Nice video! I'm from the Peace River country and I never got around to seeing these things. The sound of the GF6C's reminds me of the Scarborough RT trains that I drive now . . . sounds like many cooling fans running at once.
I think CN Diesels may still run this line here & there when the price of clean coal is up?? The huge electrics are long gone! Years ago the line was shut down & the mine town died. This video is very very rare! Thanks for posting!!
It’s honestly a shame that they didn’t reuse the electrification somewhere else.. that’s some very state of the art electrification infrastructure that I can only compare to the north end electrification in the US on the Northeast Corridor! Constant tension stainless steel (I think) catenary system!
PGE/BCOL turned a profit in in just one year (1980) between 1912 and 2003. Traffic was down and burden on taxpayers rising. The line was leased to CN, with the ownership of the real estate and track staying with BC.
To think some 20 years ago I was called to work as Brakeman up there from Northern Ontario where I was working on the Algoma Central Railway...Hmm I'd have done that now just to be in BC and I'd have some BCR memories to boot. A few buddies went up from Ontario though and worked at BCR, some as Engineers and some as Track Maintainers. I still remember Lawrence from Hawk Junction Ontario saying, go west young man...Wild Bill did go but to Peace River on the RailLink takeover as a Boss, he's since passed away....Cheers Billy! Regardless I'm still toiling away as a Con-geneer so at least all is good!
The configuration of the electrical internals (50kvAC) and the fact they were just flat worn out by 2000 spelled the end of the units. One unit is preserved and on display in Prince George, BC
reduced coal production from the mines, infrastructure costs rose due to lack of traffic. The line reopened this past September 2017 to serve the mines that reopened.
Wow and this line is currently operated operated buy Canadian national diesel locomotives what they should have done is kept the original 50 kilovolts system then piggy back on the Amtrak and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority order of ACS-64s since the GMD G6F would have been 35 years old by this point and needs to be replaced if British Columbia Railways and Canadian national kept the Electric System
abundant local availability of hydropower along with superior horsepower/unit (6,000 for GF6c, 3,000 for the SD40-2 or 3,500 for the SD50) in 1983 made electric far more economical than diesel on this line. Electric locomotive dynamic braking turned the potential energy on the downward run to electricity returned to the catenary for other locomotives to use on the climb.
Wow! Those are some interesting locomotives! Awesome Video.
Nice video! I'm from the Peace River country and I never got around to seeing these things. The sound of the GF6C's reminds me of the Scarborough RT trains that I drive now . . . sounds like many cooling fans running at once.
I think CN Diesels may still run this line here & there when the price of clean coal is up?? The huge electrics are long gone! Years ago the line was shut down & the mine town died. This video is very very rare! Thanks for posting!!
It’s honestly a shame that they didn’t reuse the electrification somewhere else.. that’s some very state of the art electrification infrastructure that I can only compare to the north end electrification in the US on the Northeast Corridor! Constant tension stainless steel (I think) catenary system!
The wolverine mine reopened a few years ago and CN now runs 1 train a day on the tumbler ridge sub, there are now rumors of even 2 trains a day.
Now THAT! That is a new SD60f! ( 12:37 )
For all who ask the 12:53 is not foreign that is what BC means
British Columbia Railway
@Kvr3005 Electrification was shut off in 2000 and I believe the line was shut down in 2004, leading to BCRail's sale to CN.
PGE/BCOL turned a profit in in just one year (1980) between 1912 and 2003. Traffic was down and burden on taxpayers rising. The line was leased to CN, with the ownership of the real estate and track staying with BC.
Hard to find videos of the CN zebra stripes scheme in mint condition these days
To think some 20 years ago I was called to work as Brakeman up there from Northern Ontario where I was working on the Algoma Central Railway...Hmm I'd have done that now just to be in BC and I'd have some BCR memories to boot.
A few buddies went up from Ontario though and worked at BCR, some as Engineers and some as Track Maintainers.
I still remember Lawrence from Hawk Junction Ontario saying, go west young man...Wild Bill did go but to Peace River on the RailLink takeover as a Boss, he's since passed away....Cheers Billy!
Regardless I'm still toiling away as a Con-geneer so at least all is good!
What year is that video taken?
Yeah so have i they are quite some interesting locomotives arent they?
Nice catch of the black bears.
@missyz15 You are correct.
Waaaaay Cool !
What happened to the ES44dc locos
I can't believe they couldn't find a buyer for those engines or overhead lines,,, It was all scrapped.
The configuration of the electrical internals (50kvAC) and the fact they were just flat worn out by 2000 spelled the end of the units. One unit is preserved and on display in Prince George, BC
What locomotive type is that BC Rail at 12:54. It looks almost like a foreign engine painted in the BC Rail scheme.
EMD GF6c electric locomotive. Same loco type throughout the video.
trying not to sound like I'm promoting but I have the full documentary on the building of this line on my channel
Why did they shut it down
reduced coal production from the mines, infrastructure costs rose due to lack of traffic.
The line reopened this past September 2017 to serve the mines that reopened.
Is this line still around today
Just returned to operation in Sept. 2017
Wow and this line is currently operated operated buy Canadian national diesel locomotives what they should have done is kept the original 50 kilovolts system then piggy back on the Amtrak and Southeastern Pennsylvania Transit Authority order of ACS-64s since the GMD G6F would have been 35 years old by this point and needs to be replaced if British Columbia Railways and Canadian national kept the Electric System
Beautiful country, diesels would be better though.
abundant local availability of hydropower along with superior horsepower/unit (6,000 for GF6c, 3,000 for the SD40-2 or 3,500 for the SD50) in 1983 made electric far more economical than diesel on this line. Electric locomotive dynamic braking turned the potential energy on the downward run to electricity returned to the catenary for other locomotives to use on the climb.