E&N Railway (VIA Rail) discussion

[Bingo]

With the number of accidents at level crossings, they need a full time ambulance crew riding along on the E&N Dayliner.

[endayliner]

Originally Posted by Bingo

With the number of accidents at level crossings, they need a full time ambulance crew riding along on the E&N Dayliner.

And cops to catch everyone who can't be bothered to wait the 30 seconds for the train to go by. It's not like the trains are the 80-90 car trains we run on the BCR. How long does it take for the Dayliner to go by, 30 seconds? It's an active railway, expect a train on ANY track at ANY time.

I always get a kick out of when a train is stopped near a crossing, people stop even if the wigwags aren't flashing and the train's head and ditch lights are off. But if that train is going 40 miles an hour, head and ditch lights on, engineer laying on the horn, wigwags flashing at the crossing, people run the crossing and put their lives in jeopardy to save a few seconds.

[Bernard]

I lived in Lillooet for years and the trains shunted over the main access into town, I can not remember a single incident at any of the three crossings in town. The E and N accidents come down to people not paying attention to the tracks and stopping before crossing.

[endayliner]

Originally Posted by Bernard

I lived in Lillooet for years and the trains shunted over the main access into town, I can not remember a single incident at any of the three crossings in town. The E and N accidents come down to people not paying attention to the tracks and stopping before crossing.

The main crossing in Lillooet, trains are going much slower, about 30 miles an hour slower than the dayliner. We have had accidents at that crossing especially during winter though. Our worst crossings are in West Vancouver and Pemberton.

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by endayliner

The main crossing in Lillooet, trains are going much slower, about 30 miles an hour slower than the dayliner. We have had accidents at that crossing especially during winter though. Our worst crossings are in West Vancouver and Pemberton.

but in Lillooet there was also a lot to shunting over the tracks, the easiest time for an accident. This was not happening in Lillooet

[Rob Randall]

Travel Advisory - Bus service to be provided to VIA passengers between Victoria and Langford during bridge repair

VICTORIA, BC, Aug. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - VIA Rail Canada wishes to advise travellers that due to bridge repair work near the Old Island Highway, direct bus service between Victoria and Langford will replace the regular train service for passengers travelling on VIA's Victoria-Courtenay trains.

Between Thursday, August 19 and Thursday, September 2, passengers will be bussed directly between Victoria station and Langford station with no service to Esquimalt or Palmer stations, in both directions. Passengers holding tickets for travel to or from Esquimalt or Palmer station during this time are asked to board or disembark at either Victoria or Langford station. VIA's regularly scheduled train service will continue to operate between Langford and Courtenay during this period.

VIA wishes to apologize for any inconvenience this may cause to its passengers. Customers wishing further information may visit viarail.ca or call 1 888-VIA RAIL (842-7245) or 1 800 268-9503 (TTY for the hearing impaired).

[Bingo]

Boy hit by train had headphones on

By Richard Watts,

Times Colonist November 7, 2010

Police warned yesterday of the dangers of zoning out while wearing headphones after a 14-year-old boy was struck by a train as he walked through Duncan listening to music.

The boy, who was not named, suffered a severe injury to his right leg, the RCMP said. His condition is not life threatening.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/tr...#ixzz14d7mRCLC

[UrbanRail]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Boy hit by train had headphones on

By Richard Watts,

Times Colonist November 7, 2010

Police warned yesterday of the dangers of zoning out while wearing headphones after a 14-year-old boy was struck by a train as he walked through Duncan listening to music.

The boy, who was not named, suffered a severe injury to his right leg, the RCMP said. His condition is not life threatening.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/tr...#ixzz14d7mRCLC

I sense a Darwin Award candidate here.

[Mike K.]

These types of accidents are common in areas with infrequent rail service.

I had a near miss once with a railroad maintenance vehicle (the type that can pull up on tracks) that crept up on me as I was walking up to the Johnson Street Bridge. The vehicle had no blinking light, no beep (it was moving in reverse barely making a noise) and it was the last thing I would have expected to be traveling down the tracks at around 9AM (the dayliner leaves at 8AM).

