A Tour of CN's Narrow-Gauge 'Caribou'

[ghCBNS]

A Tour of CN's Narrow-Gauge 'Caribou'

Here's my tour last weekend of CN's Caribou....a.k.a 'The Newfie Bullet' Narrow Gauge Equipment at the Railway Society of Newfoundland on a short section of remaining narrow-gauge track at Mile 404 in Corner Brook.

This was North America's last full-service narrow-gauge passenger train with Coaches, Sleepers and Diner that made it's last run in 1969 Some coaches were still in service for another 20 years on Mixed Trains until the railway was abandoned 1n 1988.

But there's been a bit of a play on paint schemes here! Old #593 would never have hauled equipment painted in CN's 1960's era black-white scheme.....and the cars would have had the red 'CN' logo.....not that green-gold 'NFLD Railway' tilted logo that disappeared after 1949 when Newfoundland joined Canada and CN assumed control of the railway.

 

 

[ghCBNS]

 

 

 

 

[ghCBNS]

 

In the diesel era...the Caribou would have been led by GMD NF110/210s like #931 here:

 

 

And here's a typical 'Caribou' consist from the late 1960s

 

GMD NF210

GMD NF210

Steam Generator Unit
Storage Mail (wood boxcar)
Baggage/Express
Diner (as lounge)
Coach
Coach
Coach
Diner
Sleeper (as Dorm)
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)
Sleeper (Corner Brook set-out/pick-up)

In the fall of 1968 CN had introduced a new fleet of new Roadcruiser buses and passengers soon abandoned the train for the frequent and faster bus service that now covered the 900 km run in 14 hours vs the 22 hours the train took.

The 'Caribou' was discontinued and and completed it's last run between Port-aux-Basques and St. John's overnight on July2-3, 1969.

Here's the CN Timetable from 1969 showing the last 'Caribou'.....Trains #101-102 along with the new 'Roadcruiser' bus service:

 

 

 

[ghCBNS]

Most of the abandon 548 mile CN Right-of-Way is now the 'T'Railway' Provincial Park...a hiking, biking and ATV trail.

 

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When the Trans Canada Highway was widened to 4-lane through the Humber River Gorge near Corner Brook....a portion was built on the old abandoned railbed.

 

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2jBxx4E]

[daveklepper]

You may have missed my posting of my posting of pictures taken prior to the end of passenger service when I made the round trip in an upper berth on a Chicago Railroad Club excursion that included the International and the Ocean and the overnigiht ship crossing both ways.

Rather than reposting, I'll try to update the old thread. 

[ghCBNS]

daveklepper

You may have missed my posting of my posting of pictures taken prior to the end of passenger service when I made the round trip in an upper berth on a Chicago Railroad Club excursion that included the International and the Ocean and the overnigiht ship crossing both ways.

Rather than reposting, I'll try to update the old thread. 

 

Can you provide a link to that post? Thanks!

[daveklepper]

I revived the post, and it is now available, current, no need to search, just visit the  Trains General Forum.

But all the pictures are marked "This picture unavailable."

I am unsure if this is or is not due to local website limitations.

If you wish me to post the photos again, this time on this thread, I will do so.

Here is a sample:

[Flintlock76]

Thanks for those great shots ghCBNS!  I've been to Newfoundland twice but never made it to Corner Brook.

In Saint John's Bowring Park there's a display of Newfoundland Railway equipment, but not as elaborate as the Corner Brook displays.  There's a passenger coach displayed with the Nefoundland Railway herald and if I remember correctly the coach is painted a color very similar to the Pennsylvania Railroad's "Tuscan Red," definately not in that CN black and white scheme.

[daveklepper]

Let me know if you (plural) can view the photos on Trains General Discussin Thread.  I can pst the pictures on that old thread or here as you prefer. 

[ghCBNS]

daveklepper

Let me know if you (plural) can view the photos on Trains General Discussin Thread.  I can pst the pictures on that old thread or here as you prefer. 

No.....I can't see the photos there so if you can post a couple.....that would be great! Thanks.

I live about 2 hrs from the Newfoundland Ferry and have been on the Island often. Back in the '80s I did get to ride a couple of the Mixed Trains before the railway was abandoned in 1988.

 

In recent times a buddy and I have taken our ATVs on portions of the old right-of-way.

 

 

[ghCBNS]

Here's my ride over to Newfoundland the other evening. Marine Atlantic's MV Highlanders. 

Marine Atlantic is the Crown Corporation that now operates the former CN Ferry Service.

 

[pennytrains]

Beautiful photos!  Thanks for sharing them with us! 

[daveklepper]

A few from the early Spring 1968 Chicago Railroad Club visit:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[MidlandMike]

daveklepper

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where was this photo taken?  It seems to show a mineral aerial bucket line crossing over the track.

[daveklepper]

I'm quite certain you are correct.  But someone else will have to provide the name of the location.

[ghCBNS]

daveklepper

I'm quite certain you are correct.  But someone else will have to provide the name of the location.

That is St. Georges...near Stephenville Crossing along the west coast. They still load Gypsum there but it's hauled to the dock by truck now.

 

And thanks for posting your photos!!

 

[daveklepper]

Question:  When they used rail, did they load into cars that changed trucks and were carfloated to North Sydney, or was the Gypsum simply transferred from railcars to ships?

[MidlandMike]

Looking at topo maps, it appears the tram line went directly from the mine to the ship load (in the distance in the photo).  There was no rail service to the mine indicated on the map.

[daveklepper]

Thanks.  I am very lucky that I took that "grab picture." and without any planning or time to check shutter speed, lens opening, and focus, that it came out so well, without any real electronic darkroom manipulation.

[daveklepper]

One more photo:

[ghCBNS]

Thanks again for the photos!

That looks like the Mt. Moriah/Curling area where the railway runs down along the Humber Fjord into Corner Brook. (just west of the 'Bullet' equipment display)

 

https://goo.gl/maps/UvWeGLneNji3RDyUA