In 1934, a Lillooet–Shalalth shuttle was established, and a 23-metre (75 ft) diameter turntable was installed 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi) east of Seton Portage, because the initial gasoline-powered cars could only be operated from one end. This was not the case for gas car no. 107, bought in 1949, but built in 1926. In 1958, the western terminus moved to Seton Portage. The railbus hauled one or two trailers loaded with automobiles and trucks on a twice daily return service. The completion of access roads and the introduction of new Budd Rail Diesel Cars on the BC Rail daily intercity service in the late 1950s prompted the end of this shuttle in 1961.[1]
In 1979, a Seton Portage–Lillooet morning school shuttle commenced. The cost was shared equally between the Lillooet School District, Seton Lake First Nation, and BC Hydro (which operates the Shalalth powerhouses). The high school pupils named the single passenger car behind the locomotive as the "Budd Wiser". Students returned home on the southbound intercity passenger train.[2]
Shalalth TunnelEdit
The tunnel lies immediately west of Shalalth. The initial 130-metre (427 ft) tunnel, behind the “Bridge River 2 Generating Station” building, was timber lined and opened in 1915. The second 320-metre (1,060 ft) tunnel, built in the mid-1950s, resulted from a line relocation to accommodate the hydro building construction. The new trackage emerged from the tunnel directly in line with the old turntable, which was removed at this time. The third 1,200-metre (3,940 ft) tunnel, opened in 1989, was a relocation to bypass a dangerous rock slide area. The increased height clearance was to accommodate any future electrification of this section of the line.[1][3][4]
In November 2002, BC Rail ended all passenger service between North Vancouver and Prince George. In 2001, the railway purchased a pair of gasoline-powered railbus units from Jim Busby Services in California, who had rebuilt the Fairmont A8 speeders. West Coach International of California carried out further modifications, with the work completed by BC Rail upon arrival in Lillooet. After the inaugural run on October 31, 2002, regular operation started the next day. "Budd-Lites" was soon their nickname. These units were initially numbered TU-108 and TU-109 by BC Rail to maintain the gas car numbering sequence[6] but later renumbered to 10800 and 10900 by Canadian National Railway (CN) after acquiring BC Rail.[7]
Kaoham operationEdit
View westward of the railway track beside Seton Lake, 2017.
If the duplicate rear car is attached, only the lead car motor is used. Each car contains 20 school-bus type seats for the bumpy journey.[8] This enterprise on the CN Squamish Subdivision is a partnership between CN and the Seton Lake First Nation. The former provides the driver and train. The latter handles bookings and ticketing. The service primarily exists for the isolated residents (mainly First Nations) of Seton Portage and Shalalth to reach Lillooet for school, shopping, or medical needs. Consequently, most days, the train departs Seton Portage in the morning and returns in the afternoon. On Fridays, two round trips occur. When the train arrives, the crew briefly open the Lillooet station waiting area.[9] Being CN's only non-freight operation, passengers on the shuttle are classified as "groceries" for cargo reporting purposes.[5]
Although bookings are encouraged, uncertainty exists as to whether the bookings have been recorded.[10] Where recorded, a high ranking on the list is no guarantee of being able to purchase a ticket. Tour parties have been known to push in front to secure a seat on the shuttle, since standing is prohibited.[9] Understandably, local residents have priority over visitors.[10] As of September 2022[update] only cash payments are accepted for the $25 round trip.[9] The space beside the driver is often filled with packages, groceries and other supplies. With an intermediate stop at Shalalth, the trip lasts just over an hour each way.[10]
The BBC described the picturesque journey beside the lake and through the tunnel as "Canada's greatest hidden rail trip".[11]
Service farther west to D'Arcy is advertised as available by advance appointment.[9]
ReferencesEdit
^ abHind, Patrick O. (Oct 1995). "The Cariboo: PGE's Shalalth Auto Ferry Service" (PDF). www.cwrailway.ca. No. 22. pp. 7–13.
^Tuff, Ron (Aug 1998). "The Cariboo: Lillooet Terminal, Railway Operations" (PDF). www.cwrailway.ca. No. 33. p. 10.
^"Branchline: Shalalth Tunnel on Track" (PDF). bytownrailwaysociety.ca. Vol. 28, no. 1. Jan 1989. p. 5.
