It was electrified at the very beginning, 1983. They ceased using electrics and went to diesels late 2000. A few years later, the line was shut down, when the mines closed. There was a Pentrex video, "999 Days", which followed the entire line and electrification construction. I have that one. Very interesting. I seem to recall reading somewhere they might or might have reopened that line again fo some use. Cannot recall when or where I read that, if even true. I lost interest in following that whole thing when CN took over.
Ken, This website seems to indicate reopening of the line: http://users.eastlink.ca/~othen/BCRail/BCRail.html.
Well worth owning. I have one other BCR video, beyond 995 Days. It may be Uncommon Carrier. Guess I need to look! Yikes. Been a while since I watched either one, so maybe it is time again!
One thought I just realized in this photo: the catenary, wires and everything looks very intact. Hard to beleive the line could be mothballed, the locos scrapped and the overhead aparatus could be left intact (unlike the MILW). Good to see life in it once again.
I don't recall if they've ever bothered to dismantle the catenary. Probably is pretty much harmless, left intact. Who knows, maybe some day it could be useful again?
