From the Prime Minister's Web Site (https://pm.gc.ca/)
November 1, 2018Churchill, Manitoba
In 2017, spring flooding badly damaged the Hudson Bay Rail Line, Churchill’s only land link to the rest of Canada. Since then, Churchill has only been accessible via air and sea. Prices on everything from fuel to groceries skyrocketed. Tourism declined. Local families, students, and business owners were left stranded.
The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, along with Minister Jim Carr, today announced that, by the end of November, the rail line will resume its operations, servicing both passengers and freight.
They also announced more than $3.8 million toward 40 projects that will increase tourism, provide skills training, help offset the freight costs stemming from the rail line closure, and open the door for more investments in the community and more opportunities for residents.
These investments, and the restoration of freight and passenger rail service, will help revitalize and diversify the local economies in Churchill and other northern communities in Manitoba.
“Today’s announcement marks the beginning of a new chapter for Churchill. We know that nobody is more invested in the future of the Hudson Bay Rail Line than the people who live in Churchill. We have committed millions of dollars over the next decade to ensure the ongoing operations of the line, and made significant investments to increase tourism, support skills training, and empower local businesses, which will bring long-term benefits to the people of Churchill and northern Manitoba.”—The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
“Quality infrastructure is key to unleashing the economic potential of our communities. The Hudson Bay Railway Line is not only a vital mainland connection for the town of Churchill and surrounding communities, it represents an important transportation and commercial hub. Together with our $3.8 million investment in people of northern Manitoba, it builds the foundation for good jobs and growth in the region.”—The Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada
“The Government of Canada is dedicated to ensuring the long-term growth of Churchill and the surrounding area. We continue to work with local partners to address the unique challenges in the region and create sustainable economic opportunities for Manitoba’s North.”—The Hon. Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification
“The CRED Fund has supported some terrific initiatives that have helped to drive forward economic development in the Churchill Region. We’re looking forward to continuing to utilize the Fund to help the dreams of local entrepreneurs become a reality, and to help them capitalize on the opportunities that will arise as Churchill’s access to the world is expanded through Arctic Gateway.”—Jason Denbow, Executive Director, Community Futures Manitoba and Community Futures Saskatchewan
You're right, it is "wide". Darn ears. And I was listening to the song as I posted too! Post edited.
At least my eyes work, I must have been reading the lyrics on that video, the uploader has written "wild" too!
I wonder if Sarah McLachlan has ever done a cover.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
Thank you so much Dude. The absolute perfect song for the occasion.
They should perform it tomorrow, but of course they won't.
Stan Rogers died in 1983, so tragic, so young.
I believe the line is "wide and savage" but I'm not nitpicking, either way is fine for me. The right kind of female voice could deliver this in a haunting meaningful way as well. But never again Stan, only in recording.
Keep my eyes peeled for the press releases.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVY8LoM47xI
One warm line, through a land so Wide and Savage
Describes the railroad perfectly.
So glad to see that it will soon re-open.
samfp1943I don't know what it is about the forum software, but in the above posts presentation about the right side 10-15% is cut off when viewed in the forum, however, when making a reply to that particular post - the post gets displayed in full. ??????????
It's related to the utility that renders links 'active' in posts, if the links happen to be longer than the displayed column is to be wide. Morons can't implement variable width override (as, for example, even a rudimentary mobile-device interface would feature) or the ability to pan & scan the visible window to see the right side of the rescaled item.
It gets even funnier on a phone, because the scaling will actually cause the 'reply' button to be away from the visible viewport on the device, even rotated sideways. That means just what you think: the post can't be answered.
When you go to reply, the 'quoted' text is no longer live, so any URLs or other special formatting renders only as input, and post text wraps appropriately to your entry window. This is how I read about 3/4 of NDG's posts, because when I reply to them I can read everything he's typed, admittedly sometimes with only about 4 words in each line, and at least cut and paste the URLs.
Since one of the "reasons" given back when Kalmbach started tinkering with the forum implementation was to 'make the interface suitable for mobile devices', this seems particularly ironic; it's almost on the Bangalore level of the team that implemented /neo/ on Yahoo (and destroyed most of the value of what well might have been a hundred-million-dollar-plus franchise in the process).
The Prime Minister will be in Churchill tomorrow and meet with the townsfolk and community leaders. Open to the media. Progress!!
October 31, 2018Ottawa, Ontario
Note: All times local
10:00 a.m. The Prime Minister will make an important announcement, followed by a media availability. Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr will be in attendance.
