Victoria BC: VIA Rail 1950s Budd RDCs on Vancouver Island (CORRECTION in description)
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- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- When I arrived on Vancouver Island in 2001 I was overjoyed that the daily up and down Island train was run with none other than various RDC (Rail Diesel Car) carriages made by Budd in the 1950s. What a dream! This tickled my love of trains, railway history, and antique railroad vehicles.
RDCs 1648 and 1635 feature prominently in this video but there were about four RDCs on the Island that I remember and I rode them all. The clips in this video were made with a not great, early, and little digital camera and were meant as home movies. Most of the clips in this video are from 2005 and 2006 after which I simply occasionally enjoyed the ride.
The service was cancelled in 2011 and it has been a very long time since there has been any freight moved by rail on the Island.
CORRECTION: As pointed out by Vancouver Island Railfan the Southern Railway of Vancouver Island still brings railcars by ferry to the yard in Nanaimo and still operates a short bit in the Nanaimo area. Freight trains no longer run down from Nanaimo to Victoria. The operation is much smaller than it used to be. I was very excited to hear this and must get up to Nanaimo to check it out! See recent trains in Nanaimo at Railfan’s channel, here: / vancouverislandrailfan
The VIA Rail RDC service is still greatly missed by a lot of people - even many along the line that simply loved seeing the train pass as part of the Island experience. There’s something noticeable about losing the daily train whistle. It does feel something is lost.
For this reason I decided to piece together some of my old home clips to share because the service has now become part of the Island’s historic landscape. Any bits of video anyone has of these trains is now of historic value.
Riding the RDC was not like riding in some ultra-modern and slick commuter train. It felt grander somehow. Heavier and more stately. Even the sway of the carriage was smoother than modern-trucked and more precise railcars. In a way it reminds me of cruising in Calgary, Alberta in my cousin’s 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air.
The one freight train seen in the video was during the era when Rail America operated the historic Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway - originally a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Finally, there are a few hints HO and N scale modellers May enjoy.
Happy railfanning!
Terry
People who want the Vancouver Island railway corridor back up and running
👇
Lots of people do. The track and bridges are in poor shape now, sadly.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks definitely I think we should save our railway and not let it just rot and be abandoned
@@Railfan513 i agree.
@@Railfan513 The corridor has been saved but it had already become unsafe and poorly maintained hence the discontinuation of passenger service. Since then it has continued to degrade despite the Island Corridor Foundation's (ICF)millions of dollars spent without much improvement. The problem is the cost to bring the corridor up to 21st Century standards and the proposed limited use of the rail corridor with only 2 car trains running only 2 scheduled runs per day plus an estimated cost of between $450 million and $950 million. Both the feds and province aren't convinced the investment is worth it given the limited benefits.
Thank you for posting. The ENR is yet another example of successive Federal and Provincial government failures in protecting the interests of its citizens. What a shameful loss to our communities on Vancouver Island.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
I really wish a modernized version of this service would return.
That would be great.
How much public money are you willing to be invested in a limited service with little benefit to the southern island's transportation network. Then there is the operating and maintenance subsidy required. How much are you willing to pay for a ride? The entire corridor requires new rail bed, rails and ties. It's a mess that's been allowed to deteriorate. Where has all the money gone (millions of dollars) that the foundation has had at its disposal.
@@bcinspectorman the foundation has been a teal disappointment in my opinion. Using the existing corridor as far as somewhere like Mill Bay for transit is better than starting with no corridor. And like all public transit it would have to be subsidized. The problem is the years of indecision allowing once good options for park and ride areas to be frittered away to other development.
Amazing video! I moved to the Island in 2014, too late to ride the train. I wish it still existed- it would have helped me with a few trips back in university, and certainly would have helped friends get to my wedding up island. Would love to see it back, although that may not be possible.
I’d love to see it back. The track and bridges have now been so neglected that it would be a fortune.
Is that a bass trombone in your pic? I used to play the Baritone. And you have a vid with a guitar. I too play guitar.
I used to take the train from Courtenay to Duncan every Sunday back in the early 90's.
An awesome ride. Classic. Thanks for sharing. 😊
My family and I rode the E&N july 2009 from Courtenay to Dunsmuir one way, my Dad picked us up and returned back to Courtenay. I always had good memories of the Train when I went to U of Victoria. Taking the train for the long weekends back to Courtenay.
Nice. 👍 I loved it. Our first place when we went to the Island was in Vic West and I could see the RDC pass from one of our windows. I loved that.
