E and N Railway

Reporting marks	ENR
Locale	Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Dates of operation	1999 – present
Track gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1435 mm) (standard gauge)
Headquarters	Nanaimo, British Columbia

The E and N Railway (E&N, ENR) (AAR reporting mark ENR) is a short line railway run by RailAmerica, Inc.. It is one of two remaining railways over 100 miles in length on Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. Until 1996, it was called the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway (AAR reporting mark EN). It then spent three years as E and N Railfreight before being sold to RailAmerica and getting its current name. This is a copyrighted and/or trademarked logo. ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington State by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English, French Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 925,186 km² 19,549... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... Rail gauge is the distance between two rails of a railroad. ... A foot (plural: feet) is a non-SI unit of distance or length, measuring around a third of a meter. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... As railways developed and expanded one of the key issues to be decided was that of the rail gauge (the distance between the two rails of the track) which should be used. ... Nanaimo Harbour There are several federal and provincial electoral districts with the name Nanaimo. ... A World War II era print advertisement for the Association of American Railroads (AAR). ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ... A short line is an independent railroad company that operates over a relatively short distance. ... ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington State by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English, French Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 925,186 km² 19,549... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... A World War II era print advertisement for the Association of American Railroads (AAR). ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ...

Despite the name, the railway goes beyond the historical termini of Esquimalt and Nanaimo. It currently runs from Victoria to Courtenay, with a spur from Parksville to Port Alberni. The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. ... Nanaimo Harbour There are several federal and provincial electoral districts with the name Nanaimo. ... The arms of Victoria. ... Courtenay is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... Parksville is a city on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. ... Port Alberni, British Columbia is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. ...

VIA Rail Canada runs regular passenger train service (the Malahat) with Budd-built Rail Diesel Cars on the Victoria to Courtenay main line (called the Victoria Subdivision by the E&N), from Victoria to Courtenay, with a stop at Nanaimo; the Victoria and Nanaimo stations have ferry service to Vancouver on the mainland. At one time this train stopped in several small communities including Union Bay, but these stops were taken out. The E&N runs from Victoria to Parksville, Parksville to Port Alberni, and Parksville to Courtenay. There is a spur south of Nanaimo that connects to the E&N's main railyard and barge slip (dock) in Nanaimo. VIA Rail Canada (also referred to as VIA Rail and VIA; pronounced vee-ah) is an independent Crown corporation offering intercity passenger rail services in Canada. ... Budd RDC-1 #407 of the Cape May Seashore Lines. ... This article refers to the city in British Columbia, Canada. ... Motto: Splendor Sine Occasu (Latin: Splendour without diminishment) Official languages English, French Capital Victoria Largest city Vancouver Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo Premier Gordon Campbell (BC Liberal) Parliamentary representation  - House seat  - Senate seats 36 6 Area Total  â€¢ Land  â€¢ Water    (% of total)  Ranked 5th 944,735 km² 925,186 km² 19,549...

In February 2006, the Canadian Pacific Railway donated its portion of the 234-kilometre (139 miles) E&N Vancouver Island trackage between Victoria and Courtenay, to the Island Corridor Foundation.

History

In 1873, Canadian Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald had stated that Esquimalt, British Columbia, the site of a naval base, would be the terminus of the "Pacific Railway". However, both the federal government and the Canadian Pacific Railway placed a low priority on construction of such a railway, as it had low traffic potential and would duplicate an existing steamer service. In 1883, the British Columbia provincial government, tired of waiting for the federal government to build the railway, signed a contract with Sir Robert Dunsmuir, Nanaimo coal baron and a member of the provincial legislature, to build a railway between Esquimalt and Nanaimo in exchange for $750,000 from the federal government and 800,000 acres (3,200 km²) of land on Vancouver Island. That amount of land was almost 20% of the entire island and included all known coal deposits. The fact that Dunsmuir was a member of the provincial government that was making the deal aroused some suspicion. Shortly afterwards, Dunsmuir and associates incorporated the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway. 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ... Sir Robert Walpole, the first Prime Minister A Prime Minister is a politician who serves as the head of the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... The Right Honourable Sir John Alexander Macdonald, KCMG, GCB, QC, PC, DCL, LL.D (January 11, 1815 – June 6, 1891) was the first Prime Minister of Canada from July 1, 1867 – November 5, 1873 and October 17, 1878 – June 6, 1891. ... The Township of Esquimalt is a municipality at the southern tip of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. ... Modern Naval Tactics It is tempting to regard modern naval combat as the purest expression of tactics. ... The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR; AAR reporting marks CP, CPAA, CPI), known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a Canadian Class I railway operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited. ... 1883 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Sir Robert Dunsmuir (August 31, 1815 – April 12, 1889) coal miner, industrialist and politician. ... Nanaimo Harbour There are several federal and provincial electoral districts with the name Nanaimo. ... Coal is a fossil fuel extracted from the ground by underground mining or open-pit mining (strip mining). ... Vancouver Island is separated from mainland British Columbia by the Strait of Georgia and the Queen Charlotte Strait, and from Washington State by the Juan De Fuca Strait. ...