Arctic Gateway Port of Churchill1 Axworthy Way
Notes for media:
11:15 a.m. The Prime Minister, along with Minister of International Trade Diversification Jim Carr, will attend a community event. The Prime Minister will deliver brief remarks.
Kelsey Boulevard between Munck Street and Hudson Square
NDG FYI. Hudson Bay Rwy. Wonders of World Engineering. 1937. http://wondersofworldengineering.com/hudson_bay.html and, http://www.shippingwondersoftheworld.com/churchill.html Thanks to Google. Grade crossing nearest derailment?? 100lb Steel?? Looking North. https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.6521274,-99.1237532,3a,50.1y,305.68h,88.1t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sgyHm8NJmBOdktAO8jwOPgw!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DgyHm8NJmBOdktAO8jwOPgw%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D334.0656%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i13312!8i6656 Highway Sign to North of crossing, Looking South. https://www.google.ca/maps/@54.6634537,-99.1485562,3a,36.4y,168.06h,81.71t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0nKDPGO2ZpXlpL6MEP05Kw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Once Projected Terminal, Port Nelson and Harbour Works. https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Ponton+Service+Station/@57.0494877,-92.5983241,3462m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52f5947ad80bb93d:0x84b714839ed697cc!8m2!3d54.672978!4d-99.1590034 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Nelson,_Manitoba http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/portnelsonbridge.shtml http://www.bcrobyn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/traintrestle.jpg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-9ISF9A1Wo Thank You.
FYI.
Thank You.
Cool stuff!
Here's something else you don't see every day anymore, on its way to help with the rebuilding up north:
http://railpictures.net/photo/671370/
[quote user="BaltACD"]
I don't know what it is about the forum software, but in the above posts presentation about the right side 10-15% is cut off when viewed in the forum, however, when making a reply to that particular post - the post gets displayed in full. ??????????
I SUFFERED THE SAME OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS(?) Seems like the grimlins in the I.S. department have been tinkering again? I was using M.S. Edge w/M.S. 10. My responses got going really strange: could make some changes/corrections(?), But then I could not 'post' an entry. Not to mention, there was a problem with adding 'links' in responses. I changed back to Mozilla/Firefox, and I can at least live with the results now.
I guess we are bound to see them 'tinkering' from time to time...I was always told that the job of the I.S. folks was to 'cut' keystrokes, and make things flow evenly; Apparently, that is Not, in the I.S. Playbook?
The port of choice often depends upon ship availability and port of destination. As of the end of the day Friday 9/24 two salties were loading Ag cargo in the Port of Duluth and Superior. The Federal Miyumi was loading wheat at the Riverland Ag. elevator, and the Eriebourg was loading Beet Pulp Pellets(spent sugar beet) at the Gavilon elevator. The Beet Pulp Pellets are what's left after the sugar is extracted from Sugar Beets, and it is used for Cattle Feed.
BaltACD I don't know what it is about the forum software, but in the above posts presentation about the right side 10-15% is cut off when viewed in the forum, however, when making a reply to that particular post - the post gets displayed in full. ??????????
Balt have had the same problem. Found that by changing size could read whole post. That is "ctrl + " to expand or " ctrl - " to reduce. not all of the subject post behave the same ! Good luck !
It looks like the blue locomotive at the bottom of the pileup had its cab crushed by the red locomotive piling in on top of it.
God bless the soul of that poor crewmember who passed away, and we pray for a full recovery of the surviving crew member.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
Beavers did it!
An aerial view of a train derailment near Ponton, Man., is seen on Sept. 15, 2018, in this handout photo.
HO, TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD OF CANADA
A Transportation Safety Board investigator says beavers may have contributed to the train derailment in northern Manitoba that left one railway worker dead and another injured.
The train went off the tracks on a washed-out trestle bridge in a swampy area south of Thompson on Saturday evening.
Jerry Berriault, the board’s regional senior investigator, says the train was travelling around 40 km/h when it met with the washed-out piece of track.
The lead locomotive went off the track bringing along two locomotives behind it and four rail cars.
First responders have said the two workers were trapped inside the train for hours.
Berriault, who was on site west of Ponton for two days investigating, says there was high water in the area and signs of beaver activity.
“They’ve had heavy precipitation for spring and summer as well there was beaver activity in the area,” he said. “So, the track washed out as a result of a significant amount of water.”
He says the Transportation Safety Board will still have to look at other factors that may have contributed to the derailment on the Hudson Bay line.
