Feature

a

_
The E & N reprieve:
a cautious celebration

by Bruce Winfield
The Courtenay Comox Valley Record

A wake planned for the 104-year-old E & N became a cautious
victory bash Jan. 14 as a B.C. Supreme Court ruling put new life in
the Dayliner passenger train linking Victoria and Courtenay.

“Let’s make this the best little railway in Canada,” Island MP
Bob Skelly told a crowd jamming the platform in Courtenay. “If
> we do it here we will show the federal government that it can be

done across Canada.”

The Dayliner was among 18 passenger trains hit by a
$200-million Via Rail subsidy cut announced by the federal
government in October. It was the only service to win a reprieve,
thanks to a two-part courtroom triumph by the province that
everyone guessing until Jan. 12.

“We have won a partial reprieve, but this is no time to sit back,”
said well-known E & N enthusiast Patrick Hind as what was
almost the last passenger train from Courtenay rocked its 140-mile
way to a Victoria rally that included Mayor Gretchen Brewin and
her MP husband John.

“We have already heard that they will increase the fares
dramatically and cancel the excursion fares,” Hind said. “We must
fight that every inch of the way.”

Hind says the Island has a “golden opportunity” to expand on
the 45,000 people who used the once-daily passenger rail service.
Rail cuts across Canada have idled 48 cars and some of them
should be used on the E & N, he said.

“We could have a train leaving each end of the line in the
morning, we could have ski trains and we could have tourist trains.
All it needs is lower fares, a revised schedule and a lot of
advertising.”

Hind’s enthusiasm was shared by Stan Hagen, B.C.’s economic
development minister, who was part of a provincial VIP group that
rode the Dayliner north from Victoria on Monday to mark a “new
era” for the train.

“The chambers of commerce and local governments on the
Island should develop a strategy, including a timetable, for the best
possible service to the public,” he said. “It’s not up to Big Brother
government to find the answer. That should be agreed on at the
grassroots level.”

The province would help the Island convince VIA Rail to
implement the schedule.

“We would tell the railway it’s good for everyone,” said Hagen.
“It’s good for the railroad because it would make them money, it’s

_good for the communities that would benefit from the tourism and
it’s good for the people who want to make use of it.”

Travelling with Hagen on Monday were B.C. Attorney General

-Bud Smith and B.C. finance minister Mel Couvelier.

“This run will officially mark the second opening of the historic
E & N Railway,” said Smith in a press release issued Friday. “Jan.
15, 1990, will now be notable as the rebirth of the E & N Railway,
rather than the federally imposed death of the line.”

Smith added that the federal government and Canadian Pacific
owes Vancouver Island a better railway service.

“We're not asking for handouts,” he said. “The E & N has been
paid for with more than a billion dollars worth of land and cash
subsidies.”

Boat and

TheReview Wednesday, January 24,1990 — A15

train

link steams ahead

by Valorie Lennox
The Review

A steam boat and a steam
train link for Vancouver Island —
using the Princess Marguerite and
the E & N Railway — is backed in
principle by the Association of
Vancouver Island Municipalities.

The AVIM endorsed the idea
Jan. 15, after 25 of its 42 member
municipalities gave support.

Local politicians are cautious of
the proposal.

In a detailed outline of his
propsal, marine engineer John
Coulter suggests forming non-
profit agencies to operate the Prin-
cess Marguerite steamship and to
put a steam engine on the E & N
line.

Joint excursions would attract
visitors from around the world as
well as steam enthusiasts, Coulter
suggests.

“The Esquimalt and Nanaimo
Railway represents one of the
world’s finest potential steam
tourist railways. Few if any of the
world’s existing operations have
the combined scenic beauty and
varied urban connections of this
line,” Coulter says.

The Princess Marguerite is a
unique ship known world-wide, he
adds.

AVIM’s president, Victoria Ald.
Eric Simmons, is part of a group
working to preserve the Princess
Marguerite and the rail line.

Although Stena now plans to
keep the boat as a museum or
restaurant, the group wants the
boat used as a working artifact,
Simmons said.

Toronto resident Coulter has
worked on preserving other steam-
powered vessels and became
involved in the local issue through
a friend in Victoria, Simmons said.

Coulter suggests a study into the
viability of the rail-steamship link
be financed by Island and Main-
land communities, the government
or private business.

He also suggests municipalities

become members of the non-profit
operating organization.

Provincial Finance Minister Mel
Couvelier has invited the group to
meet with him to discuss their
proposal.

Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Lynn
Hunter plans to discuss the rail

issue with AVIM members at their '

February annual general meeting
in Parksville.

North Saanich council has
endorsed the Coulter report in
principle, provided no municipal
funds are required.

“People come from all over to
ride steam trains,’ Mayor Linda
Michaluk said.

‘The Esquimalt and Nan-
aimo Railway repre-
sents one of the world’s
finest steam tourist rail-
ways. Few if any of the
any of the world’s exisit-
ing operations have the
combined scenic
beauty and varied
urban connections’

Sidney Mayor Norma Sealey
said municipalities should be care-
ful about becoming involved in the
project.

“T don’t think we have the
expertise to run the railways and I
don’t think that is the business we
should be in,” she said.

Central Saanich Mayor Ron
Cullis said he did not know
enough about the proposal to com-
ment.

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a

JOHN A.

Continued from Page A14
It was probably a bit of a
disappointment for John A. His
P original plan called for the railroad
to extend past Campbell River to a
bridge that would leap across Sey-
mour Narrows to the mainland.
But even MacDonald’s iron will
- was defeated by the rugged north
Island terrain, so he settled for a
link with the docks at Nanaimo.
Descending the Malahat, the
Dayliner passes Goldstream park
where summer trailers have sup-

Py

planted the railway workers who
camped there 100 years ago.
It’s dark when the Dayliner rolls
_ into Victoria station at the end of
. what was almost its last trip to
Courtenay. News that the train
would continue didn’t come until
Friday, and the service stills hangs
by a slender thread since fares go
up by 40 per cent and the Dayl-
iner’s awkward schedule won’t be
improved.
But there’s a growing body of
opinion that the Model T and its
progeny have had their day, that
rising fuel prices, pollution and the
endless frustration of looking for a
_parking space will herald the end
Of the motorcar craze and give a

new lease on life to passenger
“Sirains.

:

Tired of the rain? This time of year finds many people taking their holidays
and heading south, looking for a place in the sun. While there are many
countries that can offer the warm climate, | have two books for review this
week that broaden the options.

The first part of the review covers a vacation spot that | had never really
even considered - Costa Rica. To say the least, Ellen Searby’s “The Costa
Rica Traveler’ is an eye-opener. You won't find the standard, heavy-duty
tourist attractions but you will find exotic scenery and experience a uniquely
different culture! Searby, who is an experienced world traveler, has included
comprehensive maps, accommodation listings, short lessons in Spanish,
the country’s history, and cultural sensitivities. She also draws readers’
attention to the fact that Costa Rica is only 10° north of the equator and
cautions them on the sun’s effects

A more common destination is found in “Frommer's Mexico on $35 a Day -
1990" by Tom Brosahan. Readers will find extensive listings of budget
accommodations and restaurants. Also included in the book are Belize and
Guatemala. The most outstanding feature is a section titled “Latin lilstings:
The ABC's of Life South of the Border”. It covers everything from
abbreviations to cultural customs you will come across — lots of information
that is needed on a daily basis.

Now don’t stop here! Tanner's has a new area in the store - The Map
Room. A traverler’s delight! There are maps to guide you around Victoria,
the province and countries all over the world. Tourist guides can be found to
satisfy the most discriminating tastes.

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