Another Threatened Collection

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

The cars were used to run the Okanogan Express, in the early 1980s, which was, as far as I'm aware, the last passenger train to operate on the line to Penticton. The line has mostly been removed, though a short segment remains at Summerland and is operated by the Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

After the early trips 83-84 (approx), they did some runs to Kelowna, BC. It's not far from Penticton, but reached via a different line.

I think the last trip they ran was in 1986? Maybe 1987? I was crew on 4 or 5 of the earlier ones, and they used some of the Mount Rainier Scenic's coaches on those trips. Later, those cars went north and became part of this collection.

Does anyone know if they've been used since the 1986 runs?

wilkinsd · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:54 pm

co614 wrote:

It would certainly be a shame if their detachment from reality causes the equipment to be cut up. Let's hope a West Coast white knight appears.

Ross Rowland

I actually have to agree with Mr. Rowland here. It is a real shame when historic equipment or historic artifacts end up in the "custodianship" of someone who has unrealistic ideas. Whether it is literally sitting around and waiting for the Monopoly Man to show up, or developing fanciful, unrealistic schemes for operation.

The best tourist railroads and railway museums have one thing in common, they are grounded in reality. Others should learn.

RCD · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:38 pm

There is no way that the head locomotive of the Hinton, Alberta in 1986 crash survived.

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:46 pm

From the article:

Quote:

But with the clock ticking the group, which is comprised of six active railway buffs plus volunteers who come and go as projects develop, faces some daunting obstacles.

Do they allow any new members?

sbhunterca · **Joined:** Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:58 am **Posts:** 728

Quote:

There is no way that the head locomotive of the Hinton, Alberta in 1986 crash survived.

6300 was buried back in the train and still got damaged:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinton_train_collision

Here is a photo of where her nose used to be:

[/url]http://www.google.ca/imgres?biw=1333&bih=708&tbm=isch&tbnid=uCrXvYofDzrrsM:&imgrefurl=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx%3Fid%3D1326854&docid=CKCs2U7fkMJ7ZM&itg=1&imgurl=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/pictures%25255C18491%25255CVIA%2525206300-2%252520%28Large%29.jpg&w=1024&h=655&ei=n1NUUsNYx8jbBc6SgcAN&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:0,s:0,i:77&iact=rc&page=1&tbnh=179&tbnw=259&start=0&ndsp=14&tx=158&ty=69[/url]

Steve Hunter

Bobharbison · **Joined:** Fri Dec 03, 2004 9:42 pm **Posts:** 3010

Here's a photo of some of the cars being used on the "North Pole Express" which apparently ran in Vancouver, BC last winter in stealth mode. I sure don't recall seeing anything about it. (Edit - It appears to have been on static display at the Vancouver VIA station, but they did have a special move to and from the storage location.)

It gives you a glimpse of some of the coaches.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/NRHS-BC- ... 328&type=1

Heavenrich · **Joined:** Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:07 am **Posts:** 630

[quote="JimBoylan "Do they allow any new members?[/quote]

If you go to the NRHS website you can find a list of their officers and their address.

Bob H

JimBoylan · **Posted:** Tue Oct 08, 2013 4:32 pm

Some words are missing from the article

Quote:

the diesel-electric locomotive that was infamously at the head of

the rear section of

Quote:

the VIA Rail passenger train that collided with a freight train outside Hinton, Alberta in 1986, killing 23 people."

Mark Z. Yerkes · **Joined:** Mon Jan 02, 2012 8:47 pm **Posts:** 486

SZuiderveen wrote:

Join the second largest Canadian collection of equipment?. . . .Scranton

(ducks for cover)

Steve

(full disclosure, have owned a half dozen ex VIA cars in the past)

Hey now, there's only 4 Canadian locomotives there now, as opposed to the 8 in the past hahahah