Canadian Railroads > Morant's Curve

8 degrees and raining at Morant's Curve east of Lake Louise this afternoon.  Certainly not an original composition, but I thought it was worth sharing.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/20/19 15:33 by SpeederDriver.

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Tree felling needed. 

andersonb109 Wrote:
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> Tree felling needed. 

Umm NO!

Oh that's right who gives a crap about nature?

Interesting to see a fresh view. The two trees across the river have been hanging in there for quite a while. Yep, the foreground prevents taking a photo. My opinion is there's trees on either side if you want a tree photo.

One of the interesting things about places like the Grand Teton's in Wyoming is the view of the mountains with trees and wildlife included in the photo. Not just trees, not just mountains, not just wildlife.

There's a big news story in urban California about which brand of toilet paper destroys the most Canadian trees. I'm sure they would like to hear about this area.

Thanks for posting.

Be careful. I cut a few trees down that were well within the railroads ROW on Vancouver Island in 2000 as they were blocking the engineers view of an upcoming trestle that often had trespassers on it and no escape walkways. It was a badly needed safety measure so our engineers had sufficient sight distance to make a safe stop when needed.

   You'd have thought I cut down the entire forest on Vancouver Island. Numerous gov't. agencies began formal investigations, the Victoria paper ran several long articles and it became a huge deal.
 
   Luckily for me they didn't discover this HUGE transgression until a month after we had shut down, moved all our locomotives & cars back to Ohio and they couldn't chase me to the States.

   Lesson here....trees are holy in Canada....disturb at your peril.

    Ross Rowland

TCnR Wrote:
>
> One of the interesting things about places like
> the Grand Teton's in Wyoming is the view of the
> mountains with trees and wildlife included in the
> photo. Not just trees, not just mountains, not
> just wildlife.

Like this?

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Looks great to me.

symph1 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> TCnR Wrote:
> >
> > One of the interesting things about places like
> > the Grand Teton's in Wyoming is the view of the
> > mountains with trees and wildlife included in
> the
> > photo. Not just trees, not just mountains, not
> > just wildlife.
>
> Like this?

When there was a pole line, the telecommunication department kept the trees around and under the wire under control. Along came radio and the pole line was no longer needed.

Banff National Park had no problems with CP spreading herbicide beneath the pole line, but I'm sure trimming of the trees around the tracks would now be an issue.

 

co614 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Be careful. I cut a few trees down that were well
> within the railroads ROW on Vancouver Island in

I have been known to disagree with Mr Rowland in the past.
In this case, I think he is right on the mark!
I grew up on Vancouver Island and cannot believe the attitudes I see coming from British Columbia these days!
Even though a majority of people there support a new oil pipeline, their government remains steadfastly opposed.
As for the tree huggers .... well, the mother of three of my children still lives on Vancouver Island, has at least two sons-in-law and a grandson involved in the forest industry, but reacts just like the people Mr Rowland talked about .... freaking out that forests are being wildly clear-cut (when they are not). And yes, I am happy I do not have to deal with her ..... LOL

 

Will MacKenzie
Dundas, ON

thehighwayman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> co614 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Be careful. I cut a few trees down that were
> well
> > within the railroads ROW on Vancouver Island in
>
> I have been known to disagree with Mr Rowland in
> the past.
> In this case, I think he is right on the mark!
> I grew up on Vancouver Island and cannot believe
> the attitudes I see coming from British Columbia
> these days!
> Even though a majority of people there support a
> new oil pipeline, their government remains
> steadfastly opposed.
> As for the tree huggers .... well, the mother of
> three of my children still lives on Vancouver
> Island, has at least two sons-in-law and a
> grandson involved in the forest industry, but
> reacts just like the people Mr Rowland talked
> about .... freaking out that forests are being
> wildly clear-cut (when they are not). And yes, I
> am happy I do not have to deal with her ..... LOL
>
>  

It's their government, they elected them. 

Doesn't Parks Canada have a similar no-cut policy in the entire park surrounding the Spiral Tunnels?