Construction of the railway took three and a half years. On August 13, 1886, the last spike was driven at Cliffside, about 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of Victoria. The spike was gold, and the hammer was silver. Prime Minister Macdonald drove the last spike, during his only visit to British Columbia. The railway was extended to Dunsmuir's mine at Wellington in 1887, and into Victoria in 1888. It was extended west to Port Alberni in 1911, and north to Courtenay in 1914. The E&N Railway was originally to have been built all the way to Campbell River, but that plan fell through due to the outbreak of World War I. August 13 is the 225th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (226th in leap years), with 140 days remaining. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar). ... The arms of Victoria. ... 1888 is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Port Alberni, British Columbia is a city located in the province of British Columbia in Canada. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ... Courtenay is a city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, in the province of British Columbia, Canada. ... 1914 (MCMXIV) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... // Location and Population Campbell River is a community in British Columbia at the south end of Discovery Passage on northern Vancouver Island. ... Combatants Allies: • Serbia, • Russia, • France, • Belgium, • British Empire and Dominions, • United States, • Italy, • ...and others Central Powers: • Germany, • Austria-Hungary, • Ottoman Empire, • Bulgaria Commanders {{{commander1}}} {{{commander2}}} Strength {{{strength1}}} {{{strength2}}} Casualties 5 million military, 3 million civilian (full list) 3 million military, 3 million civilian (full list) {{{notes}}} World War I...

Between 1905 and 1999, the E&N Railway was owned and operated by Canadian Pacific Railway. VIA took over operation of CP's passenger train service (called The Malahat) in 1978 while CP demarketed its freight operation, claiming that freight traffic was declining. In 1996, CP reorganized the E&N as an "internal short line" named E&N Railfreight and Railbarge operations were sold to Seaspan Intermodal. In early 1999, shortline operator RailAmerica purchased/leased the E&N from CP. This RailAmerica subsidiary is named E and N Railway Company (1998) Ltd. and uses the reporting mark ENR (the reporting mark EN was still owned by CP), thus maintaining the historic name associations for the Vancouver Island line. Regular passenger service to Port Alberni ended in 1957 and regular freight service to Port Alberni (making up 85% of the E&N's revenue) ended in 2001 when the pulp mill in Port Alberni switched to truck. 1905 (MCMV) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 1978 (MCMLXXVIII in Roman) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Washington Marine Group is a consortium of companies owned or largely owned by Dennis Washington of Montana. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... ... Reporting marks on two CP Rail covered hoppers passing Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, June 20, 2004. ...

Despite the purchase by RailAmerica, freight traffic has continued to decline and the future of the E&N has been in doubt for several years as RailAmerica is seeking to sell this recent acquisition due to unprofitability. Restrictions from Canadian Pacific on the lease/sale agreement, significant taxpayer investments in public highways during the 1990s, including a major reconstruction of highway 1, has led to reduced driving times between Victoria and Nanaimo, but has also drastically impacted the privately owned rail line, which does not have the benefit of the provincial subsidies accorded to its competing highways. With next to no freight traffic and only a daily passenger train, the future of the E&N without direct government subsidies for its continued operation, let alone future upgrades, remains doubtful, Currently RailAmerica is looking for buyers for the railway. Freight traffic has dropped to about 2000 carloads a year after the loss of their largest freight customer, a Catalyst Paper pulp mill in Port Alberni. The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... British Columbia provincial highway 1 is the B.C. section of the Trans-Canada Highway. ... NorskeCanada (formerly Norske Skog Canada) is an Canadian pulp and paper company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. ...

In the summers of 2000 and 2001 a tourist operation ran out of Victoria three times a day in 2000 and twice a day in 2001, called the Pacific Wilderness Railway. The Pacific Wilderness was not successful and shut down halfway through the 2001 tourist season. This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... The arms of Victoria. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

In February 2006, the Canadian Pacific Railway donated its portion of the 234-kilometre (139 miles) E&N Vancouver Island trackage, which averages 30 metres in width between Victoria and Courtenay, to the Island Corridor Foundation. The company is also supplying $2.3-million in "seed money" to help the foundation continue its work and its donation is estimated to be valued at $236(C) million and encompasses 651 hectares of land, six historic railway stations and a number of trestles. The non-profit Island Corridor Foundation struck the historic agreement with the Canadian Pacific Railway, which agreed to hand over its Island rail assets to the foundation, a partnership of First Nations and local governments along the E&N line. Freight and VIA passenger rail service will be preserved, and commuter rail between the southern communities of Victoria and Esquimalt will be studied in the future. Rail America will continue to provide freight service between Nanaimo and Parksville, BC.

List of current freight customers

• Superior Propane, Nanaimo
• LaFarge Cement, Nanaimo
• FMC Chemicals, Nanaimo
• Top Shelf Feed Mill, Duncan
• National Silicates, Parksville
• FMC Chemicals, Parksville

Regular freight service to Victoria, Courtenay, and Port Alberni ended in 2001, and only special moves are handled to those cities now. The E&N lost four freight customers in 2001. Annual carloads dropped from 8500 to 2000 almost overnight. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ...

External links

• Official page
• History of the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway
• VIA Rail Malahat service