8
Much appreciated thanks Canucks.
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Post by Canucks on Nov 16, 2008 15:11:04 GMT -8
Here are the photos Waynem: They aren't great but I took them when I was only about 10 and used an old camera.
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Post by waynem on Nov 17, 2008 12:10:38 GMT -8
Thanks for the great pics Canucks. The 8427 is indeed a rare bird ,being the last surviving CP RS3. As for the Budds who cant help but love those stainless steel beauties.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Mar 30, 2009 10:08:37 GMT -8
On Saturday, my younger daughter and I had a short ride on the E&N. It wasn't a fan trip- at the time we needed to travel, it was the only way of getting from Parksville to where my car was being 'repaired' in Bowser, after being ignominiously towed off Hornby the previous Sunday. On boarding, I was told the train didn't stop in Bowser anymore, but that the engineer on that day was a pretty reasonable fellow who would do it anyway. As it turned out, the train stopped right in the middle of the highway in Bowser, a couple of hundred feet from the service station. Pretty convenient. The condition of the E&N operation speaks volumes about our commitment to rail travel in this country. The dayliner coaches are bruised and battered, and while the interior is clean and kept up as well as it can be, it is shabby with barely comfortable seats. The trackbed is poorly maintained, and the train rocks and rolls and clatters over the miles, and when I put the little seatback food tray down, it was amusing to think of someone actually trying to balance a drink and food on it while the train was in motion. At designated stops such as Buckley Bay, there is absolutely no signage telling you the train stops there, or where to stand to catch it. How much would it cost to install at least a bus pole? Or, if we're being really extravagant, a directional sign at the bottom of the short dirt road leading up from the highway, with the times of the north and south bound trains? To all but the local residents, the E&N is a fairly well kept secret, with virtually nothing being invested to make it an integral part of the Island's transportation network. Still, it had a fair number of riders the day we were on, with lots of people getting off at Parksville, and a good number remaining through to Courtenay. But even at a relatively major stop like Parksville, the historic station has been let to a craft group, and there is a total of one seat for waiting passengers. No doubt partly due to the expansion of local transit services in Nanaimo, Parksville-Qualicum, and Courtenay, inter city bus service on the Island has declined, with Greyhound currently offering only two buses a day between Nanaimo and Courtenay. The E&N provides a valuable service, and should be given the resources to do more, or at least, to do what it does better. The Parksville station, and restored water tower from the steam days: Part of the front coach:
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Post by Canucks on Mar 30, 2009 15:23:39 GMT -8
Nice photos Neil. I've never seen the inside of the Dayliner. Here is a video I took on Spring Break of the Dayliner in Qualicum. It was a pretty nice day until about 10 mins before the train came and then it started to pour. I had to set the tripod up in the car and when the train came had to dash out while covering the lens. Anyways, enjoy;
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rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Mar 31, 2009 10:46:17 GMT -8
I took the dayliner this summer from Drunken to Victoria. It was a neat trip, but the coaches are in really rough shape. It could have used air conditioning on that rather hot day as well!
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Post by Dane on Mar 31, 2009 11:04:33 GMT -8
These are the (somewhat) recently refurbished RDC's, probably same era as the Queen of Coquitlam MLU or there abouts. So just imagine what they were like before that. Actually, I do believe one was never refurbished?
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 31, 2009 14:03:48 GMT -8
I took the dayliner this summer from Drunken to Victoria. It was a neat trip, but the coaches are in really rough shape. It could have used air conditioning on that rather hot day as well! Someone asked me for an update on the Blue Line here in Toronto. It is the rail link between the Airport here and downtown. One of the proposals is for refurbished dayliners/budd cars to begin the service until it is electrified later. I love the nostalgia of it. But part of me would like some new fancy high speed rail that Dan is always talking to me about. Ironically that line that is under construction is shared with GO Transit and they aren't exactly my brothers favourite group. See the following newpaper article and pictures of right behind his house. One of his neighbours has a video he shot for the web version. www.thestar.com/article/609797
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 31, 2009 15:33:41 GMT -8
I remember going for a ride on the Dayliner when I was about 7 or 8 years old, and we did a round trip from Ladysmith to Courtenay. The interior is barely different today, from what it was back then. The biggest difference I can see right now, is obviously the seats, which have been re-upholstered from the bright red to the blue.
I've always wondered if it would ever be worth to upgrade the service with the E&N. It would be handy for morning and afternoon commutes, if the timing was a little better. It could very well be one of those things where "If you build it, they will come" situations, but it's probably a little late now that the Island Highway is upgraded. Hard to compete when it takes all morning to get from Victoria to Courtenay on the train, as opposed to a few hours on the highway, especially at the price they charge for using the train.