The train cars carrying liquefied petroleum were damaged but none of the product was breached, he added. However, Manitoba Sustainable Development has sent in specialized recovery equipment to clean up diesel fuel leaking from the locomotives into the Metishto River.
The Arctic Gateway Group, a public-private consortium, bought the Hudson Bay Railway earlier this month.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW ADVERTISEMENT
Sections of the railway north of the recent derailment washed out in 2017 and the its previous owner, U.S.-based Omnitrax, had refused to make repairs.
Crews have been working since the sale to try to repair the railway, the only land link to Churchill, Man., a community of about 900 people on Hudson Bay.
Murad Al-Katib of AGT Foods, one of the Arctic Gateway Group’s partners, has said the group will not compromise speed for safety during the repairs on the northern section of the rail line to Churchill.
From what I understand, the Lakers able to fit through the seaway locks can carry more grain than the salties can for that part of the journey. Because of the design, the Lakers don't sit as low in the water when fully loaded; the salties sit too deep for the seaway locks and canals when fully loaded.
When a saltie comes to Thunder Bay or Duluth/Superior, they leave with only a partial load and top up in Quebec. The Lakers can leave fully loaded, and then transfer the cargo in Quebec.
I don't have the knowledge to give out numbers on tonnage but that's just what I have read.
I imagine the salties will be able to come into Churchill and leave with a full load every time.
If the port ends up getting a lot of grain traffic again, that will mean substantially less trains on the route I work on. Not good for my terminal, but good for others.
10000 feet and no dynamics? Today is going to be a good day ...
The question in the above situations is whether the enterprises will generate enough traffic to pay for the outsize investment required to build a new rail line in a hostile environment. Environmental considerations also come into play regarding the establishment of these extraction enterprises.
Thanks, NDG for the links! The historical 'Wonders of World Engineering' were pretty illuminating as to the Why's and Wherefore's of the HBR's History, and that of what was going on during those times as well.
In the last couple of decades as the mineral wealth of that area has opened up with explorations for everything from diamonds to gold; It would sort of seem that in order to move out the products of those explorations, a railroad(s?) would be highly appropriate?
Was the derailment at a site of the previous washouts or was this a new location ? Bridge collaspe under what model loco(s). Thinking of weight on bridge ?
I was under the impression that a substantial amount of the US grain moved down to the Gulf ports, often by barge, but could be wrong. The Great Lakes route, at least for Canadian grain, tends to use the Lakers since their unique design is the most efficient for the locks and canals. The Salties are less efficient because their design has to consider more violent ocean conditions. I believe most modern bulk carriers are far too wide for the seaway anyway.
There has in fact been significant rail shipment of Canadian grain direct to the eastern tidewater. Winter, when the seaway closes, is when it is most common but the price differential has narrowed enough that it can happen throughout the year.
There is a revenue cap on grain hauling, which is adjusted each year. It is not an absolute cap, as far as I know, but some relation to volumes and distances. It gets determined once it is known how much was actually hauled by each railway that past year. I don't envy the back office guys in the railways trying to predict where to set rates so as to come up to but not exceed the cap, when volumes, origins and destinations are unpredictable.
As I understand it, the Canadian government has an absolute cap on the amount of money the CN and CP can make hauling prairie grain. If that is so, and I believe it is, then there is no incentive for either railroad to try to compete with the lake boats. They'd be doing it for nothing. So they just haul it to Thunder Bay and let the lakers move it east.
Disclaimer: I'm just making an observation. Canadians can do whatever they want to do in their own country. Nobody up north is asking my advice.
It is with a heavy heart that the Arctic Gateway Group advises that a derailment has occurred on the Hudson Bay Railway.
The derailment occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Saturday, September 15th, near Ponton, Manitoba. Ponton is approximately 145 miles southwest of Thompson and approximately 545 miles northwest of Winnipeg. In addition to the Arctic Gateway Group personnel who attended at the site of the derailment, multiple emergency services agencies, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local fire department and health authorities, and a hazardous materials-handling team, were dispatched and assisted in efforts to respond to the incident.
The Arctic Gateway Group is cooperating with the emergency services teams on site and will also be conducting a full internal review to determine the cause of the derailment.
Sadly, one of our employees working on the locomotive has been confirmed by authorities as deceased. A second employee has sustained serious injuries and has been airlifted to hospital. The RCMP is in the process of notifying the families. The Arctic Gateway Group will be also be making direct contact with family members and all of our employees and communities in the coming days as we all attempt to cope with this tragedy.