I did the trip what a day we had!!!
Awesome! I loved our trips too.
Thanks for sharing these clips. Brings back so many memories.
I was working for CN Rail at the time as a conductor in Vancouver and I had a job interview with, I guess it would’ve been Southern Railway of Vancouver Island by then.
It was about 6 months before the train stopped running and I was never so happy to not get a job in my life.
Yeah, no doubt! I’m glad it brought back memories. ☺️
Must of been running behind, they used to always stop on the Goldsteam trestle to take pictures. My grandfather was the conductor for the Dayliner in the 90's and early 2000's, Had a great time going to work with him as a kid for the ride. they even let me "drive" a couple times, a forever memory.
@@spyder6100 those would definitely be wonderful memories. Thanks so much for sharing that with me.☺️
I’ve ridden RDC-1 2003 of AEAX. She died a few weeks later, so the ride was somewhat valued after that happened. (It ran 6 trips before dying)
I had to look up AEAX. Cool! So I learned something new today. ☺️ Thanks! This is awesome.
Wow Terry! Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful "historical" footage which brought back so many memories of my trip on the Rail Diesel cars back in 2005 as well. I also returned in 2006...both times taking "The Canadian" across Canada from my home in Ontario before crossing over to the island. Our model railroad friend on the island, Marty Phillips, told us that we needn't have to make a reservation as the two cars are rarely full of passengers. However...as we were journeying across the country towards BC, apparently there was a "service interruption" on the "island railroad" where the RDC's collided with a dump truck at a road crossing and one of the RDC's was taken out of service. Needless to say, it was "standing room only" on the trip up the island so Lisa found a seat for herself and I stood in the cab with the engineman! He even slowed to a crawl at certain "railfan locations" to allow me to snap some wonderful images. Treasured memories for sure! All the best, Mike Hamer, Ottawa, Ontario.
Yeah, I have fond memories of the friendly local service too. I have also taken The Canadian from Toronto to Vancouver and back. And speaking of The Canadian, at a train show in Laval last weekend I bought an O gauge toy train Canadian by Williams. It is about 30-40 years old but still with original boxes. While not fine scale the passenger cars are extruded aluminum and it comes with a powered F unit and a dummy B and dummy A. It has six coaches. It has ooomph and is fun to watch speed by. I am in the process of converting it to two rail by way of removing all third rail pick ups and electronics. I am adding 12 v LED light strips to the coaches, which all will be run via a rechargeable battery in the baggage car and the coaches connected with miniature plugs. The loco has now been converted to onboard rechargeable battery and I am awaiting delivery of the system to complete the loco for radio control, which will be operated from my smart phone.
I can't wait to see it traveling the high iron on the Pencross Road when you get it up and running, Terry! Great purchase! Mike
@@michaelhamer2664 thanks Mike.
Grew up here but never took the train except my dad took me on old one from View Royal on old track now goose trial. Cool video Thank you!
Ohhhh cool!! That was a while ago!
I remember when the Galloping Goose Trail was an active CNR freight line from Lake Cowichan. I lived across the highway just west of what's now Uptown Centre and recall the CNR steam locomotives hauling freight cars and logs.
Thanks for sharing the memories.
You’re very welcome. 😊
Thanks for sharing. I’m bummed to hear it was discontinued and the station in Victoria is gone. I took the train from Victoria to Nanaimo in the late 90’s. Sad that it was shut down. Guess I’m glad I got to ride it. Thanks again for bringing back old memories of having a broken clavicle and walking from the Nanaimo train station to the Ferry port. 😂.
Ouch! I’m glad it brought back memories. 😊 A friend higher up in the BC Ministry of Transportation of the day said rail transport on the Island was willfully discouraged (but not officially) in favour of bus and trucking companies (corporate donors). Now in the era of a push for greener transportation everyone wishes that had not happened.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks yeah same this in the states (obviously). I became a locomotive engineer/conductor for 15yrs and recently quit. It’s crazy how nuts the RR’s have become and how little passenger service is provided now. Who knows maybe someday things will go back to a better time. A good start would be no corporate donors 😂.
@@ericgruber_guitarded in Europe and the UK they are reversing the old trend and are starting to rebuild old torn up lines here and there.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricksnice. Hopefully Vancouver Island will get a train back too.
@@ericgruber_guitarded yes, hopefully
Fun video, I've never been on an RDC, a friend of mine ran then in Oregon for a while on the transit system there. They are some of Favorite type of railcars. I think one of the cars in the video used to be a combination car, the windows on one end were a little strange
Yeah, that’s quite possible. Who knows the changes some of these cars had been through in their long lives.
