Canadian Railroads > MLW Monday, BCR , MLW steam and diesel

Back in the early 1970's, meets on the BCR took place at the south end of Squamish yard. In these images, a southbound freight is waiting for the northbound "Royal Hudson" excursion train to clear the main in the wye at Squamish, June 21st,1974.

The second unit on the southbound is a "safety cab" M-630 variant unique to BC Rail. Unloved by the crews for being rough riders, they seldom lead on freight trains

For many years, a BCR freight train would follow the "Royal Hudson" steam train from North Vancouver to Squeamish. At Squamish, there would be a southbound freight ready to follow the Hudson from Squeamish to North Vancouver.

In the third image, the Hudson train has been turned and is ready to return to North Vancouver once the northbound freight clears.

BCR's modern, pale green station at the south end of Squamish is visible between the steam and diesel engines.

Excellent images of a great time in railroad history.

The wye is still in use.

2860 is in the roundhouse at WCRA museum in Squamish.

Maybe it will run again!

611

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The "safety cab" M630's weren't a rough riding unit, just an awful sway, rock & roll, although the cab was comfortable and roomy. Also they had wheel slip issues as a lead unit on wet rail. Not a successful MLW product. Doug

They kept holding the meets at the south end of the yard until they closed the old depot and opened the new one up at the north end.
I sure do miss that old building. Lots of good memories there.

As for the W's, what Doug says it what I heard from many south end crews: The W's felt like they rode higher and they swayed from side to side.
It wasn't unheard of to catch one on the point south of Prince George, but it was uncommon. Usually when you got one, it was on an extra, or a work train.
Besides being unfavored, they also lacked locotrol.

Russ

Both of your 'add-ons' to Phils' post have IOTD possibilities!

Craig
http://mcmrailvideos.com/

Thanks Craig...

Here is another favourite of mine.

611

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eminence_grise Wrote:
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> Back in the early 1970's, meets on the BCR took
> place at the south end of Squamish yard. In these
> images, a southbound freight is waiting for the
> northbound "Royal Hudson" excursion train to clear
> the main in the wye at Squamish, June 21st,1974.
>

That was the first-ever public run of the Royal Hudson, the VIP trip having taken place the day before.

You have a very rare view of the BCR instruction car in two-tone green used in the Royal Hudson, which happened on a few occasions that summer. Do you happen to have a closer view of that car and/or did you make note of exactly which car it was?

railsmith Wrote:
>
> That was the first-ever public run of the Royal
> Hudson, the VIP trip having taken place the day
> before.
>
> You have a very rare view of the BCR instruction
> car in two-tone green used in the Royal Hudson,
> which happened on a few occasions that summer. Do
> you happen to have a closer view of that car
> and/or did you make note of exactly which car it
> was?


Herewith, pictures of the train at North Vancouver. A buddy was much more in tune with steam goings on, noted the special occasion and made a special trip from Kamloops. I tagged along.

Later, this car was donated to the Kamloops Heritage Railway Society, who recently scrapped it when it was discovered to have frame damage.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/10/22 10:52 by eminence_grise.

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Herewith, pictures of the train at North
> Vancouver. A buddy was much more in tune with
> steam goings on, noted the special occasion and
> made a special trip from Kamloops. I tagged
> along.
>
> Later, this car was donated to the Kamloops
> Heritage Railway Society, who recently scrapped it
> when it was discovered to have frame damage.

Thanks for posting. That's the best photo I've seen yet of that BCR car. For a 1937-built CN car, it's interesting how well its lines blend with the 2200 series ex-CP cars ahead of it.