Canadian Railroads > Forest Fires in Western Canada?

It's all over the news but expected to read something here.  Any effect on railroads?

Victor Baird

Here's some links and a map for Alberta, havent found much info on the BC side although there seems to be fires around Ft St John BC. Smoke seems to be the headlines:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wildfires-could-drag-on-all-summer-1.6846377

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/dashboards/8d86d267dcf44ad085a11939186f3d3a

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I would have thought that VIA's Canadian would have been halted between Winnipeg and Kamloops, but haven't heard a word about specific rail operations. Towns have definitely been evacuated and air quality in various towns across Alberta, western provinces and into the western part of the US have even been affected pretty bad!!!

So far I see it has not reached southern Oregon but coming our way soon. Already seeing smoke from prescribed burns around the Klamath Falls area. For those who dont know what they are the forest service does these controled burns to prevent wildfires. Side note sometimes these end up a wildfire due to conditions changing while the event is going on. Usually due to wind or at times fire going underground and not noticed until days later beyond the fire lines.
 

We have been seeing the smoke in Chicago fir the last few days. Orange haze, very slight smell of a fire. 

Mikado

jp1822 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I would have thought that VIA's Canadian would
> have been halted between Winnipeg and Kamloops,
> but haven't heard a word about specific rail
> operations. Towns have definitely been evacuated
> and air quality in various towns across Alberta,
> western provinces and into the western part of the
> US have even been affected pretty bad!!!

The Canadians in progress at the time the fires got out of hand were the most affected.

Train No. 1 of May 3 ex-Toronto was annulled at Edmonton and turned there to run east in the slot of No. 2, leaving 40 minutes late and arriving on time at Toronto. Train No. 2 of May 5 ex-Vancouver was turned at Jasper to return to Vancouver in the slot of that No. 1, departing nine hours late.  It was five hours late at Vancouver.  Buses were provided for through passengers between those turnback points. 

The Canadian departing Vancouver on May 8 was more than four hours late arriving and departing Jasper and five hours late at Edmonton. It did not lose further time by Winnipeg and was 4h23min late at Toronto.

Aside from these examples, the Canadian has operated as per usual, with early or on-time arrivals at final destination.




 



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 05/19/23 12:28 by railsmith.

Today's reports include recent heavy rains, so some fires went out, some fires have not and someareas are concerned with flooding:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-wildfire-rain-1.6852105

Selling the news must be tough up there.

Some Alberta oil projects are shutting in for the time being, so that may affect crude oil train loadings