Sunday 26 January 2014

Locals Blow The Whistle On Monster Trains

MORNING MIST hovered lightly over the small city of White Rock where we drove down a hill recently to the promenade by the water's edge.

This charming seaside community once had a functioning train station from where travelers set off to other coastal areas and inland destinations.

Freight trains rhythmically chugged down the tracks transporting goods to ports and towns where they were needed.

Nowadays the idyllic scenes and also hardships of the past can be rediscovered at the station transformed into an entertaining and educational museum.

The tracks that held adventure and noble purpose now feel the brunt of excessive runs with aging tanks and boxcars often loaded with hazardous materials.

Some routes that made perfect sense in days gone by have become unsustainable in modern times.

Mile long monster trains rumbling through heavily populated areas and, in some places, blocking off people from emergency access is clearly not a safe situation. (I wrote earlier about the effects on nearby Crescent Beach in the city of Surrey.)

Due to a recent disaster in the eastern Canadian province of Quebec, more people are waking to the risks that a neighbourhood railway entails.

The bold suggestion to relocate portions of the track has provoked passionate debate.

Changes are needed and creative solutions are hopefully around the corner. Despite the challenging circumstances, a sentimental feeling still washes over me when I hear a train come whistling down the track.

To explore sights from around the globe, link to Our World at the side bar.

Copyright by Penelope Puddlisms

See more BC scenes at Penelope Puddlisms: BC Life Is A Whale Of A Ride.

11 comments:

  1. Yes, I remember the train tracks being so close to home, one never think of what had happened in Quebec. Great post and photos!

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  2. Wonderful post. I love trains. However, as you point out there are definitely risks attached to routes through heavily populated areas.

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  3. I, too, love trains, but you're right about the risks -- particularly where there is heavy population! Hope you have a great week!

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  4. Interesting post. I wonder how trains could be rerouted to unpopulated areas when there aren't many unpopulated areas left. It does seem too often one small town or another in the upper Midwewt is evacuated because of a rail accident, though.

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  5. Wow those tracks look so close to residential areas no wonder discussions are under way to find a solution.

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  6. I know what you mean with that nostalgic feeling - for great part of my childhood I lived close to a train track. Love your first pic too!

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  7. Fascinating post and great shots for OWT ~
    thanks, carol
    www.acreativeharbor.com

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  8. I agree, it's time that they move to another area...WR is no longer the sleepy little seaside town from our youth.

    Jen

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  9. Gorgeous shots! So true that a new solution is needed.

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  10. It seems you have a nice winter there...

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  11. Monster trains hauling dangerous cargo travel through my town too. Very scary!

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