Harrop-Procter Locals enjoy favourite pastimes because of passenger rail
Other locals like the Dosenberger family, Dean Renzie and the brothers Larry
and Gordon Brown, to name a few, recalled the times they used the passenger
train and the Dayliner.
Gordon Brown and his friends would often go fishing in Midge and, for a small
fee, the operator would oblige in picking them up track side on the way back.
Like this, camaraderie was struck between local patrons and the railway line
employees as Gerry MacKinnon remembers.
Need for Passenger Rail Service has come full circle
Rail travel made sense at a time when travel options were few or otherwise non-existent.
If we fast forward 100 years to present day, however, we come full circle to
the realization that how we move ourselves around will undergo sweeping changes
in the next few decades.
Travelling by train is a practical, viable alternative whose time has come once
again."
The Present
Support for re-instating Rail Passenger service to provide improved transportation
to an isolated community,
reduce the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% , and create a
model for other like communities to follow.
The H-P&N R.R. (Harrop-Procter & Nelson Rail Road is only one suggestion
for a name) Committee was formed in January of 2009 with strong local public
support to proceed with the above initiative. The local public has identified
many ideas regarding this proposal that have great potential. Besides enhanced
transportation service and carbon credits additional benefits include, to name
a few: job creation, tourism destination, reduced pressure on ferry and elimination
of need for bridge, eventual extension of passenger rail service throughout
Kootenay communities, and more.
Harrop-Procter is a small farm/residential community on the south shore of
the west arm of Kootenay Lake east of Nelson B.C. The winter population is approximately
650 people increasing to 800+ in summer. There is no direct highway access and
a 24 hour cable ferry at Harrop Narrows connects Harrop-Procter road with Highway
3A. A CP Rail Road on the south shore runs through the community and historically
offered access via passenger rail service. Restoration of this rail service
would not only offer safe and sensible transportation for our citizens but also
a respectable carbon credit for CPR.
A Survey has been conducted, with 21% return and the results are reflected in
the following numbers: Ridership @ 500 passengers/week @ $6/adult round-trip;
Schedule 7 days/week, 6am-Midnight, 90 minute turn-around, 12 trips/day; Gas
Savings 60,000 litres/year; Carbon saving 100 Ton/year; Carbon Footprint -20%.
Train ridership for junior and senior high school students would replace a school
bus. Procter to Nelson is a distance of 19 miles (30 km). A one way trip by
rail at 35mph (55kph) should take about 35 minutes, the same time as a ferry/automobile
trip.
The proposed Carriage would be a low speed, light weight, reversing carriage, running on electric power utilizing the new industrial process of Existing Infra-structure + New Technologies + Used Parts. A low/zero-emissions car is possible with energy costs of a round trip less than a dollar.
Details of this initiative are available on the following website www.green-power.info and the committee may be contacted via email at info@green-power.info.
We are energized & committed about this initiative and seek your support in our pursuit.
H-P&N R.R. (Harrop-Procter & Nelson Rail Road) Committee
RE: Support for re-instating Rail Passenger service to provide improved transportation
to an isolated community and reduce
the community’s greenhouse gas emissions by 20% in 2010.
The H-P&N R.R. (Harrop-Procter & Nelson Rail Road) Committee was formed
in January of 2009 with strong local public support to proceed with the above
initiative. We are seeking support and guidance from any and all that can meet
with us and discuss this further or point us in the right direction to those
who can. The committee thanks you in advance for any assistance you can offer
us. The following is a briefing of this initiative but certainly not complete.
The local public has identified many ideas regarding this proposal that have
great potential. Besides enhanced transportation service and carbon credits
additional benefits include, to name a few: job creation, tourism destination,
reduced pressure on ferry and elimination of need for a bridge, eventual extension
of passenger rail service throughout Kootenay communities, and more.
