Photo Story E&N Autumn Slideshow
Today we rode the E&N dayliner to Courtenay, Bc and return. Ten hours well wasted! This was our annual, dayliner upisland excursion. Most years we just ride the budd car to Qualicum where a two-and-a-half hour layover can be enjoyed to walkabout and enjoy a nice lunch. Inasmuch as we've visited Courtenay overnight for the past thee years, we decided it was time to do the whole 140-mile (railway distances are measured by mileage markers) distance from Victoria to the end-of-the-line. we enjoyed a great day thanks inpart to the friendly and efficient CPR rail staff.
The layover time at Courtenay Station was brief but we did have time to eat our picnic lunch indoors. We were running 17-minutes late (arriving at 13:02 instead of 12:45) due to autumn leaves on the rails. As the train drives over them, they release oils which make the track so slippery the wheels just spin. On certain grades along the route, his brought the train almost to a standstill. An interesting phenomena when travelling at this time of the years. We were lucky: yesterday's train was 30-minutes late. We madeup a bit of time during the return trip arrving at the Blue Bridge only 10-minutes late.
The highlight of the trip for us was waving at the kids who live along the route. Bentley & Sharon's home is on View Royal hillside with a commanding view eastward toward the E&N line. They are familiar with the trains comings&goings but seldom get phonecalls from anyone who may be aboard. This all changed today! Anyway, we enjoyed waving to family members gathered on the front deck waving back. Life's neat, aint it?
P.S. Thanks to Bentley who was driving his unit westbound underneath the Helmcken Rd trestle just as we passed overhead. Serendipity for certainty.
Photo Story E&N Autumn Slideshow
Today we rode the E&N dayliner to Courtenay, Bc and return. Ten hours well wasted! This was our annual, dayliner upisland excursion. Most years we just ride the budd car to Qualicum where a two-and-a-half hour layover can be enjoyed to walkabout and enjoy a nice lunch. Inasmuch as we've visited Courtenay overnight for the past thee years, we decided it was time to do the whole 140-mile (railway distances are measured by mileage markers) distance from Victoria to the end-of-the-line. we enjoyed a great day thanks inpart to the friendly and efficient CPR rail staff.
The layover time at Courtenay Station was brief but we did have time to eat our picnic lunch indoors. We were running 17-minutes late (arriving at 13:02 instead of 12:45) due to autumn leaves on the rails. As the train drives over them, they release oils which make the track so slippery the wheels just spin. On certain grades along the route, his brought the train almost to a standstill. An interesting phenomena when travelling at this time of the years. We were lucky: yesterday's train was 30-minutes late. We madeup a bit of time during the return trip arrving at the Blue Bridge only 10-minutes late.
The highlight of the trip for us was waving at the kids who live along the route. Bentley & Sharon's home is on View Royal hillside with a commanding view eastward toward the E&N line. They are familiar with the trains comings&goings but seldom get phonecalls from anyone who may be aboard. This all changed today! Anyway, we enjoyed waving to family members gathered on the front deck waving back. Life's neat, aint it?
P.S. Thanks to Bentley who was driving his unit westbound underneath the Helmcken Rd trestle just as we passed overhead. Serendipity for certainty.