Canadian Railroads > Cape Breton Island Memories

Rail service still exists on Cape Breton Island, but it's just the conveyor belt operation of the Sydney Coal Railway between Witney Pier and Lingan, and the paper mill and coal terminal on the Strait at the other end of the Island.  But on September 14, 2004 the Cape Breton & Central Nova Scotia Rwy. was still running between those points.  It was no longer a daily train hauled by big MLWs, but 301 ran two or three times a week to get plastic pellets and building supplies to Sydney, and coal from the International Pier to the Trenton generating plant in Pictou Co.  

Business must have been good, because 301 has a leased CN GP40-2L between GP38-2 2269 (also leased) and GP40 4022 as they rolled along the Bras d'Or Lakes at Christmas Island, and then 15 minutes later in Iona after crossing the Grand Narrows Bridge.

Unfortunately, present owner G&W ceased operations on the Island, even with a provincial subsidy, about 4 years ago.  The line remains in limbo, with the faint hope that Sydney will be developed into a container port.

GTD

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Historic treasures don't have to be fifty years old as these first-rate photos prove.
Bob