Battle River Railway

Summary

The Battle River Railway is a co-operative shortline freight railway created in 2010 in central Alberta. The track is 236 foot-continually welded track. It serves the communities of Alliance, Galahad, Forestburg, Heisler, Rosalind, Kelsey, providing them with a rail connection to the Canadian National line in Camrose which connects to port facilities in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

Battle River Railway
Overview
Dates of operation2010–
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Length60 miles (97 km)

Formerly, the Battle River Producer Car Group, a collective of 180 farmers, operated as a loader of grain cars only, but in May 2009, it became the Battle River Railway New Generation Co-operative, and purchased the branch line from CN in 2010.[1]

From 2014 onward, heritage tours were introduced on the line using a Pullman car, offering themed excursions several times a year.[2][3][4] The general manager is Matthew Enright. The founding members of the friends of the Battle River Railway are Joanne McMahon and Ken Eshpeter.

References edit

  1. ^ Shewan, A.J. (September 2023). "Barley a Dull Moment in Forestburg: The story of grain, a small town, and its railroad". Trains. Vol. 83, no. 9. pp. 28–33. ISSN 0041-0934.
  2. ^ "History". www.battlerivertrain.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  3. ^ "Honey, I bought a railway | CBC News". CBC. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  4. ^ "Battle River Railway is the little railway that could". Alberta Farmer Express. 2015-03-16. Retrieved 2021-03-02.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • National Film Board blob post and mini-documentary
  • Alberta Venture article