They are consistent.

Posted from Android

There's also a no intervention policy with Park bears, the campsites that I've heard about are surrounded by high voltage fences. In the other large country in North America bears would be removed and placed in areas of the park that have less human density and more natrual sources of bear food and bear hangouts. It is a big, controversial concept among nature advocates.

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Doesn't Parks Canada have a similar no-cut policy
> in the entire park surrounding the Spiral
> Tunnels?
>
> They are consistent.
>
> Posted from Android

TCnR Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> There's also a no intervention policy with Park
> bears, the campsites that I've heard about are
> surrounded by high voltage fences. In the other
> large country in North America bears would be
> removed and placed in areas of the park that have
> less human density and more natrual sources of
> bear food and bear hangouts. It is a big,
> controversial concept among nature advocates.
>
> Lackawanna484 Wrote:



> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Doesn't Parks Canada have a similar no-cut
> policy
> > in the entire park surrounding the Spiral
> > Tunnels?
> >
> > They are consistent.

Each Park has a superintendant with differing views about park use and conservancy.  Banff Park has the most visitors and the greatest number of private enterprises within the Park. That said, being just outside the park boundary, Canmore is an expanding community with many of the international hotel chains, and housing subdivisions.

The decisions of the Banff park management are always questioned and challenged. Don't feel sorry for him/her. It is a political appointment. With a Federal election coming up, probably the main concern is who the next Prime Minister will be.

 

I’m normally on the naturalist side of things but in the cases of places like Morant’s Curve and the Spiral Tunnels, there’s an aspect of preservation of views that have a high degree of significance for Canadian History and also tourism. One would thing that some selective management under supervision of Parks Canada would beba reasonable measure, especially if a like kind planting of trees elsewhere nearby would maintain the balance.

Posted from iPhone

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thehighwayman Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > co614 Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Be careful. I cut a few trees down that were
> > well
> > > within the railroads ROW on Vancouver Island
> in
> >
> > I have been known to disagree with Mr Rowland
> in
> > the past.
> > In this case, I think he is right on the mark!
> > I grew up on Vancouver Island and cannot
> believe
> > the attitudes I see coming from British
> Columbia
> > these days!
> > Even though a majority of people there support
> a
> > new oil pipeline, their government remains
> > steadfastly opposed.
> > As for the tree huggers .... well, the mother
> of
> > three of my children still lives on Vancouver
> > Island, has at least two sons-in-law and a
> > grandson involved in the forest industry, but
> > reacts just like the people Mr Rowland talked
> > about .... freaking out that forests are being
> > wildly clear-cut (when they are not). And yes,
> I
> > am happy I do not have to deal with her .....
> LOL
> >
> >  
>
> It's their government, they elected them. 

Yes we did.  No comment about electing a government in our neighbour's to the south, in some cases north.

Have you tried to take pictures at the Spiral tunnels lately?
The park people at Horshoe Curve cleaned things out last year, looks fine.
I didn't see a stream of woodland animals with their suitcases heading out of town ! 

Mike Bannon
St Catharines, ON

Here are some images from April 26th, 1998.  The Japan Travel Bureau ran a series of four Calgary AB-Golden BC charters as possible competition to the recently established Rocky Mountaineer tour train. Due to the number of Skyline dome cars, it got the knick name "Kicking Horse Zephyr".

The CP pole line was still there 21 years ago, but curiously it dropped down clear of the tracks near the curve. These are not Highway 1A guard rail shots, but mild telephotos from the hillside behind Outlet Creek.

Morant's Curve is a morning shot, these are mid-afternoon.

Trees are starting to block the shot twenty one years ago.

