Apparently the situation is not quite as bad as suggested. Relevant: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zYkhkza_YA&feature=youtu.be
Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296
Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/
I am away from home on V. Island at the moment, so I am unaware of any new revelations, but I did submit a letter to the local newspaper before Christmas that was published. I admitted a fondness for all things rail, but went on to say that I didn't understand how the various regional and municipal governments on the Island had been so easily hoodwinked into giving mostly 'one-time' grants to the Island Corridor Foundation when the pitch was to restore the Dayliner to service. These grants amounted to more than $4M if I recall correctly, and the pitch intended that it be used for bridge repair, an additional expense apparently not anticipated when the original pleas for funding took place two years ago. How this little bombshell of a bridge (actually, scores of them) problem could have 'slipped' original presentations of the true deficit in reaching operational status once more is beyond me, and that was the essence of my message to the public. That and, if the Class 1's in history couldn't make a decent buck in passenger service, when they made them at all, how could the mostly empty Dayliner running counter to day-time commuter traffic make a buck? That is to say, how could anyone seriously offer monies that could be put to better use to a moribund short line when the number of bridges condemned today was only going to be added to when the next inspection revealed that others had since passed into condemnation by engineering assessments?
I actually had a stranger call me and thank me for my letter. Apparently, he felt the same way.
Crandell
Edit - I don't know why I keep seeing a hyperlink.
I got an e-mail that claimed two bridges on the E&N on Vancouver Island have been condemned as of January 3. The Chemainus and Cowichan River bridges are no longer safe for use according to the e-mail after an inspection was done on them. Maybe not surprising news but sad if true. These are major spans on the mainline between Victoria and Naniamo.
Anyone have confirmation? The e-mail source is typically very reliable on these types of issues.
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