Canadian Railroads > BNSF diverts empty coal trains from Roberts Bank

Due to high traffic levels and large track and bridge projects this summer,
BNSF has negotiated a diversion of its empty coal trains
returning from the Roberts Bank, B.C., coal terminal to the United States.

1. BNSF 5530 East has just left Roberts Bank coal terminal and is entering CTC at Gulf on the British Columbia Railway (BCR) Port Subdivision.
Instead of making a quick turn south on the BNSF New Westminster Subdivision to Blaine, Washington,
BNSF empty coal trains are now travelling the full length of the BCR Port Sub, part of the Canadian Pacific Railway Page Subdivision,
and part of the Southern Railway of British Columbia (SRY) Fraser Valley Subdivision to rejoin BNSF rails at Sumas, Washington.
SRY crews handle the trains from Roberts Bank for most of the trip through Canada.
SRY’s sister railroad, Montana Rail Link, has over 25 years of experience running BNSF trains.

2 & 3. BNSF Eastbound coal empties is taking Pratt siding at the east end of the SRY Port Sub. to meet a CP Westbound loaded coal train.

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4. Further east, now on the CP Page Subdivision, BNSF eastbound coal empties cross the Trans-Canada Highway in Langley, B.C.

5. The rear DPU locomotive is just clearing the switch at Livingstone.
At this point, the train has left the CP Page Sub and is continuing on the SRY Fraser Valley Subdivision.
The CN Rawlison Subdivision takes the switch to the left on its way to the CN Yale Subdivision.
CN and CP traffic from Roberts Bank use the Rawlison Sub on their way to the CN and CP main lines.

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Marcus, thanks for the information and pictures about empty BNSF coal trains returning to the US through Sumas. I live in Bellingham. The reason for the diversion is there is extensive trackwork taking place in the Bellingham area replacing wood ties with concrete ties on bends, improving crossings etc. All trains are held on weekdays between Amtrak at 10.00am and 7.00pm. There are about 2 coal trains per day. The empty coal trains rejoin the normal BNSF routing at Burlington Wa.

Thanks for the info. Are they using an SRY pilot with BNSF crews to Sumas?
Dave in Msla

SRY crews the train from Roberts Bank to Clayburn in Abbotsford, where they change off with the BN crews.

Not exactly SRY crews... They are retired CP Guys that know how to run DPU'd trains... they are non-union and is not sitting well with the SRY union guys for obvious reasons....

We don't change off at Clayburn, we just ride to the border so we won't block crossings. The SRY contract crews run it to the border where we take over.

Nice pics!!