Showing posts with label Station. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Station. Show all posts

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

1918 Railway Station Smithers British Columbia (8 - Pictures)


Above Photo: The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station.

It is funny, know matter how many times I visit communities throughout northern British Columbia, I always find something new to film. I moved from Surrey, B.C. in 1981 to where I reside now, which is in small town Houston.

There were a few challenges to over come, like setting up a home in the dead of winter with temperatures dropping into the minus thirty's. It was some nasty weather and to be honest, I thought I had made a huge mistake moving here.


The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station and Via Rail passenger train unloading and loading people for the run to Prince Rupert and stops in-between.

As winter moved into spring and then summer, I found a world of awesome things to do. It also turned out to be a great place to raise a family, fishing was great, hiking was everywhere and the wildlife was simply amazing. It was so cool to watch deer, moose and black bear and many other small critters wander through our property. 

One of the other things I really liked, was the mad rush of traffic here in town. It was when the sawmills changed shift and you had the scramble of the employees leaving the work place for home. In other words, there wasn’t any traffic jams to deal with on a daily basis.


The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station and Via Rail passenger train unloading and loading people for the run to Prince Rupert and stops in-between.

What I'm trying to say is, I love this beautiful province we live in, British Columbia is known around the world for it’s spectacular everything.

I do hope you will come to visit us all.
Brian Vike.

The below text information is From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Smithers British Columbia Railway Station.

Smithers railway station is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Smithers, British Columbia. The station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train. It was built in 1918. The station was designated a National Heritage Landmark in 1990.


The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station and Via Rail passenger train unloading and loading people for the run to Prince Rupert and stops in-between. Also the snowcapped mountains tower in the background.

History:

The Bulkley Valley in which Smithers is situated was originally inhabited by the Wet'suwet'en, Smithers was founded in 1913 as the regional headquarters for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. The new community was named after the railway's chairman of the board of directors, Sir Alfred Smithers. In 1921, Smithers became the first incorporated village in British Columbia.[2] In 1967, Smithers was incorporated as a town. Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from Smithers was created in 1967.


The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station and Via Rail passenger train unloading and loading people for the run to Prince Rupert and stops in-between.

Ski Smithers:

Hudson Bay Mountain is a ski area just outside Smithers, British Columbia on the west side of the city, located on Hudson Bay Mountain, which was the name of the ski area before a change in ownership. The largest of only a few ski areas in northwestern British Columbia, and the only to qualify as a "resort", the ski area does not experience the rain-outs common in more coastal resorts such as Whistler or Mount Washington.


Above Photo: Via Rail passenger train ready for it’s run to Prince Rupert and stops in-between.

Smithers Airport:

Runways: Originally the runway was 5,000 ft (1,524 m), but it has been expanded to 7,544 ft (2,299 m) so that the airport can land larger aircraft. The extension was completed by in late 2008. Once the expansion of the ski areas is complete, there would then be a need for a runway capable of landing regional aircraft as large as the Boeing 737. Even though Smithers was previously served with older generation Boeing 737 aircraft in the 80s and early 90s, the newer variants of these aircraft require longer runways.


Above Photo: The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station.

NavCanada:

NavCanada operates a Flight Service Station at Smithers Airport. Staffed hours of operations were cut on April 8, 2010 from 24 hours a day to 13 hours in the winter and 16 hours in the summer.

Manned hours of operation:


Above Photo: The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia Railway Station.

Airlines:

Air Canada Express, Central Mountain Air and Northern Thunderbird Air.

If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net

Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.

Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.

Monday, December 28, 2015

Heritage Railway And Station Located In Kamloops British Columbia (13 - Pictures)



Above Photo: Welcome sign for travelers visiting Kamloops, British Columbia.

For myself trains have held a special place in my life. It started when I was a little guy when I received my first train on Christmas day. I was so excited as my Dad handed out the presents, and in one of the wrapped boxes was a locomotive, box cars, tracks and small houses. I quickly opened up the box pulling everything out onto the floor in one pile. 

I knew exactly how it was supposed to be put together, at least I thought so. My dad sat with me as we both transformed a pile of plastic and metal into a working model railroad. I was so happy with a smile from ear to ear.


Above Photo: Electrical box with picture of folks from years past dressed up to the hilt standing on the railway station platform waiting for the train.

