THIS IS GOSSIP and I don't know how accurate it is, but if its true, then your intrepid reporter here as a news breaking story...lol! I was talking to a friend of mine and he said "his brother's friend" has leased some track from CN (even this speculation is interesting as CN doesn't own the rights to the BCR track - don't ask - dumb politicians) around the Whistler area. This part isn't the important part. What is important is that he said this chap has been wheeling and dealing with Cuban officials to import 50 steam engines from Cuba into the Vancouver area. Why? Well Americans can't purchase from Cuba, but they can purchase from Canadians. So, his plan is to important the Cuban steam here, then sell many (most) of them to Americans. I have no idea how accurate this rumour is, apparently in Cuba it has been approved.
Interesting, are these old relics? narrow guage or Standard? sounds like a real breaking story, keep us updated.
If true- This could be interesting. There is a lot of narrow gauge in Cuba. Some stuff that went from US RR's down there. And could be useful up here. I just hope, if true, the stuff is in decent condition? The BCR-CN thing- Is that still not settled? I wish they'd be forced to cut BCR loose again. Oh well. I'm sure that'll never happen. Boxcab E50
There are some wonderful old narrow gauge steam locos in Cuba. A friend went there several years ago and brought back some superb photos and video. If just some of them can be saved it will be great
CN has leased BCR stuff for something like 100 years, so technically it isn't a sale. Also the track is still owned by the people of British Columbia and not CN.
Here's a link to some info... Cuba Steam And another link.... Cuban Sugar Steam Take a look at these Mikados And more Steam And the last one... Honest! [ May 31, 2005, 07:12 PM: Message edited by: Hytec ]
There's a chap here in BC who is white but adopted a native persona called Adolph Hungry Wolf, he has done a book on Cuban steam that is fairly decent. [ June 01, 2005, 10:25 AM: Message edited by: rsn48 ]
Right. I understood that. My lament is that BCR itself is gone. Never to return. These leases rarely turn back to the parent company. And since there was dispute about the manner in which it came about, that was the last hope for keeping BCR an active operation. Boxcab E50
