Virtual Railfan Tour - Thurso and Nation Valley Railway - around Thurso and in winter.

 

For much of its life GE 25 ton #6 worked in the bush but with the later change to longer loads it was brought back to Thurso where it worked in the yard with #10 

This is a home made tie treatment tank. Ties were cut in Thurso and dipped in this tank before being sent out to be installed. Despite the strengthening rods the frame has bent but the trucks are relatively modern(for TNVR).

The climb out of Thurso was one of the most taxing for the trains of empties returning to the bush. The 79 tonners would be working flat out here. It was regular practice to run the leading locomotive backwards to provide a better view ahead for the crew. This could cause confusion to the uninitiated listening on a scanner to the train radio where "reculer - back up" meant "go ahead" and "avancer -"go ahead" meant "back up. 

The big hill from Iroquois had some sharp curves

Looking from car 27 towards the locomotive of a train of empties.

Evidence of an earlier derailment

A roller coaster through the bush.

Returning to Thurso




On the one trip I made in the cab we were stopped shortly after beginning our return with a loaded train. One of the crew picked up a chain saw and quickly resolved the problem. The engine crew always kept a good watch on the condition of their train.
The views in winter were superb

Car 27 and CPR van 436436 at Iroquois.
In an earlier blog I had put in the wrong number for the Bytown Railway Society's ex-CPR van 436 436 (thank you Mark Walton for pointing out my error) built in 1913. By this time it has had a repaint from the earlier CPR yellow.

Next time we will take a look at the TNVR in summer and autumn.











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