Canadian Railroads > Requiem for the Englewood Logging Railway, 1914-2017

In 1983, I made a visit to the Canadian Forest Products Englewood logging railway on the north end of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

Recently, Western Forest Products announced that they will no longer operate trains on this railway. Englewood is a contraction of Wood & English, the original operators of this line starting in 1914. Canadian Forest Products took over operation of this line in the 1920's. In 2006, Western Forest Products to over from CanFor.

The function of the railway was to deliver logs to Beaver Cove, on the ocean from logging sites in the Nimpkish Valley. Originally the railway operated in two portions, from Beaver Cove to the north end of Nimpkish Lake, and then south from the south end of the lake. Canadian Forest Products completed a line along the shore of Nimpkish Lake.

CFP operated a wide variety of steam locomotives on this line over the years, and notably converted both a Shay and a Climax steam locomotive to diesel operation. Steam operated very late on the remote logging railways of Vancouver Island, and 2-8-2 113 survives in preservation and even operated tourist trains briefly in the late 1980's. It is shown at Woss Camp, the location of the shops and headquarters on July 18th,1983.

At Camp A, a meet took place between an empty log train and a work train handling ballast cars and air dumps full of rock. Camp A was a reload centre and location of a siding and short spur at rough the mid-point of the railway



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/20/17 07:35 by eminence_grise.

Canfor's cabooses were homebuilt and functioned almost as much as "riding platforms" as cabooses as often trains were shoved for long distances.

The end platforms carried a variety of tools and fire fighting equipment. These images at Camp A show a northbound work train with the caboose leading.

Canfor 301 was one of three GMD SW1200RS's bought new from General Motors in London ON.in 1956 and was switching at Camp A

Canfor 301 put together a ballast train at Camp A which proceeded north, crossing wooden Steeles Creek trestle.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/17 20:13 by eminence_grise.

In 1972, Canfor acquired EMD SW1200u 4804 from Georgia Pacific (ex 1203, built for Coos Bay Lumber in 1954). In 1983, it still had friction bearings and AAR trucks.

Also at Camp A was a Victoria Lumber and Machinery "speeder" 124 built in the 1940's.

4804 is shown heading north to Beaver Cove over Noomas Creek trestle.

Having delivered a load of logs to the yard at Beaver Cove, 4804 made a brief lunch stop with its caboose and then picked up empty log racks.

Speeder 123 and trailer were at Woss Camp.

A southbound empty train crossed Davey River trestle near Woss Camp

Camp Vernon was the southernmost reload centre on the railway, and the evening of July 18th,1983 saw two loaded trains ready for pickup.

In 1983, there were some very old skeleton cars in service, as noted by the ancient knuckle coupling and friction bearings on this log car. I believe it also had K-triple air brakes, still legal on industrial lines and work train service on the main lines in Canada in 1983. Canfor replaced much of the older cars shortly thereafter.

Some CPR Cumberland Steel from 1889 was used at Camp Vernon.

Shortly, the "Camp Vernon Job" arrived from the north behind 301.

A "Gin pole" style crane, once a common feature on many logging railways was still in use at Camp Vernon.

301 is shown coupling to a cut of loaded log cars for the trip north.

Presently 301 coupled to the loaded cars at Camp Vernon, pulled ahead and backed on the caboose set out on the main.

All in all, an interesting day , July 18th,1983.

Another post follows with events on Canfor on July 19th.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/08/22 14:42 by eminence_grise.

I never got to see that operation. I'm glad to see that you did. Fascinating.

Ken Goslett

Thanks for posting these. Through these photos I feel almost as if I had been there with you.
Bob

Wow Phil, what a great tribute. I guess I'll have to add it to the list of things I won't get to see in person. I look forward to Part 2.

Looks like riding on footboards and a lack of handrails on locomotives weren't a problem for industrial railways back in 1983 either.

Do you recall what those "boxes" on the sides of the locomotive trucks were for? Both versions of SW1200s seemed to have them. Maybe a "tool box" that CanFor added?

GTD

Phil,
I was there the month before you and I certainly did not have the nice weather that you did. Rain, rain, rain. I could not wait it out since I was on the last few days of my first ever paid vacation.

Your coverage is comprehensive - very nice.

Rick