Canadian Railroads > CN westbound at Exlou BC.

British Columbia is enjoying a warm dry spring, and yesterday was a fine day to make an outing up the North Thompson River along the CN Clearwater Subdivision. Although railroad east, the line is almost entirely north-south, and as part of CN's transcontinental route, is usually busy.  BC Highway 5, part of the "Yellowhead Route" across western Canada follows the line closely. This was part of the Canadian Northern's transcontinental railway prior to 1916 financial failure.

Exlou is the railway name for Louis Creek BC, a small community about 25 miles north of Kamloops BC. Here is  CN westbound freight 355 approaching Exlou with a huge train of lumber products and other lading from Prince George, much of it from the former BC Rail.

In 2003, a huge forest fire raced over the surrounding hills, and destroyed Louis Creek's main employer, a sawmill which has never been rebuilt. A discarded cigarette from a passing car caused this fire which destroyed many homes.

The second image shows the mid-train remote in this westbound.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/15 09:39 by eminence_grise.

Nice images, great scenery in that part of BC. Yes, CN re-routes a huge amount of traffic that normally would have travelled south on the BC Rail.  The DPU looks lonely back in the train.
Doug

hoggerdoug Wrote:
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> Nice images, great scenery in that part of BC.
> Yes, CN re-routes a huge amount of traffic that
> normally would have travelled south on the BC
> Rail.  The DPU looks lonely back in the train.
> Doug

Train 355 and it eastbound counterpart (354?) has an unusual crewing arrangment because its is routed McBride-Valemount-Blue River while operating over territory crewed from Jasper. Last I heared, it had an assigned crew based out of Blue River (an "outside" job because the train bypasses Jasper by 60 miles)

Speaking of re-routes,  a westbound two trains behind this one derailed at McClure, the next siding west of Exlou . No injuries, but as of yesterday evening, no estimate of line open.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/15 13:04 by eminence_grise.

#1...Excellent photo.

And yes, our weather is really nice around here!

611

Was the 2120 dead-as-a-doornail as usual ?

Bill Miller
Galt, ON

CCMF Wrote:
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> Was the 2120 dead-as-a-doornail as usual ?

I think it was running, the train was on a curve with lots of wheel squeal.

Was the CN 2120 ( nee C&NW )retro-fitted with Locotrol on CN?  Just wondering!!!  Fred