The train that derailed had three locomotives and several dozen railcars, some of which were carrying liquefied petroleum. At this time, based on information we have received, we believe that none of these railcars has been compromised. The Arctic Gateway Group is monitoring this situation very closely, and we have been advised that at this time there does not appear to be any significant environmental danger to nearby areas resulting from the derailment.
The Arctic Gateway Group’s internal investigation into the circumstances of the derailment will run in parallel with the investigations of the RCMP and other relevant emergency services. Murad Al-Katib, the President and Chief Executive Officer of AGT Foods, one of the partners of the Arctic Gateway Group, will be on the ground today. “On behalf of the entire Arctic Gateway Group, and all of our employees, our hearts go out to the families of these dedicated employees”, said Mr. Al-Katib. “We have said repeatedly that we will not compromise speed for safety and this is a stark reminder for us as we repair the northern section of the rail line to Churchill.”
Senior members of AGT’s Mobil rail team have also been dispatched to the site of the derailment to join the Superintendent of the Hudson Bay Railway who has been present at the scene of the derailment since last night.
Murad Al-Katib will be meeting with the families of the individuals involved in this incident. He will also be meeting with municipal authorities in The Pas and Thompson, along with provincial and federal authorities, in order to coordinate an effective response. Grief counseling for all employees and their families is being made available in conjunction with our community and First Nations partners.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those involved in the accident, and with our employees. We thank all of the first responders and emergency services workers that have assisted in the initial response to this incident, and we remain committed to cooperating with these emergency services teams and all other stakeholders to provide information and support in the wake of this tragic incident.
https://twitter.com/Arctic_Gateway
I have some questions about the viability of the Port of Churchill. My first question is why is so much Canadian grain moving on the Great Lakes by Laker? There is very little US grain moving in US Lakers, most of it moves in foreign ships direct to European customers. There always seems to be plenty of ships available. Ship availability could be a problem for the Port of Churchill unless they get more inbound cargo. The shipping companies would rather let a ship rest at anchor rather than sail in search of a load, as crew costs are lower than fuel costs. The next problem is the increasing desire of shippers and customers not to mix crops from different farms leading to more grain, and especially pulse moving in containers, rather than bulk.
New Snow on Mtns, Here.
does anyone have an actual progress report ? We are just 4 or 5 days from the fall equinox .
Meanwhile, the main thing for this thread is that it is great that the railroad to Churchill will be open for business again regardless of whose prediction for 30, 50, 100 years from now is right. Many people’s lives are going to be improved right now.
Does anybody know the throughout of the Churchill port on a daily or annual basis? Can they handle a unit train per day of any commodity such as wheat, corn, peas, etc,, during the shipping season?
The main effect of global warming (besides the warmth) will be more extreme weather events. Probably not what farmers want to hear.
MidlandMike BaltACD With Climate Change and global warming, the shipping season at Churchill should be lengthened over the historic norms. There is money to be made from global warming and people out there willing to bet on it. What happens if that global climate change dries up the grain crop?
BaltACD With Climate Change and global warming, the shipping season at Churchill should be lengthened over the historic norms. There is money to be made from global warming and people out there willing to bet on it.
With Climate Change and global warming, the shipping season at Churchill should be lengthened over the historic norms. There is money to be made from global warming and people out there willing to bet on it.
What happens if that global climate change dries up the grain crop?
Observation, with Florence being the latest example, Global Warming tends to create more moisture - not less. It may change where that moisture will tend to fall.
The Great Plains - which one could consider there 'bread basket' of the USA for all the agricultural products they grow - had a 1100 year drought until about the 1500's. The same area the got struck by the 'Dust Bowl' drought of the 1930's.
Blanket statements cannot be made about how weather will be at any specific point over time. Areas go from drought to flood and back in the relative blink of the eye in geological time.
You're welcome Miningman!
And I have thank "Trains" magazine for providing their coverage and this Forum, otherwise those of us "...south of the border..." wouldn't have known about any of this. All the American mainline media seem to care about is what the Kardashians and all the other silly celebrities are up to.
Among other inconsequential things, which are too tiresome to go into.
Hey, everybody on the Forum is a sharp individual, I don't have to draw any pictures for them.
Thanks Firelock, you bet. I know these people well, they will prove everyone wrong and perform miracles.
I hope all the naysayers, whom I shall not mention but are well known to us here, hear that fella in the clip with the head dress, the young Chief, because he is talking straight at them.
Their communities will now survive, they will have work and essentials and the fear is lifted, not the rails.
Not everything in this world is to make Jeff Bezos richer.
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