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Here are some images from April 26th, 1998.  The
> Japan Travel Bureau ran a series of four Calgary
> AB-Golden BC charters as possible competition to
> the recently established Rocky Mountaineer tour
> train. Due to the number of Skyline dome cars, it
> got the knick name "Kicking Horse Zephyr".
>

In all seriousness - how did this Japan Travel Bureau trip transpire? What was it all about it? What was the itinerary? Was it just supposed to be a one-time, one-off type of thing? How did VIA get to host it, instead of the Rocky Mountaineer, as Rocky was running? Not sure if Rocky had the domes at this point, but they were operating and I am surprised they still "allowed" this trip to go through. But perhaps more government coordinated and they had no choice? I acquired a few pictures from this trip (all exterior shots as it was travelling through the mountains), but I still don't know if I understand or know the full story behind the trip. Consist appears to be five Skylines, Park Car, coach upfront of some sort, and a coach perhaps between the last Skyline and Park Car? Not seeing a diner, but that's not to say a meal couldn't have been prepared from one or two of the Skylines etc. Just cuirous if anyone has any other details about this trip. As far as I know, this was the last time VIA really operated any type of equipment/charter/excursion over the CP route from Vancouver to Calgary via Lake Louise and Banff etc. 

Thanks for posting these pictures! Love this area! 

jp1822 Wrote:

> In all seriousness - how did this Japan Travel
> Bureau trip transpire? What was it all about it?
> What was the itinerary? Was it just supposed to be
> a one-time, one-off type of thing?

The trains ran daily between Banff and Golden on April 19-20 and 23-27 of 1998. They were operated by VIA, CPR and Brewster Coach Lines for Hankyu Express International, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that leading Japanese tour operator.
 
VIA provided F40PH-2s 6444 and 6457, five Skyline dome cars, two ex-U.S. stainless steel club cars in the HEP-2 series, and observation dome Kootenay Park.  Each day the train ran from Banff to Golden, where passengers would exchange places with others who had come to Golden by bus. Each car carried up to 24 passengers, the capacity of the dome section. The train would return to Calgary each evening to be turned on a wye.
 
Prior to the excursions, the six dome cars had accumulated at VIA's Vancouver Maintenance Centre. They deadheaded to Alberta in the Canadian on April 14, with the five Skyline domes and the Park car all in a row, directly behind three F40PH-2s, ahead of five deadheading Manor sleepers and the Canadian's 12-car consist. They returned to Vancouver on May 1 in the westbound Canadian along with the two HEP-2 club cars, in front of an 18-car Canadian consist, making for a total of 26 stainless-steel cars behind four F40PH-2 units.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/22/19 16:17 by railsmith.

jp1822 Wrote:
.
> >
>
> In all seriousness - how did this Japan Travel
> Bureau trip transpire? What was it all about it?
> What was the itinerary? Was it just supposed to be
> a one-time, one-off type of thing? How did VIA get
> to host it, instead of the Rocky Mountaineer, as
> Rocky was running? Not sure if Rocky had the domes
> at this point, but they were operating and I am
> surprised they still "allowed" this trip to go
> through. But perhaps more government coordinated
> and they had no choice? I acquired a few pictures
> from this trip (all exterior shots as it was
> travelling through the mountains), but I still
> don't know if I understand or know the full story
> behind the trip. Consist appears to be five
> Skylines, Park Car, coach upfront of some sort,
> and a coach perhaps between the last Skyline and
> Park Car? Not seeing a diner, but that's not to
> say a meal couldn't have been prepared from one or
> two of the Skylines etc. Just cuirous if anyone
> has any other details about this trip. As far as I
> know, this was the last time VIA really operated
> any type of equipment/charter/excursion over the
> CP route from Vancouver to Calgary via Lake Louise
> and Banff etc. 
>
> Thanks for posting these pictures! Love this
> area! 

There were four trips by JTB over a two week period.  The guests did a lot of side trips by bus, when I talked to a Via on board employee looking after the train at Golden, she said they were not dining on the train. There was just a skeleton crew of Via staff on the train, JTB staff did the on board service. She also said that talking with JTB staff, they think the train operated at a serious loss given the fares paid versus the number of amenities and side trips offered.  The train made prolonged stops at Banff,Lake Louise and Golden, enough to require a couple of operating crew changes.