Mill switchers on Vancouver Island

[@boomerdiorama]

Notice the "Lion Head" logo on the side of the switcher. This indicates Washington Corp. Mr. Dennis Washington bought up these holdings along with SRY/SVI (Southern British Columbia Rail), which is now SRY Rail Link out of Trapp Yard New Westminster. Formerly, the latter was BC. Electric, then B.C. Hydro, then Southern British Columbia Rail, now SRY Rail Link. Furthermore, SRY has the monopoly on all barge service on the B.C. coast, by way of Seaspan who also belongs to Washington Corp.

[@Greatdome99]

11:30 Chop nose 8427 is former Crown Zellerbach high nose RS3 which ran log trains from Nanaimo Lakes down to tidewater at Ladysmith. Former Delaware and Hudson RS3.

[@Dbodell8000]

Different engine your thinking of D&H 4097. 8427 Was a former CP engine chopped by CP for hump service in Winnipeg. They did look very similar though and both worked for Crown Z.

[@johncoffey9743]

Love those 50 foot BN boxcars. Papermills seem to be going away. There is a lot of open land where they use to sit. Great video!

[@Dbodell8000]

Ya only 3 mills left on the Island. There were 6 at one time.

[@njRRtrainer]

Great job enjoy the local/industry switching lot's of good ideas and info.. Thanks again for the effort

[@mike32277]

I believe the Harmac Pacific switcher is a NW2, not a SW900.

[@Dbodell8000]

Correct you are.👍

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

That beautiful sound at 11:31. Perfect ! Huge fan of Alco & MLW .

[@david-othen]

Yes it is great sound - I was fortunate to be allowed to drive this locomotive for anout 30 minutes and I enjoyed every minute of it!!! If you like Alcos see the videos on CBNS C630Ms kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnKqe62MnZ2Ui68 and CN's RS18s kzbin.info/www/bejne/g6qxlGlorsiHb7OVnd CN's RSC14s kzbin.info/www/bejne/apOTaqVqg891gcU and Great Western Railway with its M420s kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnWbdoKwqq-bmrs and RS1 kzbin.info/www/bejne/ip6vdZd-Zqakq5o

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Not only do you have video of CN Sweeps but RSC-14's to boot. Rare beast indeed. I will be promoting your channel because I feel more should see & hear these videos. Thank you for the links.

[@david-othen]

Low Budget Scale Modeling. I spent about 10 years working as a volunteer every second or third summer weekend with an RSC14 1754 on the Salem & Hillsborough Railroad and did several dozen driving turns with a passenger train!!

[@ModelingSteelinHO]

Any complaints with MLW or Alco in general ? I imagine the harsh winters were tough on anything mechanical ,including these old Alcos. MR Othen would you be willing to share railroad stories via You-Tube ? I find other peoples life's to be interesting . I'm sure others would like to hear stories also. It's not everyday you speak to someone "in the know" .

[@david-othen]

As long as you drained the block before winter storage we had few problems. They pulled well and the six wheel trucks spread the load on poor track. However the middle wheel was an idler wheel and so slipping on a wet leaf- strewn grade could be a problem. The great thing about those Alcos was that when you got wheel slip you generally only had to reduce power one notch to regain control whereas with other makes you often had to shut off power totally!

[@jamesd2128]

Very sad to see the rail activity at Port Alberni in June 2001 , knowing in six months it was gone, probably for good.

[@david-othen]

See also the videos on Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway (RailAmerica) & Alberni Pacific #7 for more footage shot in the Port Alberni Area (playlist - Trains in British Columbia) Enjoy

[@lockheedL1049]

I hope these locomotives found new homes in Museums or some short lines. Too much rare metal to lose with the end of rail service on Vancouver Island.

[@pwblackmore]

8427 seems to be the motive power for the Alberni Pacific heritage line

[@Dbodell8000]

Correct

[@intermodalman123]

Was that whitcomb ex. interstate ?!?

[@david-othen]

I think it was owned by Fletcher Challenge Canada at Crofton as was the SW1500.

[@david-othen]

I will check the Canadian Trackside guide when I have time and conform its heritage.

[@judgedredd8657]

replaced by an ex SP SW1500 she sits now at the duncan forestry museum

[@Kvr3005]

The mill in port alberni is still open but doesnt use rail anymore

[@david-othen]

Thanks - does it ship by boat from Port Alberni or truck across the island?

[@Kvr3005]

David Othen Pulp is trucked to croften while the paper is trucked to the mainland and loaded back onto rail cars. The port sub would still see trains today if the bc forest product giant Macmillan Blodel wasnt bought out. The buyout changed the production and distribution of paper products on the island

[@david-othen]

Thanks

[@traindev1]

Is it just SVI running to those mills now?

[@judgedredd8657]

nope, either they closed or they still get barge service, example would be crofton still gets barge service

[@Dbodell8000]

I believe Harmac does also.