BCR Parting Shots

After my initial week-long trips to BC Rail in 1990-91, I passed thru the area twice more on trips to the Northwest, in 1998 and 2002. By this time the speeders were replaced with hi-rails, the paint scheme had been simplified to solid blue, Train Orders and cabooses had disappeared, and off the shelf US style GE's were the latest power while the Draper cab units that were so new and shiny in 1991 were becoming distinctly tatty in appearance. These would be my parting shots of freights on the the BCR before operations were assumed by CN. My shots of the RDC's from 2002 are on my "Canadian Budds" video.

[@CNFAN79]

An MK5000C, talk about rare!

[@iusetano]

Excellent video.

[@steelrails1153]

The BC Railway was the source of endless political and news-media controversy during its existence - as well as endless jokes - including hilarious political cartoons in Vancouver's newspapers showing a rickety steam train going over the "tops" of mountains with handlebar-mustachioed trainmen hanging out of windows wearing old time uniforms. When it was the Pacific Great Eastern (PGE) "Prince George Eventually" and Please Go Easy" were some of the fun names poked at it. Plagued by mis-management and endless strikes in the 1970's, it was, in some bizarre way, a both hated and loved and but somewhat "obtuse" part of the provincial transportation system, the failed Dease Lake Extension and Tumbler Ridge Connector being part of that, not until the 1980's did it seem to really work fairly well.

[@trainmanSP]

Nice MK5000C............later in Utah

[@mikeytrains1]

Brilliant video! Why is there an MK5000C in some of the shots?

[@fmnut]

Florida Railfanning 812 BC rail tested 2 MK'S for 6 months in early 1998. They were considering buying the lot after their success with CAT repowerings of their RS18's, but the demo was not successful due to design issues and the difference in CAT engines with the MK5000 using the 3612 while the rebuilds used 3500 series. Even at a bargain price they were not deemed worth it.