CP & E&N in the Nanaimo area

[@trainknut]

Interestingly, that rail ferry has held on and to this day the E&N(now operated by SRY Rail Link) serves local industries in the Nanaimo-Nanoose Bay area. Today it's the only stretch of operational trackage anywhere on Vancouver Island.

[@thomascraig5577]

I go have a smoke at the Wellcox yard everyday after school. look to see the cars shuffled from the day before...this video makes me nostalgic for an era I was too young see/remember...

[@bradjames6748]

Back in the good old days before the world went nuts.....I remember that summer it was a good one.....

[@jamesd2128]

Thanks for another invaluable E&N upload David, much appreciated !

[@david-othen]

Many thanks. I have two more clips of the RDCs in 1997 and some footage of the ex BECR equipment at the BC Forrest Museum at Duncan - a cab ride on the Plymouth and footage of the crew speeder operating. It was built by BECR and Westminster Iron Works in 1940. Do you want me to edit these and upload?

[@jamesd2128]

David Othen Yes please, the more the merrier !

[@david-othen]

I will try and do that when I have time - probably in a few days.

[@jdigg2007]

Love the kid hanging out of 3001 while switching Duncan! That would have been an awesome experience.

[@pwblackmore]

Thankyou David for the video - what a collection, and a history lesson: CP 3000 series, Railfreight from '97, Rail Ameirica and RailLink from 2001, and the ill-fated PAW from 2001. So, when CP realised that the government was willing to pay for roads and maintenance - rather than themselves having the upkeep of the system - it was a no-brainer... let it rot. And the government is still pouring money into roads... ask any motorist if they prefer to sit in a jam looking at the back of the same car, or wait at a probably drafty station, and you'll find another reason there won't be rail service again. No matter how many times, and how many people, cheer at the thought of service. Sad...

[@narfer]

The E&N had a good run. Now due to the recent world wide economic events. I think the line will disappear into the history books. Only about 10k of active line.

[@fritzrue]

Great video. It’s a shame we have let this precious resource, along with our industry, decline to the extent it has.

[@realcanadianrailfan110]

It didn't look like the crew of 3001 liked being filmed. Even back in '97.

[@vicguy12]

great video. A shame what has become of the E&N

[@david-othen]

Thank you. Unfortunately this is happening on the East Coast too - the lines to Sydney NS & Gaspé QC for example.

[@kimeliz]

It's too bad the E&N is shut down, there's not enough money to fix it. It's been like this for 5 years. Just feels like nobody really cares about island rail anymore, but people are trying to get it back online, the island corridor foundation.

[@david-othen]

Unfortunately it seems to me that there is not enough business for the railroad to have sufficient revenue to pay the cost of repairs and the operating costs of the railroad. A simple matter of economics. Government has to decide whether it is politically better to spend taxpayers' money on roads or on rail infrastructure. Taxpayers are not willing to pay enough taxes to do both.

[@traindev1]

SVI (Southern Railway of Vancouver Island) just sprayed "No trespassing Active Railway" on all the crossings and sprayed weed killer along the line. I think passenger service may return as I saw this in Courtenay, I don't think there is any mills or freight yards in Courtenay. I also heard they have 3 re-furbished Budd RDC-3s in Ontario I think. Fortunately, I did exist when Via was still running but unfortunately I never got to see it running on the E&N. I still care about island corridor, I've had my hopes up ever since they shut the line down that it would run again.

[@jakeb7192]

I am pretty sure the Wellcox railyard is still operational if you are looking to see some railroad action on the island. It isn't as busy as it used to be, but I am certain it is still in operation.

[@judgedredd8657]

yep and 1 customer is served in nanaimo, everyone else gets their stuff transloaded at welcox

[@enr3870]

The RailAmerica train looks like a Victoria Turn with those tanks on the tail end.

[@david-othen]

Yes they were passing Chemainus southbound.

[@Kvr3005]

You have some amazing videos if the E&N David !

[@rdsieben]

Tracks are in very bad shape and condition