kaoham, shuttle, lillooet, seton, portage, passenger, rail, service, along, northern, shore, seton, lake, squamish, lillooet, region, southwestern, british, columbia, highway, eastern, terminus, about, kilometres, northeast, vancouver, lillooet, train, station. The Kaoham Shuttle is a Lillooet Seton Portage passenger rail service along the northern shore of Seton Lake in the Squamish Lillooet region of southwestern British Columbia By BC Highway 99 the eastern terminus is about 252 kilometres 157 mi northeast of Vancouver Kaoham ShuttleLillooet train station 2011OverviewLocaleLillooet CountryTechnicalTrack gauge4 ft 8 1 2 in 1 435 mm standard gaugeRoute mapLegendto Prince GeorgeLillooetto North VancouverShalalthSeton PortageD Arcy limited serviceThis diagram viewtalkedit Contents 1 Earlier railway shuttles 2 Shalalth Tunnel 3 Kaoham installation 4 Kaoham operation 5 References 6 External linkEarlier railway shuttles EditIn 1934 a Lillooet Shalalth shuttle was established and a 23 metre 75 ft diameter turntable was installed 2 3 kilometres 1 4 mi east of Seton Portage because the initial gasoline powered cars could only be operated from one end This was not the case for gas car no 107 bought in 1949 but built in 1926 In 1958 the western terminus moved to Seton Portage The railbus hauled one or two trailers loaded with automobiles and trucks on a twice daily return service The completion of access roads and the introduction of new Budd Rail Diesel Cars on the BC Rail daily intercity service in the late 1950s prompted the end of this shuttle in 1961 1 In 1979 a Seton Portage Lillooet morning school shuttle commenced The cost was shared equally between the Lillooet School District Seton Lake First Nation and BC Hydro which operates the Shalalth powerhouses The high school pupils named the single passenger car behind the locomotive as the Budd Wiser Students returned home on the southbound intercity passenger train 2 Shalalth Tunnel EditThe tunnel lies immediately west of Shalalth The initial 130 metre 427 ft tunnel behind the Bridge River 2 Generating Station building was timber lined and opened in 1915 The second 320 metre 1 060 ft tunnel built in the mid 1950s resulted from a line relocation to accommodate the hydro building construction The new trackage emerged from the tunnel directly in line with the old turntable which was removed at this time The third 1 200 metre 3 940 ft tunnel opened in 1989 was a relocation to bypass a dangerous rock slide area The increased height clearance was to accommodate any future electrification of this section of the line 1 3 4 Kaoham installation EditIn the St at imc language the word kaoham means to meet the train 5 In November 2002 BC Rail ended all passenger service between North Vancouver and Prince George In 2001 the railway purchased a pair of gasoline powered railbus units from Jim Busby Services in California who had rebuilt the Fairmont A8 speeders West Coach International of California carried out further modifications with the work completed by BC Rail upon arrival in Lillooet After the inaugural run on October 31 2002 regular operation started the next day Budd Lites was soon their nickname These units were initially numbered TU 108 and TU 109 by BC Rail to maintain the gas car numbering sequence 6 but later renumbered to 10800 and 10900 by Canadian National Railway CN after acquiring BC Rail 7 Kaoham operation Edit nbsp View westward of the railway track beside Seton Lake 2017 If the duplicate rear car is attached only the lead car motor is used Each car contains 20 school bus type seats for the bumpy journey 8 This enterprise on the CN Squamish Subdivision is a partnership between CN and the Seton Lake First Nation The former provides the driver and train The latter handles bookings and ticketing The service primarily exists for the isolated residents mainly First Nations of Seton Portage and Shalalth to reach Lillooet for school shopping or medical needs Consequently most days the train departs Seton Portage in the morning and returns in the afternoon On Fridays two round trips occur When the train arrives the crew briefly open the Lillooet station waiting area 9 Being CN s only non freight operation passengers on the shuttle are classified as groceries for cargo reporting purposes 5 Although bookings are encouraged uncertainty exists as to whether the bookings have been recorded 10 Where recorded a high ranking on the list is no guarantee of being able to purchase a ticket Tour parties have been known to push in front to secure a seat on the shuttle since standing is prohibited 9 Understandably local residents have priority over visitors 10 As of September 2022 update only cash payments are accepted for the 25 round trip 9 The space beside the driver is often filled with packages groceries and other supplies With an intermediate stop at Shalalth the trip lasts just over an hour each way 10 The BBC described the picturesque journey beside the lake and through the tunnel as Canada s greatest hidden rail trip 11 Service farther west to D Arcy is advertised as available by advance appointment 9 References Edit a b Hind Patrick O Oct 1995 The Cariboo PGE s Shalalth Auto Ferry Service PDF www cwrailway ca No 22 pp 7 13 Tuff Ron Aug 1998 The Cariboo Lillooet Terminal Railway Operations PDF www cwrailway ca No 33 p 10 Branchline Shalalth Tunnel on Track PDF bytownrailwaysociety ca Vol 28 no 1 Jan 1989 p 5 Shalalth Tunnel www railpictures ca a b Kaoham Shuttle Lillooet wordpress com Biln J Singh Roberts Jay Fall 2002 The Cariboo BC Rail s New Rail Shuttle Vehicles PDF www cwrailway ca No 41 pp 18 21 CN Trains Gallery www trainweb org Railroad News www railroad net 3 Apr 2016 a b c d Trains cs trains com 12 Sep 2017 a b c Backcountry Canada Travel backcountrycanadatravel com 3 Jun 2022 CBC News www cbc ca 27 Oct 2019 External link EditKoaham Shuttle Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Kaoham Shuttle amp oldid 1179647648, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
