With news spreading about how motive power has been severely lacking on the ever growing Pacific Great Southern Railway, Canadian National surprised works today as they donated GP9 # 4403 to this Southern BC railroad.
The 4403 has recently been overhauled and got a fresh coat of CN style paint this past week before getting transported to the Nelson engine facility. (which is set to be operational by the weekend.) It is the first diesel asset in operation on the PGS and will be fulfilling its 'General Purpose' duties as a light freight and switching locomotive until 6022 is up and running. ETA on 6022 is now one month.
A new passenger depot in Great Falls is current under construction and should be ready for service in less than a weeks time according to PGS officials. RDC1 (now officially numbered as '1') will make its first commuter run soon after.
The Mikado that was to be delivered to the PGS has been diverted. Railway officials have begun to search out for alternate forms of motive power to replace the gap in the fleet. Berkshires, Consolidations, and additional Mountain Class locomotives have been considered.
Consists have been planed by railroad officials:
Train 001
To be headed by 6022, this train will leave Great Falls, BC every morning at 06:45 heading towards Fernie. Train 001 will make stops at all PGS locations along the way. Train 001 makes it return trip at 18:30 to Great Falls. The train is passenger service featuring a railroad post office and two coaches. Extra coaches may be added depending on season.
Train 002
To be headed by 311, this train will leave Kimberly, BC every morning at 08:00 heading for Lethbridge, AB. Hauling a pair of coaches and a railroad post office.
Train 003
Has yet to have a locomotive assigned. This train will make stops at the Nelson and Creston brewerys on its way to Lethbridge transporting a cargo consisting of beer. On it's return trip from Lethbridge, Train 003 will carry hops and wheat from local farms. Train is to make daily runs starting around 11:00 hours.
Train 004
Has yet to have a locomotive assigned. This trains will bring various goods along the stops of the line hauling around 9 box cars. Schedual depends on workload.
the RDC will also be making runs between stops on a regular basis starting at 06:30 and ending at 22:00 in Nelson.
26.3.08
Branch Line
The Brachline that winds up along some smaller suburbs of Nelson has been closed off as the RDC1 made its final trip down the scenic line. Upkeep on the branch has become too costly to maintain, and the PGS has decided to discontinue service on it at this time. The RDC1 has been reassigned to commuter service between Nelson and Great Falls (a new addition to the PGS) which will become a new mainline service once the PGS recieves its pair of coaches and railway post car from CN in April.
Steam tests on 6022 have not gone according to plan. The u1f has been showing boiler leaks, and there was vandalism to the hand rails this weekend. It may become to costly to repair for the PGS at this time, but they will be keeping in their fleet until they can invest into it. As the pride and joy of the line, the PGS will put their effort into restoring it for passenger service ASAP.
CN has made arrangements to ship another u1f locomotive from their Vancouver yard to the PGS in May. A Mikado has also been acquired which will hopefuly arrive in time for the first major passenger service on the line. Fright service is currently on hold.
Steam tests on 6022 have not gone according to plan. The u1f has been showing boiler leaks, and there was vandalism to the hand rails this weekend. It may become to costly to repair for the PGS at this time, but they will be keeping in their fleet until they can invest into it. As the pride and joy of the line, the PGS will put their effort into restoring it for passenger service ASAP.
CN has made arrangements to ship another u1f locomotive from their Vancouver yard to the PGS in May. A Mikado has also been acquired which will hopefuly arrive in time for the first major passenger service on the line. Fright service is currently on hold.
15.3.08
Developments in the Rock Mountains
u1b 311 encountered a tragedy this week as the flat bed it was being shipped on derailed within the Rogers Pass effectivley scrapping the locomotive. Surveyors and railway officials are still investigating this disaster. No formal report has been made at this time.
The u1f 6022 steam tests have been postponed for another month it seems as workers copmlete the engine facility around her. And due to vandalism from locals, another coat of paint will have to be applied, but according to recent reports, the final details will not be completed until after the steam tests have been completed.
The RDC-1 has been delievered in CN colors and has already started commuter runs on the PGS. Currently due to the lack of passenger service, our RDC has been pulling doulbe duty and running around the clock to get people where they need to be. A second RDC (probably an RDC-3) has been requested by the PGS. Repaint to BC Rail will be done once 6022 steam tests have been completed and regular passenger service starts.
UP 3324 has delievered the final parts needed to complete work on the engine facilty, but has broken down in Cranbrook on her way home. She is getting field repairs by UP with assistance from BC Rail.
'Husky' being the only operating locomotive on site has been pulling double shifts hauling supplies to Creston from Nelson so that roadworkers may start on repair of the rail yard there, while other rail officals complete work on the engine facility.
The Turntable pit has been dug out and constructed, the bridge is currently under construction. Foundation has been laid for the roundhouse, and workers are working around the clock to get the facility completed.
More updates as we get them!
The u1f 6022 steam tests have been postponed for another month it seems as workers copmlete the engine facility around her. And due to vandalism from locals, another coat of paint will have to be applied, but according to recent reports, the final details will not be completed until after the steam tests have been completed.
The RDC-1 has been delievered in CN colors and has already started commuter runs on the PGS. Currently due to the lack of passenger service, our RDC has been pulling doulbe duty and running around the clock to get people where they need to be. A second RDC (probably an RDC-3) has been requested by the PGS. Repaint to BC Rail will be done once 6022 steam tests have been completed and regular passenger service starts.
UP 3324 has delievered the final parts needed to complete work on the engine facilty, but has broken down in Cranbrook on her way home. She is getting field repairs by UP with assistance from BC Rail.
'Husky' being the only operating locomotive on site has been pulling double shifts hauling supplies to Creston from Nelson so that roadworkers may start on repair of the rail yard there, while other rail officals complete work on the engine facility.
The Turntable pit has been dug out and constructed, the bridge is currently under construction. Foundation has been laid for the roundhouse, and workers are working around the clock to get the facility completed.
More updates as we get them!
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