From what I understand, they would run two units for reliability but I was told by someone with the company that track conditions were essentially taking their toll on the equipment. I took a ride once to shoot some video for them and we only had one unit on the train. It broke down at the Malahat stop and we had to wait for Ross himself to come up from Victoria with what I believe at the time was the only other working unit of the three they had to rescue us. They tried all sorts of consists and at one point they ran all three units. Two at the front and one at the end to save the run around. I used to live right next to the line and you never really knew what was going to come by :) As for why did they run to the middle of nowhere, I was told it was partly to do with the cost of trackage rights, and also the length of the run. To be profitable they needed to ideally run three trains a day and have a length that will attract the casual tourist. It's too bad it didn't work but they really did try. I think part of the problem is that the views really aren't all that spectacular anymore along the route due to the trees that have grown up along the right of way. If they had been allowed to cut some down then they could have improved the view but cutting a tree down around here, even if it's not old growth, can be really problematic. I have a ton of video myself of this operation. One day I'll have to cut something together.
Great video! Thanks for uploading! I rode on the train. It was nice but short. The streamlined passenger cars were ex Via Rail. I saw them being repainted.
I don't think that they needed the two locomotives but it was certainly more convenient for the crew since they did not have to drive the 20 miles facing backwards (the control stand is at 45 degrees facing forward so going backwards require a stretch of the shoulders!)
I would expect a 1700 hp diesel to take 5 cars up a 1.8% grade. We ran 4 car dinner trains with a 1000hp Alco on a similar grade in New Brunswick and had no problems except with wet leaves!
That's the thing, a GP9 will not pull as well as an ALCo. We run the RMR passenger trains with 2 GP40-2's and need all 6000hp to make track speed on 1-2.2% grades.
Thanks for your informative commentsw. Does that have something to do with the point at which Alcos & GMs transition between parallel and series windings on the traction motors? I have often heard that Alcos were preferred to GMs for switching because they had better pulling power (get up and go!)
My understanding is that MLW and GE have much more powerful traction motors. They're wired up differently too, a GE or MLW doesn't need to make transition like a Jimmie,
Back in 1985, I rode the then Via Malahat from vivtoria toa bit short of courtney. I still have a coup[le of my many photos i tool at the time. One is when the train (then a couple of BUDD RDC cars) passedthrought the short curved tunnel somewhere near the toop. that day was sunny and the sun generateds a spectacuar reddish glow in the nside walls of the tunnel. While this showed up well in a slide (E6 process) unfortunately when I had a cibachrome made of it (at a cost then of $35.00 a copy) it proved a big disappointment. Later, using a slade scanner and GIMP, I was aboe to recnstruct the glow. I think the glow was lost in the Cibachrome because the sun shining on the vegetation outside the tunnel exit was far too high a luminence for the glow to not be washed out,more or less like a contre-jour. since the days of film, so much has changed and bringing to life again that glow was then possible, although the area between the vegetation and the tunnel wall is sort if spotty. Another was that of two local schoolgirls (presumably sisters) being let off at a wood path on theior way back from School, Garfield lunchboxes and all. their whole school day was set around that train - a different way f\to get to school thatshould be appreciated!
From what I understand, they would run two units for reliability but I was told by someone with the company that track conditions were essentially taking their toll on the equipment. I took a ride once to shoot some video for them and we only had one unit on the train. It broke down at the Malahat stop and we had to wait for Ross himself to come up from Victoria with what I believe at the time was the only other working unit of the three they had to rescue us.
They tried all sorts of consists and at one point they ran all three units. Two at the front and one at the end to save the run around. I used to live right next to the line and you never really knew what was going to come by :)
As for why did they run to the middle of nowhere, I was told it was partly to do with the cost of trackage rights, and also the length of the run. To be profitable they needed to ideally run three trains a day and have a length that will attract the casual tourist.
It's too bad it didn't work but they really did try. I think part of the problem is that the views really aren't all that spectacular anymore along the route due to the trees that have grown up along the right of way. If they had been allowed to cut some down then they could have improved the view but cutting a tree down around here, even if it's not old growth, can be really problematic.
I have a ton of video myself of this operation. One day I'll have to cut something together.
Great video! Thanks for uploading!
I rode on the train. It was nice but short.
The streamlined passenger cars were ex Via Rail. I saw them being repainted.
Here is a video of their brochure and prices.
Pacific Wilderness Railway Vancouver Island Canada
Does this ever bring back memories. My first railroad job was with the Pacific Wilderness Railway as a laborer in 2000.
Glad you enjoyed it. Pity the railway didn't survive longer.
They need to bring this back on the SRVI
I don't think that they needed the two locomotives but it was certainly more convenient for the crew since they did not have to drive the 20 miles facing backwards (the control stand is at 45 degrees facing forward so going backwards require a stretch of the shoulders!)
All the equipment on these trains were owned by my friend Jerry Jacobson and leased to Ross Rowland . those passenger cars are now stored In Ohio.
Thanks for the info.
I was told Ross was just playing train with Jacodson's money.
Great video and transfer David. Did they really need two units for that small train? Seemed like a waste of fuel.
There are grades of 1.8% climb up the Malahat, 1 unit might be able to handle 3 coaches but it might not be able to handle 5.
I would expect a 1700 hp diesel to take 5 cars up a 1.8% grade. We ran 4 car dinner trains with a 1000hp Alco on a similar grade in New Brunswick and had no problems except with wet leaves!
That's the thing, a GP9 will not pull as well as an ALCo. We run the RMR passenger trains with 2 GP40-2's and need all 6000hp to make track speed on 1-2.2% grades.
Thanks for your informative commentsw.
Does that have something to do with the point at which Alcos & GMs transition between parallel and series windings on the traction motors? I have often heard that Alcos were preferred to GMs for switching because they had better pulling power (get up and go!)
Very nice, like the maroon livery
I agree - it is smart.
My understanding is that MLW and GE have much more powerful traction motors. They're wired up differently too, a GE or MLW doesn't need to make transition like a Jimmie,
IIRC the first generation MLWs had a manual transition at about 10 mph so they had better starting tractive effort.
I LOVE GEEPS!
With 8 cars that is
Back in 1985, I rode the then Via Malahat from vivtoria toa bit short of courtney. I still have a coup[le of my many photos i tool at the time.
One is when the train (then a couple of BUDD RDC cars) passedthrought the short curved tunnel somewhere near the toop.
that day was sunny and the sun generateds a spectacuar reddish glow in the nside walls of the tunnel. While this showed up well in a slide (E6 process) unfortunately when I had a cibachrome made of it (at a cost then of $35.00 a copy) it proved a big disappointment. Later, using a slade scanner and GIMP, I was aboe to recnstruct the glow.
I think the glow was lost in the Cibachrome because the sun shining on the vegetation outside the tunnel exit was far too high a luminence for the glow to not be washed out,more or less like a contre-jour.
since the days of film, so much has changed and bringing to life again that glow was then possible, although the area between the vegetation and the tunnel wall is sort if spotty.
Another was that of two local schoolgirls (presumably sisters) being let off at a wood path on theior way back from School, Garfield lunchboxes and all. their whole school day was set around that train - a different way f\to get to school thatshould be appreciated!
wilderness is right, Pacific Weedieness