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The Government of British Columbia made the decision to "sell" the provincially-owned British Columbia Railway to private interests. For all intense purposes it was called a sale but in actuality it was a 999 year lease to Canadian National Railway Company (CN) starting in 2004. The controversy over that decision continues today.

Here are a few photographs taken in October 2004 along the BC Rail mainline between Wright in the south and Greening Siding just north of Quesnel.

The map below shows each photo location and the exact coordinates for that position.

On 25 Nov 2003 the British Columbia government announced it had selected CN as the successful proponent for a new BC Rail Investment Partnership that would generate $1 billion in investment for B.C., help to revitalize the BC Rail system, and create opportunities for economic development and job creation in the North.

Others held the opinion Premier Gordon Campbell was breaking his election promise by selling BC Rail. The lease of BC Rail saw CN take over this third largest railway in Canada. It reduced competition in the industry and gave CN a monopoly on northern rail transportation. The Council of Trade Unions on BC Rail worked with community groups and civic leaders to send a message to MLA's in Victoria that they would not allow the Crown Corporation to be sold. The message was loud and clear, Don't sell BC Rail !

Prior to the government's announcement above, there were several bidders to the sale including Union Pacific, Burlington Northern Santa Fe, Omnitrax, and Canadian Pacific Railway. Before a bidder could be chosen CPR withdrew from the bidding process stating the government had breached the fairness of the bidding process.

While efforts to stop the sale of the railway were initiated by several groups, they met with no success. Canadian National took over the equipment, rolling stock, and track in a 999 year lease officially completing this $1 billion transaction on 14 Jul 2004. You should note this lease is to operate the railway only. The provincial government still owns the land beneath the right-of-way.

Some time afterward CN announced a change to the way the railway would be operated between North Vancouver and Prince George. Three daily BC Rail trains between North Vancouver and Prince George would be abolished. In their place local Road Switchers would operate north and south, from Squamish, Lillooet, and Williams Lake, with Prince George operating to the south. Crews would be based at these home terminals and would return there in a continuous tour of duty. They would meet and exchange cars with opposing trains so that cars could be passed along the line as required.

As of 18 Oct 2004 this plan wasn't implemented, so through trains continued between North Vancouver and Prince George. Photographs with this article show train SQJO (Squamish-St. John) arriving in Quesnel with only 6 cars on that particular date. Local switching was performed in Quesnel yard then the train proceeded towards Prince George with 22 cars in tow.

It appears the BC Rail system has gone from a mainline railway to a branchline.

23 May 2003 - BC Rail Sale Proposal Sparks Bidding War

19 Nov 2003 - CP Rail Pulls Out of Bidding on BC Rail

29 Apr 2004 - BC Rail Protest Stops Train

29 Apr 2004 - CN and BCR Officials Ride the Rails

2 Jul 2004 - CN Set to Close BC Rail Takeover

4 Jul 2004 - Mayor Calls Competition Board Approval of BC Rail Deal "The News We've Been Waiting For"

8 Jul 2004 - Rail Deal Puts Family's Future in Jeopardy

14 Jul 2004 - CN Closes BC Rail Transaction

15 Jul 2004 - Sad Day for British Columbia

26 Jul 2004 - BC Rail Employee Stress Level Rises as Takeover Looms

1 Sep 2004 - BC Rail Web Site Gone

4 Oct 2004 - New Owners of BC Rail Prepare to Rip it Apart

5 Oct 2004 - CN Official Denies Service to Prince George is Being Cut

2 Apr 2020 - CN Suspending Service Between Williams Lake and Squamish

14 Apr 2020 - No Jobs Lost With CN Suspension of Williams Lake to Squamish Line

A 1990 BC Rail video following the Pemberton pushers on the Squamish Subdividion up to D'Arcy where they were cut into the afternoon southbound freight. This made 24,000 HP to get over the two 2.2 percent grades between D'arcy and Mons. Farther to the south, at Squamish. a dog named "Depot" had his own doghouse in front of the station and was cared for by the station agents working there.
 

British Columbia Railway Company (Link fails)

BC Rail Wikipedia

BC Rail-PGE Railway brief history (Link fails 1 May 2023)

Whistler Northwind Retrospective

BC Rail Former Employees

Flickr BC Rail Group (Link fails 10 Jul 2024)

BC Rail Locomotive Roster

BC Rail Cabooses (Link fails)

West Coast Railway Association (Link fails)

Click/Tap the above image for instructions to save a 2560 x 1440 pixel size image.