Canadian Railroads > on this day 2007

Three quick images of a southbound trip switching Dunkley Lumber at Dunkley BC mile 413.6 on the BC Rail Prince George sub. The sawmill here is an ultra modern mill with the latest high tech milling equipment and computerised operations. It was quite common for Dunkley to load and ship 12 to 18 centerbeam bulkhead flats everyday. The operation was economical with a strong customer base and during tough lumber markets Dunkley still managed to sell a large quantity of finished lumber products.

Switching the mill southbound was an easy chore, hang onto the empty cars, double over the two loading tracks of loaded cars, brake test, set the loads out to the main and then spot up the empty cars. All easy walking for the Conductor as the mill yard was paved and kept clear of snow in the winter. Switching northbound was a whole different story and could quite often involve two or three runaround moves from the loading track to the short siding, runaround and shove back to the train. Same nightmare moves to spot the empties. Also periodically we would spot loads of logs for unloading, this made things complicated. Then they started to load wood pellets at the far end of the the loading tracks, further complicating the nightmare scenario. A lot of walking for the Conductor.
Thanks for looking. Doug

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