Always felt like I was born in the wrong generation, waving hello from 2006. I am huge into metal works and fabrication so it would have been a gift to ride these diesel beasts. Just got done reading a novel about the history and construction of the E&N, and it is seriously marvellous the part it played in the population boom and economy (through the many industries; such as logging from the McMillan mill, in Port Alberti, which my grandfather was a lead engineer during construction of the mill) Anyway sorry for my little rant just wanted you to know I appreciate you posting this footage I always love watching videos on older cameras from the early 2000’s, they have some special sort of charm and realism. Anyway thanks a bunch, Cullen, Victoria B.C.
Edit: you should check out the small hike out to the Goldstream Trestle, it’s a little bit dangerous, but totally worth it for the view. Seeing that same forest in the footage from 15 years ago, and how it’s barely changed up there is really interesting, I bet you could almost perfectly line up the two shots!
Ho Cullen. Thanks for such a detailed comment! ☺️ I have hiked all around goldstream. Across the trestle and under it. The history really is interesting and hopefully others will read your comment. Riding the RDC was very 1950s. Even the seat armrest sides had a 55 Chevy sort of vibe. The unit swayed like my cousin’s 55. It was wonderful and a completely different feel from the modern stock. We lived in Victoria for 23 or so years and moved to Eastern Ontario this past summer. Too bad we didn’t meet!
I LOVE THIS!!!!!! 😍
@@XBOXShawn12thman i’m so glad to hear to you so. Thanks so much. ☺️
What a masterful coupling, well done sir
Haha! Thanks. 😊
E&N still has a freight train that runs from Wellcox Yard (Nanaimo harbourfront) to Superior Propane customer in mid-Nanaimo. Usually it is 3 times a week, but is recently getting back on-track slowly after a recent tug-boat labour dispute.
....I got 10 seconds into your video and needed to pause and make this comment. :)
I know. It has been pointed out quite a bit. I made a mistake. Oops. But you’re right. I forgot about the train movements in Nanaimo.
I wonder how AI might clean up the video and change it to HQ? That would be an interesting revisit to this old train story. MY 2 CENTS
Hmm. I never even thought of doing this. I should look into it.
This is great footage! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much. The funny thing is I never intended it to be shared when I took the footage. I was using a crappy first generation point and shoot digital camera. Lol. But it’s good to have the history.
I was 6 when they stopped running this train…what I would do to be able to ride it now
It was great. I recently found out that VIA Rail runs an RDC service out of Sudbury Ontario. I should try to go there.
Surprised you held onto the tape Terry.
I found it! And decided to share.
Awesome video, we rode the Malahat in 2005 but just from Nanaimo to Victoria, while visiting the West Coast, we're from London, ON.
Hi Raymond. Glad you liked the video and I hope it brought back good memories. 😊
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks Yes, it certainly did. Thanks again.
Is there any freight running on this line from Victoria to Courtney?
@@twofoottaylor1 no. Just locos pulling some few tank cars a little way into Nanaimo from a rail barge in the Nanaimo harbour and pulling a few other railcars off the barge to trans load with trucks right there near the barge.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks Thanks very mch for your reply Terry, very much appreciated. Now being 2024, I think back when I rode the Malahat, can't believe it was way back in 2005. My wife and I did visit Nanaimo in summer 0f 2023 on our way north to Bella Coola. I did take several photos of the old railbed in and around Naiaimo. I re-watched your video again as well.
1:54 this I believe is the trestle in goldstream, very cool, my great grandfather on my mom's side used to be either engineer or brakeman on the RDC's here on Vancouver Island back in the mid 70's early 80's
It is the trestle in Goldstream. Niagara Canyon.
Imagine the stories your great grandfather could tell…
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks yeha, although he is gone my mom got to go on rides with him so she remembers being in the front of one, also one of the ones that was here has been restored by Rapido Trains, RDC-1 6133. I believe it is in Toronto
@@tmaster3332 I know of Rapido’s efforts. Good on them, and especially Jason Schron.
There are two price tags to get a limited passenger service up and running, the ICF believes the cost to be $435 million and the Province of BC's study estimates close to $1 billion! That's just to get the corridor up to current standards and doesn't account for operations and maintenance. The former operator required deep public subsidies to run the passenger service and since so few were using it and the corridor had deteriorated from neglect and became unsafe it stopped running. So the question is how do you want your public dollars to be spent given the many other public services that require attention like for instance healthcare?
