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Caption: Here's a nice 'cool' scene for this warm May 27, 2023 day we are experiencing in southern Ontario today.
Having arrived as VIA 693 earlier in the day, the consist for what will become VIA 690 from Churchill to The Pas, MB rests in front of the stately VIA Rail station in late afternoon on this frigid March 14 afternoon.
Since I was last there in August 0f 2022, a high load has knocked the 'Churchill' station name sign off the north end of the building.
While it is a nice, sunny, blue sky afternoon, the photo doesn't reveal the bone-chilling outside temperature of -23C feeling -32C.
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Paul, yet another great view of Churchill Station and VIA Heritage silver passenger equipment (still with marker lights on the car end). This station has that “Canadian Northern “ look, a substantial structure probably greater than it was needed to serve the sparse population of Churchill MB. It is most gratifying (and amazing) that today we can travel thousands of miles by passenger train (first class no less) to polar bear country at the edge of Hudson Bay. Thank you for this, and don’t worry, the snow and cold will definitely be back to Churchill in 6 months time, John
PS – do you think the Churchill grain elevator will ever see business again ?
Good morning John.
– Paul
My intentions are to take VIA 693 to Churchill again this coming October with a return trip on VIA 692 a few days later. I will try for some better shots of the grain elevator complex while I am there.
Based on what I have seen on my last two trips to this wonderful location, I highly doubt the Churchill grain elevators will ever be used again (at least not in my lifetime).
The roadbed and track leading to Churchill from points south would require substantial upgrading to handle 100 ton grain cars in unit train configuration. Also, the tilting dumpers at Churchill were designed to unload boxcars full of grain through their sliding side doors and would require major rework to accommodate bottom unloading hopper cars. The yard tracks would also need to be upgraded from the current 85 and 100 lb. steel.
One can only hope Churchill will once again become a major grain storage and loading facility.
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