Last stop in Elder College history series studies a stubborn little railroad THIS WAS our final topic in the series of reflections we’ve enjoyed at Elder Col- lege in the past six weeks, soaking up some of the North Shore’s heritage. By Eleanor Godley Contributing Writer We went for an imaginary trip on a train. We had a good con- ductor in Barry Wall, whose job it is to interpret BC Rail, as she is today, to the world. Wall and Jeanine Aylsworth gave us a good couple of hours on the’ story of the: stubborn little ‘railroad that thouglit it could. “And finally did. I learned alot of things which [ should have known, I suppose. 1 was. born: in. Prince. George .and had much of my upbringing és ‘The Train’ to us meant the CNR that brought _ Katon’s parcels” from Tranna. cd ‘ there, ; But though the idea of the Prince George Eventually — our derisive translation of PGE — was ‘ of paramount interest to the town, there was.a_ serious overlay of : pessimism:.: We'd .been disap- pointed too. often over too long a time.§ .:- It had pretty: well lost its poten- tial even for a joke in 1942 when I ~ left the North. ‘ Folks in the area had just grown ‘callous about the. futility of put- ting. any credence into constant ‘rumors about the PGE. As kids;-we hopped and skipped on the right of way beyond the cutbanks. “The Train’’ to us meant the CNR that brought Eaton's parcels from Tranna, We could actually board that one, for Smithers or Prince Rupert or Edmonton or Willow Creek, but to go south we relied on the family car. . Sure you could go to Quesnel and catch the PGE for ‘‘the coast,’’ as we always referred to Vancouver. The Houghtaling family, who ran the taxi service ii our town, ran a ‘‘stage’’ — as we called it — to and from Quesnel. It was no more a stage than any other old touring car, We were quite ignorant of the life the PGE was leading down below, accommodating picnickers between North Vancouver and Horseshoe Bay. We did know that Squamish was the terminus, and that from there you got a boat ride into Vancouver, It was a pretty leisurely journey, really, in the °30s. When you boarded in Quesnel you took any seat, as 1 recall, and then later, towards bedtime, you fixed up with the conductor that you wanted a berth. It cost less that way. But all the time, through all the years, we nursed the idea that the . train would really arrive, that land prices would soar, businesses would ‘multiply and our town would come into its own. It did, of course. In 1914, were surveyors seeking the most favorable route from Fort George to the Peace River. In 1914! They had 3,600 inen, they said, working to connect Fort George. with Lac La Hache. And what was going to get them across the Cottonwood Canyon? You may well ask. It took nearly 40 years to figure that one out. The railway’s first years were tather lady-like, judging by some of its time-tables, In 1914, the.crews were advised that ‘‘ali trains must be handled under absolute. control, without tegard to making. scheduled times.”” That was in 1914, At Squamish, the southern ter- minus for so very - long, the time-table announced: ‘‘Trains leave after the arrival of the steamer. The steamer sails after arrival of the train.” Just so you wouldn’t go getting : at Victoria's wortd class hotel on the Inner Harbour ONE NIGHT: 7 nights a week single/double occupancy _$94 [TWO NIGHT SPECIAL Any 2 consecutive nights \ single/double occupancy Valid for leisure travel Ab © Excludes grops/tours ‘Taxes notincluded © Subject to availability © Thru Feb. 28/94, (excluding Dec. 23-25/93) QP WP WP Si? THE MN A Rb Oo UR 45 SONGHEES ROAD, VICTORIA, 8.C. V9A 673 TEL: (604) 360-5859 FAX: (604) 360-1041. RESERVATIONS: 1-800-667-4677 for..Pete’s sake, there your feet wet, I guess. In 1925, the information went thus: ‘‘Trains will operate at the times shown, circumstances per- mitting.”” Just don’t take us’ for granted, cutie. It grew up finally, of course. Had to. It was beggared, and now it’s a billion-dollar baby though still unsure about its future. It’s called BC Rail, crisp and current, and its track goes all the way to Fort St. John, though its terminus is still North Vancouver, From being a novelty for holidayers it’s become really big business, and Prince George (more class to Prince than Fort) has benefitted as it was longing to do. The handsome prince arrived, in the untikely guise of W.A.C. Ben- nett, though very late, and bestowed the necessary kiss. Freight is what keeps it rich, not passengers, though it’s a lovely _the perfect it’s wise to consider who'll be receiving it. When you're looking for the perfect gift for those you love, consider the one that lasts a lifetime. Bring them back to church and let them hear about God’s perfect gift to each and every one of us. way to see our lovely province. It’s grown to be an outstanding railway, one of oniy four in the whole world operating on K-voit electrical! systems. Very sophisticated, : But it has just purchased Van-- couver Wharves in order to start on a program of diversification they hope will keep it alive. Conquerors of the Cotionwood : Canyon, but where do we * BO from. here? Show your spirit. Come back to church. The Anglican Church For more information call 684-6306. or outside Vancouver 1-800-665-1105 . NORTH § SHORE ANGLICAN CHURCHES ST. FRANCIS-IN-THE-WOOD 4773 South Piccadilly Rd. 922-3531 ST. AGNES 530 East 12th Street 987-0432 ST. CATHERINES 1058 Ridgewood Drive ' 985-0666 ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST 220 West 8th Street “1384 Deep Cove Road ST. CLEMENTS 3400 Institute 988-4418 986-1153 ST. SIMONS 929-5350 ST. CHRISTOPHER'S 1068 Ingiewood Ave. 922-5323 ST. MARTINS 195 East Windsor 985-5519 ST. RICHARDS 1398 West 15th Street 987. 0314 . ST. STEPHEN'S 8§85-22nd St. * 926-4381 ST. MONICA'S 6404 Wellington Ave, 923-9112