Caption: CN 30, a 70 tonner, leads a short westbound train near the hamlet of Tracadie. Yes, this IS the main line; which gives you an idea how hard it was to catch a train on it. Way back when I was lucky to catch some action as the potato harvest season was just starting up on the east end of the island. Power was 30 & 40, which handled most assignments to and from Souris. Other power on the Isle, such as a few MLW RSC-18s, worked mostly industry in and around Charlottetown, Summerside and Kensington.
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Great capture Mr.Mooney! A railway I would have loved to see in action but by the time I got there, operations had just ceased. The GE 70 tonner was considered for the Newfoundland Branchlines but the CNR opted for an all GMD roster and chose the G8 narrow gauge version instead.- Ken
Ya know what’s crazy, one can find videos of the Newfoundland railway online, but none seem to exist of the PEI railway online (Diesel Era). Branchline railroading at it’s finest.
You’re quite right, Mr. Host. There is such a romantic theme about the “Rock” and its trains, but PEI was just that place nobody really seemed to care about…..except the islanders themselves.