I agree. But a look at a much much shorter South Island transit line using the existing corridor could be looked at.
Great video!
Thanks. Too bad we can’t ride the island too to bottom any longer.
Alot have change since then. Victoria station and the old Johnson st bridge are gone
It’s sad.
Where did they end up putting all the RDC's Terry? Thanks again for the memories!
I think most in storage or disposed of. There is a VIA Rail preservation group, historical society that has at least one. Down in the Toronto area.
Look here: railfan.com/rapido-trains-buys-four-via-budd-rdcs/
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks That's very interesting to hear. That would be nice if they were able to salvage one or two of them. I must check that out. I have taken a run on the Budd Car from White River, Ontario to Sudbury a few years back. I believe it's still operating 3 times a week, #185 and #186. Thanks again for your reply.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks That is a great write-up and good to hear that they are restoring a couple of the RDC's. I remember riding them in the late 50s when I was young, my family traveled out west on the train as my father worked on the CNR for many years. They used to run them through my home town for a while as well. Glad to hear they are saving important history.
@@twofoottaylor1 nice. I sometimes feel was born too late and missed the end of steam.
bridge sounds like me when i wake up.:):):)
Or me when I get down on the floor. Lol
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks i do that too also.
The schedule did not work for people commuting to Victoria
Indeed it didn’t. That was very short sighted. It’s too bad they didn’t try that.
Sad it’s closed
Yep. But the bus company did a good lobby. And the trucking companies did as well. Now many millions have been spent on highway improvements.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks Hopefully the island corridor foundation wins their case with BC gov and its gets going again before March
@@Themapleleaforever the foundation has been going for years now with little result, sadly. But I also hope.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks running out of time too
@@Themapleleaforever yes. The bridges have not been serviced with routine maintenance and are in need of repair, the track is in poor shape. All that.
An interesting and I now suppose historic record of the line. I noticed the 'clunk, clunk' of the wheels on the track, is that due to the positioning of the joints/fishplates on the track not being equal? I do love the creaking, groaning and squeaking noises the cars made. Cheers.
The rail itself is old. Most of it over a century. So they are 40 foot sections which of course don’t line up on each side. Even after most rail had been replaced elsewhere by long stretches of continuous welded rail that was never done here.
The railway died of slow neglect and several decades of governments bowing to trucker and bus company lobbying. Truckers and bus companies don’t have to pay for and maintain their roads though.
Fast forward to today and the growing realization of our impacts on climate change and there are renewed calls for the more efficient rail movement. But the years of neglect have done so much damage that the whole line would need to be re-tracked (ties and all) and the bridges are no longer certified to carry loads.
Cancelling this train is unconstitutional! It's a term of confederation!
Yep. Sadly no one cares about that now.
Hey Terry , is the track still there ? Railcar ??
The track is still there but in poor condition. The rail ties have been left to rot. The railcars are in Ontario I believe. Rapido Trains is preserving some. None are left on the Island.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks By railcars , I was meaning home-made ones like in other countries. Only need small motor for a lightweight car.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks ruclips.net/video/kMexHlDdE10/видео.html
@@associatedblacksheepandmisfits ahhh. Not that I know of.
@@Terrys-Steam-and-Bricks you know you want to...😆
Nice video. This rail was built in the day of horse and buggy. It is amazing they could run a tourist train at all. It will cost billions to bring this up to modern standards and there is no population to support such spending for tourism. It won't haul freight because all the infrastucture has been replaced by condo's and the corridor is too crooked and steep for faster than 20kph. All the bridges and all the ties and all the rails are shot. Johnson st bridge has been removed and the tracks don't go into Victoria at all. Put a trail on the old rail bed so we as locals can actually enjoy this again. Please do not listen to the ICF or other crooks who make huge proffits selling a false dream to us gullible fools.
Yes indeed. The corridor foundation has accomplished zero in my opinion. One of the problems you didn’t mention is lack of amalgamation. Langford built a rail/bus interchange thinking even a slow and low commuter vehicle could come into service between the west shore and downtown Vic while other local governments dithered. Victoria’s decision to remove the rail link into downtown was. Mail in that coffin. For all the reasons you mentioned the ICF is beating a dead horse. Very sad, but true. Back when VIA ended service there was a glimmer of hope for a commuter service to downtown from Langford using light vehicles. The ICF made a major failure not finding a way to keep the rail link over to downtown. They are supposed to be finding a way to keep rail but have failed at every turn.