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Post by CN2972South on Mar 31, 2009 22:28:32 GMT -8
These are the (somewhat) recently refurbished RDC's, probably same era as the Queen of Coquitlam MLU or there abouts. So just imagine what they were like before that. Actually, I do believe one was never refurbished? 6148 was refurbished in 2001, and 6135 was done in 2003. 6133 was refurbished in 1990 and was not included in the recent ovehaul program. When they turn the seats at Courtenay and Victoria, the backs rub against each other and often tear the fabric. The interior condition of the RDC's is also due to VIA Rail cutting costs wherever possible. The backs of the seats aren't repaired until they get really badly ripped. 6133 6135 6148
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Post by CN2972South on Apr 14, 2009 15:08:14 GMT -8
Some historic photos: Canadian National Railways on the island. This line is now the Galloping Goose, Lochside and Trans-Canada trails. Built from 1911 to 1925 the CNR line went from Victoria, through the Western Communities, the Sooke River Valley, and the Cowichan Valley to Youbou. With branchlines at Wye(near Town and Country Centre) that ran to Patricia Bay and Deerholme(Glenora) to Cowichan Bay. All trackage was removed by 1990. CN's Victoria crew switching the Point Ellice yard. Dave Royston photos. Near Quadra St, by Dave Royston. Switching Borden Mercantile in Saanich. Dave Royston photo. End of the line at McKenzie Ave in Saanich. Before 1931 rails continued from this point to Patricia Bay, the line was abandoned past here in 1931. Dave Royston photo. End of the line near Tillicum Road along side Highway 1. The line once went through View Royal, Colwood, Metchosin, Sooke, etc. to the Cowichan Valley. By 1979 that part of the line was abandoned past Tillicum Road to Deerholme. Dave Royston photo. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Johnson St. Bridge. CP Rail's Esquimalt and Nanaimo Divison SW8 6701 switches the old ICG spur on Store Street. Tracks down Store Street were removed in 1993. Dave Royston photo.
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Post by CN2972South on Jul 28, 2009 22:04:50 GMT -8
I thought I'd share some photos from some of the locomotive cabs I've been in. Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway/Southern Railway of BC GP7 #129 A CN GE C44-9W #2641 BC Rail GE C44-8M #4602 A brand spankin' new CN EMD SD70M-2. #8855. and lastly, VIA Rail Budd car #6133.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 26, 2009 18:58:37 GMT -8
I traveled on the VIA Budd-car from Nanaimo to Victoria, and back again, on Monday / Wednesday of this week. It was a great way to travel car-free, when my destination was downtown Victoria. The ride was fun (first time rail rider for me, other than as a kid). The mix of riders were some European tourists, some trekker-travelers, some people visiting in Victoria, and us tourist-types. The train had the 2-car setup. The train is operated by Southern Railway, not VIA. No crew uniforms, they were very casually dressed, sometimes gruff, sometimes cheerful.....just regular guys doing their jobs. Our cost was $42 return, for each of us. We paid on-line, on the VIA website. Some folks paid cash on-board. ================== Here are my pictures: Train arriving at Nanaimo: Train arriving at Victoria in morning, to start the day's trip. The Budd Brothers sleep overnight in Esquimalt, and then ride across the Johnson St. Bridge to commute to work at the Victoria station: =========== Stations: - Nanaimo (no signs of fire restoration work) - Chemainus: - Duncan (caboose at the Duncan station) - Langford - Victoria (try Googling "Victoria Station", and you'll likely get a more elaborate result than this shack). =========== Some of the sights along the way: Bungee Zone on the Nanaimo River Logging railroad locomotive, at Chemainus: Niagara Canyon trestle: Cars at Esquimalt: Crossing the Johnson St. bridge: ============ The on-board experience:
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Post by Northern Exploration on Aug 27, 2009 6:55:53 GMT -8
Thanks for the shots Flug! They bring back lots of memories. As I have said before the Duncan station of the line was visible from my grandmothers apartment and the ding ding ding of the bell and toot from the horn were a regular time benchmark through the day when I was there. The one time I took the dayliner north it was full of school kids on a class trip. Like being in a cramped daycare with no escape possible .
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 27, 2009 15:48:50 GMT -8
Niagara Canyon trestle: Fluge, that is actually the Arbutus Canyon bridge, which is located just a little north of Niagara Canyon. The Niagara Canyon Bridge is a cantilever type bridge, similar in design to the IWMSN (Second Narrows) Bridge. The bridge at Niagara was originally located on the CP mainline at Cisco in the Fraser Canyon, the point where CN & CP switched sides. The bridge was dismantled in about 1910 and moved to the E&N on Vancouver Island to replace the original Dunsmuir era wooden trestle at Niagara. For more see page 12 in Robert Turner's excellent book West of the Great Divide.
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