As the years went by, we decided to build a larger scale railway, but little did I realize that it wasn’t going to be just a bit larger, it was going to be huge as it took up the entire recreation room in the basement. It was great and we had a lot of fun putting it together and then operating it.

So when my daughter drove me to the Kamloops Heritage Railway, I was just like that kid again on Christmas day. It was off season as we were in Kamloops in November of 2015, so I could not experience the ride the train took tourists on, plus the cowboys on horse back robbing the train.


Above Photo: Kamloops, British Columbia 1927 railway station.

The next time we visit my daughter, I will be the 64 year old sitting on the train with a 
smile from ear to ear.

So make your holiday stop in Kamloops, British Columbia where all your dreams will come true as did mine.

The below text From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamloops_railway_station

Kamloops Railway Station:

Kamloops railway station in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada is a railway station which acts as the overnight stopover point for the Rocky Mountaineer train service to Jasper, Banff and Calgary; from Vancouver.


Above Photo: Kamloops, British Columbia 1927 railway station.

The station circa 1927

The station was originally built for Canadian National Railway. The station was declared a Heritage Railway Station in 1992. Via Rail trains call at the Kamloops North railway station not this station. The station building was restored and houses The Keg restaurant.

The Kamloops Heritage Railway, offers special excursion steam trains at various times through the year, trains depart from the station with tickets sold from their ticket office at 
5-510 Lorne St near the station.


Above Photo: This train Caboose is part of the Kamloops, B.C. Heritage Railway.

Kamloops Heritage Railway:

The Kamloops Heritage Railway is a heritage railway in Kamloops, British Columbia. The railway operates throughout the year running trains within Kamloops. The train is pulled by restored steam locomotive Canadian National Railway 2141, the "Spirit of Kamloops".


Above Photo: This train Caboose is part of the Kamloops, B.C. Heritage Railway.

2141 was built in 1912 by the Canadian Locomotive Company, in Kingston, ON - built for the Canadian Northern Railway, prior to it being absorbed into the Canadian National Railway. She is a 2-8-0, 'Consolidation' class of steam locomotive built for branch line railways. 


Above Photo: A Beautiful mural painting and miniature engine and town.

Originally a coal burner, she was converted to burn oil in 1954, and retired from active duty in 1958. 2141 was sold to the City of Kamloops in 1961, and placed on display in Riverside Park until restoration work began in 1995. 


Above Photo: Pictures of the passenger cars for the railroad.

The restoration was completed in 2001, and 2141 has been working for KHR from May until December each year since. A second restoration took place from 2013 to 2015, with the engine running again in August 2015.

Tickets for excursions are sold at the ticket office, located at #3-510 Lorne Street, right across from the old Kamloops railway station. The heritage station now houses the Keg restaurant.


Above Photo: Pictures of the passenger cars for the railroad.

Kamloops Heritage Railway:

Kamloops Heritage Railway:


Above Photo: Bright orange snow plow used by the railroad companies to 
remove snow from the tracks.

Kamloops Railway Station:


Canadian Rail: The Railway History of Kamloops, B.C. (Excellent Article)


Above Photo: Bright orange snow plow used by the railroad companies to 
remove snow from the tracks.

Kamloops Visitor Centre: (Contact for information on things to do in Kamloops)


Above Photo: The well known Red Bridge is located at the end of the Heritage Railway's property in Kamloops, British Columbia.


Above Photo: Picture of the Jail, Befurts Saloon and Hotel and Odgaard's Feed and Tack. Also my Daughter and Grandson hamming it up outside the Saloon after a cold Root Beer.

Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net

Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.

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Monday, October 26, 2015

Smithers British Columbia 1918 Railway Station And Clock. (3 Photos)


Above Photo: The 1918 Smithers British Columbia Railway Station.

There is a really cool clock at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue in Smithers British Columbia. When your in Smithers, make sure you check it out.


Above Photo: Clock can be found at Main Street and Second Avenue in 
Smithers British Columbia.

Smithers British Columbia Railway Station.

Smithers railway station is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Smithers, British Columbia. The station is served by Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train. It was built in 1918. The station was designated a National Heritage Landmark in 1990.


Above Photo: The 1918 Smithers, British Columbia railway station. This is another look at the railway station from the other end of the building.

If you have a picture or story you would like to share on the Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike blog, please contact me at b_vike@telus.net

Travel British Columbia with Brian Vike.

Travel Houston, British Columbia with Brian Vike.