[Holden West]

Moon over Nanaimo

I just returned from another trip on the Dayliner. It is a lovely trip, but I am getting tired of being mooned while going through Nanaimo.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Le...#ixzz1506OrhgF

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by Holden West

Moon over Nanaimo


Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Le...#ixzz1506OrhgF

Moon them back, and they will soon disappear.

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

Today's Dayliner Train into town was unusual.It just went early 4:45 PM into town Nov 22 and was a Train of Four Cars. An Engine,Two Rectangular Silos and bringing up the rear was the Dayliner. Is this a Vote YES on the Bridge and keep Rail an option statement ?

[endayliner]

Originally Posted by Mr_E_Squirrel

Today's Dayliner Train into town was unusual.It just went early 4:45 PM into town Nov 22 and was a Train of Four Cars. An Engine,Two Rectangular Silos and bringing up the rear was the Dayliner.

It was most likely the freight train from up island bringing a damaged Budd car back to the roundhouse in Victoria. The dayliner would have run on its regular schedule with a different Budd Car.

[Mr_E_Squirrel]

Thank You for the info. That makes sense

[VicHockeyFan]

This really does drive me nuts. Who doesn't think that if they had a sign on the roof-line of the station that said "Up-Island Day Train Trips - Daily" or something similar that they would get at least a half dozen more passengers each day in the summer?

http://johnsonstreetbridge.org/wp-co...in-station.jpg


Then inside the station they need a big picture of it crossing the trestle at Goldstream. Why doesn't Duncan or Chemainus pay for a sign?

[masiyou]

Is that a heritage building? Could be a factor. Advertising would be look far too crass and commercial.

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by masiyou

Is that a heritage building? Could be a factor. Advertising would be look far too crass and commercial.

Not a heritage building, I can not remember the date it was built, it is not that old at all, I think it was built around the time the rails on the downtown side were pulled up

[G-Man]

Yeah I think it was late 80's or eary 90's.

[endayliner]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

This really does drive me nuts. Who doesn't think that if they had a sign on the roof-line of the station that said "Up-Island Day Train Trips - Daily" or something similar that they would get at least a half dozen more passengers each day in the summer?

I agree, VIA has done little to advertise the dayliner over the years.

Originally Posted by masiyou

Is that a heritage building? Could be a factor. Advertising would be look far too crass and commercial.

The current station was built in 1985. The original downtown station was demolished in 1972 so they could run Pandora through to the Johnson St bridge. CP Rail built a small station by the roundhouse in 1972 but VIA moved the station back downtown in 1985.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37908073@N04/3852604741/

The current station has a major problem, it was built only for the Dayliner and any train longer than 3 or 4 cars is strung out over the Johnson St Bridge. Pacific Wilderness Railway tried to use the downtown VIA station and their 11 car trains were strung out over the bridge up to the Galloping Goose crossing, tying up marine traffic while they loaded passengers. The wood deck was built by Pacific Wilderness Rwy as a platform to keep passengers from tripping on the grate deck. The downtown station could work for commuter rail if the trains are only 1 or 2 cars.

[Bingo]

Once the city demolishes the present rail bridge to make room for the new bridge, it is unlikely you will ever see rail coming across the harbour in that location again.

[VicHockeyFan]

Jets Overhead video filmed at the Roundhouse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJWrF7rsKfM&NR=1

[Bingo]

No Rail on the New Bridge.

So where will the station go when they start tearing down the rail span in a few months. Back at the roundhouse? Out in Langford?

http://www.johnsonstreetbridge.com/w...ry-01-2011.pdf

[Holden West]

According to JSB.org a train has been running into downtown since 1888. Oh, well, I guess that's the price we will have to pay to, to, get...um, what's the benefit of a new bridge again? I guess we'll never have to worry about a repeat of the Pt. Ellice Bridge disaster.

[G-Man]

It's newer, less useful and expensive!!! The city is 5.5 million short on the rail span. That is the cheapest rail span they could ever build. Not including kills rail to downtown forever.

[VicHockeyFan]

I don't think council will kill it this week.