Rode VIA's Malahat (RDC) on Vancouver Island, BC Canada

[MP57313]

On July 8 I rode the RDC from Victoria-Courtenay round trip. Only one RDC was operating...evidently the other one was damaged in an accident?

Saw maybe 20 freight cars at various sidings along the 130-mile route; furthest south were some grain hoppers in Duncan.

Fascinating ride, although much of the track travels through tall grass. No one would mistake the route for a mainline.

Old roundhouse is still in place in Esquimalt. Too bad the area is now home to a bunch of transients and there is a lot of graffiti.

MP

[athelney]

Hey MP -- Glad you were able to enjoy some of our provinces railroad offerings - though limited at the moment! Did you get chance to see any other rail action? Or were you on the" family" vacation ? Thanks for visiting - we need all the folks we can get after 9/11 and our tourism went for a dive.

[enr2099]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313

Only one RDC was operating...evidently the other one was damaged in an accident?

Yes, 6148 slammed into a gravel truck in Ladysmith, and 6133 is missing too many parts to be used, and has blown out transmissions, so I've been told. VIA has leased 6130 from FarmRail until the 6148 is up and running again.

QUOTE:
Saw maybe 20 freight cars at various sidings along the 130-mile route; furthest south were some grain hoppers in Duncan.

Freight traffic is sparse since the loss of the pulp mill in Port Alberni, that was 85% of their freight traffic gone to trucks, over 6000 cars a year. They still run freight five days a week serving industries between Duncan and Parksville. Train sizes range from 2 to 12 cars depending on demand from customers. Freight service to Victoria ended in November of 2001 when the Superior Propane distribution centre in Esquimalt closed. The E&N was running trains twice a week to Victoria, every Tuesday and Thursday, arriving in Victoria around lunch time.

QUOTE:
Old roundhouse is still in place in Esquimalt. Too bad the area is now home to a bunch of transients and there is a lot of graffiti.

The roundhouse is still used to service the RDC's. However CPR, the owner of the shops is currently being sued for letting a heritage building deteriorate to the condition its in, until the lawsuit is over, no one can use the buildings, the RDC's are being serviced in the yard. 6148 and 6133 are up in Nanaimo, while they repair the 6148 using parts off the 6133.


Hope you enjoyed youself, the E&N is definately an interesting operation. BTW, answer to your question about the Port Alberni Sub on another message thread, its been out of service since late 2001 when the Port Alberni Pulp Mill switched to truck.