Harrop-Procter is a small farm/residential community on the south shore of the
west arm of Kootenay Lake east of Nelson B.C. The winter population is approximately
650 people increasing to 800+ in summer. There is no direct highway access and
a 24 hour cable ferry at Harrop Narrows connects Harrop-Procter road with Highway
3A. A CP Rail Road on the south shore runs through the community and historically
offered access via passenger rail service. Restoration of this rail service
would not only offer safe and sensible transportation for our citizens but also
a respectable carbon credit for CPR.
A Survey has been conducted and the results are reflected in the following numbers:
Ridership 500/week @ $6/adult round-trip
Schedule 7 days/week, 6am-Midnight, 90 minute turn-around, 12 trips/day
Ridership Revenue $3000/week
Freight Revenue $500/week
Gas Savings 60,000 litres/year
Carbon saving 100 Ton/year
Carbon Footprint -20%
Train ridership for junior and senior high school students would replace a school
bus and funding for the bus could be
redirected to the train.
Procter to Nelson is a distance of 19 miles (30 km). A one way trip by rail
at 35mph (55kph) should take about 35 minutes, the same time as a ferry/automobile
trip. Our communities have given strong support for the following proposal:
1) The existing main line switching and sidings in Procter do not need to be
changed to allow passenger rail service. We
propose to use the east end and switches of the 2nd and 3rd sidings.
2) A decommissioned Caboose on the far siding could be used as Ticket sales/Office/Waiting
area and a Box Car used for
Maintenance/Freight.
3) The Third siding would be the permanent home for the station cars and night
storage for the carriage.
4) The second siding would be used for loading/unloading, shunting and day storage.
5) A small wooden landing could be constructed by the community in front.
6) The first siding would not be used.
7) The main line would be accessed according to schedule and regulation set
by CPR.
8) Cost to setup the station could be almost nothing. The community has indicated
the donation of wood for construction,
and some volunteer labour is likely.
9) The existing track and switching would be adequate and there is electric
service already in place.
10) A stair way and ramp would lead down from 3rd. St. to a main line crossing.
11) Vehicle traffic could access via the 1st St. crossing where land for parking
is available.
12) The train would be able to stop anywhere along the line extending service
from the last home in East Procter through
Harrop and on to the CP Rail Station at the far west end of Baker St. in Nelson,
which is slated for restoration and future
use as a tourism information centre and more.
13) Landings might be required at designated stops or an onboard ramp could
be developed for greater flexibility.
14) The old station in Nelson also needs no rail upgrades and the CP Station
restoration proposed by Nelson would hopefully include a small freight/waiting
area.
15) We would suggest the use of electronic ticketing or a pass system so the
operator is not concerned with fares.
16) The proposed Carriage would be a low speed, light weight, reversing carriage
for moving passengers:
a) An existing diesel or diesel/electric unit could be obtained. A new unit
would probably be too costly. A used carriage
requiring re-powering could be employed.
i) A low/zero-emissions car is possible on this run due to the short distance
and the lack of grade.
ii) The passenger carriage would contain the electric drive motor which could
be a used D.C. motor or a new three
phase, permanent magnet, brushless type.
iii) There would be a raised compartment in the middle for the operator to see
in both directions and to house the
throttle, safety and communications equipment.
iv) Two tenders, resembling a miniature box car for freight, bikes and buggies
would also contain the battery bank
for the main drive and a small bio-fuel powered generator for backup power or
extended trips.
v) One tender would be left in Procter for freight handling and recharging.
vi) Grid power would be supplied by Nelson Hydro, one of the most pristine energy
sources on earth.
vii) Internet access should be available for operations, scheduling and passenger
convenience.
viii) The energy cost of a round trip could be less than a dollar.
ix) The assembly of this car could utilize the new industrial process:
The above is only the beginning of an on-going public discussion that has been
taking place over the past year in Harrop-
Procter. We are energized & committed about this initiative and seek your
support in our pursuit. We will be following upon
this letter shortly and look forward to speaking with you. The following website
www.green-power.info provides additional
information and the committee may be contacted via email at info@green-power.info.
Sincerely,
H-P&N R.R. (Harrop-Procter & Nelson Rail Road) Committee