Canadian Railroads > Kelowna CN yard engine 1979

Today, the site of the CN Kelowna railyard features a sport arena, casino, condo towers and a luxury hotel. First CN relocated their operations to an industrial area north of the downtown area, and then leased their Okanagan valley operations to a shortline operator, Kelowna Pacific. Later the CN abandoned their route south of Vernon to Kelowna, much of the right of way is now a bike route.

In 1979, both CP and CN had yard engines in Kelowna, sharing the work at the various industries in the area.Both railways operated overnight freight train from their mainlines to the north.

The cars visible behind the yard engine are a controlled temperature plug door boxcar and a woodchip gondola. The box car would carry orchard products or fruit juice from the Sun Rype packing house. An underfloor heater and insulation would ensure the contents would not freeze.

The yard assignments would not survive the 1980's, as the industries they served closed or moved away.



 

I haven't seen that many woodchip gondolas over the years (not living in the right places, I guess), but even in photos, I don't think I've ever seen covers on them. Is this indeed what I think I'm seeing? It makes sense to me, because I always wondered how they didn't just blow all over the place from a moving train. Thanks in advance.
Fred

feclark Wrote:
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> I haven't seen that many woodchip gondolas over
> the years (not living in the right places, I
> guess), but even in photos, I don't think I've
> ever seen covers on them. Is this indeed what I
> think I'm seeing? It makes sense to me, because I
> always wondered how they didn't just blow all over
> the place from a moving train. Thanks in advance.
> Fred

CN used fibreglas covers for a number of years, however after several blew off at speed, they ceased the practice.

BN used netting , CP cars had the hooks for netting but I never saw covered woodchip loads.