A day with the Battle River Railway

Join us as we spend a day with the Battle River Railway in central Alberta, tagging along with the train crew to tour the line and touch on exactly what it is that makes a company like this tick. We’ll look at the men and their massive machines, and the important roles they all play in keeping the rail cars moving, which keeps the customers happy and hence the income streaming in. We’ll be witness what could best be described as a dance, that we’ll do our best to document.

On a cool fall morning I wait outside a dark enginehouse, a little nervous about meeting the crew I’ll be hanging with. I know railways types can be a bit gruff in nature, and I worry, being an outsider, perhaps an unwelcome outsider, that they’ll resent me for forcing them to be on their best behaviour. Play nice for the cameras! Someone’s watching!

My fears were unfounded as it turns out. Everyone I’ll deal with this day, the train crew and those in the office, were amazingly nice and accommodating. I was hoping I would be able to blend into the background, go unnoticed, and record events as they unfolded naturally. With everyone comfortable, this was easy to do. I did not conduct interviews in the traditional sense, but rather just listened in and took notes, allowing the conversation to head in what ever direction it pleased.

Every day starts with paperwork and crew head to the office, interestingly located inside an old grain elevator, to collect theirs. Overnight faxes are filed, phone calls are made and the days work planned, a very chaotic scene. I smile and pretend to know what’s going on.

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We head out to the enginehouse where Ted, our engineer for the day, starts up the locomotive that will be our ride. There are two engines inside the building, but given today’s trains will be of modest size, only one is needed. The machine roars to life and is moved outside to warm up.

The two locomotives that the Battle River Railway owns both came from the Canadian National Railways (CNR). The one we’ll be using, #5251, is a General Motors Diesel Division (London Ontario – closed in 2012) SD40-2W built in 1975. She’s an old-timer for sure, a bit beat up and all, but runs like a Swiss watch. Sister engine, #5353 (both units kept their original CNR numbers) is the same model, but built in 1980. Ted tells me our locomotive, which was acquired a couple years back, arrived in bad shape having been involved in some sort of mishap. The railway fixed her up nicely and unlike its sister, which is still in CNR paint, this one has been painted up in a colourful blue with yellow scheme. These colours are a bright spot in an otherwise dull and flat often hazy, dismal grey day. I’ve never seen worse light then this.

The SD40 series was once of the most common locomotives ever produced and even though the last were built in the 1980s, many are still in service today.

Dean is our second crew member and soon joins us. We gather our train which is sitting on the main track and head out. Our trip will take us from Forestburg running in a roughly northwesterly direction, to a location just east of Camrose. Sometimes Battle River trains go into that town, but occasionally like today, a swap is made at a small yard next to huge concrete grain terminal at a place called Kiron (aka East Camrose). The railway also heads further southeast to the end of track at Alliance, a section I won’t visit this trip. The cars we’ll tie onto came up from Alliance the previous day. We’ll be hauling a dozen loads of grain, to start with, and will add a few more cars pulled from an industry later on.

Our locomotive will be running long-hood forward for the trip up – engines don’t care which way they’re pointed. There are no turning facilities on the line, but they’re not needed. The view down long hood seems bit strange to me, however.

The track here, built close to a century ago, once belonged to the CNR. This was that company’s Alliance Subdivision. The BRR line is close to 90km long and has one unique feature…it’s arrow straight. Yup, there is not a single curve the entire length of it. The Battle River Railway acquired the branch in 2010. The line was under threat of abandonment but was saved by an organized group of local farmers who used it and continue to use it, to transport their grain to market. The loss of this outlet would have been disastrous to some.

Track speed is 25mph (or 40kmh) for most of the trip, with a short 10mph (or 16kmh) section near the end, just before reaching the connecting CNR line. While Canada adopted the metric system in the 1970s, railways continue use the old imperial form of measurement and probably will never change over. Interestingly, most of the line is laid with heavy duty welded rail. This may seem odd for a prairie branch to be so robustly built, but I heard plans, that never came to fruition, were to reintroduce coal trains on the line. You need heavy track for that type of service. Given how well-built the roadbed is the ride is very smooth and quiet. Strangely, the last section of the line just before connecting with the CNR track is on lighter stick rail (jointed track) and must be travelled as a slower pace.

On more then one occasion this trip we encounter a cow or cows on the track. Some get scared and run when we pass while others act nonchalantly and sauntered off as those unconcerned that we’re bearing down on them (albeit slowly).

Rolling along at a leisurely rate, I resist the temptation to ask Ted, “let’s see what this BABY can do!” A sign above the control stand, a baffling mix of gauges, switches and levers says “maximum speed 65mph. “We can do it, right?”

I asked the crew if travelling the line week after week becomes boring. They respond there is always something to do to keep busy, so no for the most part. I enjoy a cup of “railway coffee”, which given my happy state tastes better then it actually does.

Lots of old and interesting things were seen beside the tracks this trip. Old cars and trucks at old farms, junk dumped by the tracks (lots of ancient metal stoves) and other stuff.

There is only one stop on the first half of our trip, to pick up some empty fertilizer cars in Kelsey. The major commodity carried by the railway is grain and there are a half dozen loading points along the entire line. A couple other industries also use the railway too, this fertilizer plant, which accounts for the only inbound loads, and an oil loading firm east of Forestburg. On the fertilizer siding are some grain cars, loaded with material that was too high in moisture, and as such were rejected. No one is really sure what to do with them, so for now they’ll sit. They get in the way of the switching move and have to be set aside for a time.

An amazing number of wild animals were seen this trip. Ted, I’ll call him Eagle Eye Ted for reasons that will soon become obvious, has this incredible ability to spot critters from the train, even at great distances, and points out deer, coyotes, hawks, moose (yes they live on the prairies) and anything else on four legs or with wings. A view of a zoo. He slowed the train with each sighting in hopes I could snap some pictures but the animals were always too fast and soon disappeared from sight.

There are no real grades on the line, save for a small section just before Kiron. Even with the short train, you can hear the locomotive labour a bit and dig in its heels. Ted, applies sand and the train lurches as the wheels gain traction.

Ted’s been working on the railway since the early 1970s. He’s been here for a year. In the past he worked for the CNR in Quebec and later Alberta. He’s run fast hotshot trains and lowly wayfreights like this (wayfreight – a local or milk run). He guesses at some point in the past, he’s operated both of the locomotives used by the Battle River Railway. He does not live in the area and commutes in from a point near Edmonton, as needed. Trains run a couple times a week, or so, depending on grain markets and a whole slew of other variables, to complex for me to comprehend.

Be sure to comment on this post (below pictures).

Dean the second crew member, also farms and is in trucking (grain hauling). He’s a likeable quiet fellow who’s been working with the BRR a few years.

Where the Battle River Railway ends and the CNR track begins, the train is stopped and a call made to get approval (clearance) to proceed further. Off in the distance we can see the headlight of another train, the one we’ll swap cars with. Clearance, which shouldn’t take much time at all, does not come for well over an hour. That whole time we sit. Ted shakes his head, suggesting this sort of unnecessary delay has happened before. I get the impression the CNR almost tries to bully the Battle River Railway. It’s clear they see them as small and insignificant, a nuisance. The big railway, and I’ve heard this from many sources, doesn’t always allocate cars for smaller operators and rarely offers an explanation why. I understand they often tack on unexplained surcharges for car movements. The also fail to respond to phone and radio calls, I saw that myself.

The exchanging of cars goes smoothly. Our new train is about three times larger then the one we just left behind. Most are grain empties with a few loaded fertilizer cars in the mix. The CNR locomotive seen, #2605, is a General Electric model Dash 9-44CW built in 2000.

We’re soon on our way, rocking and rolling as we go. We pass a track crew, who’s been replacing worn ties along this section of the line.

There will be a lot more work on this return leg of the trip. At Kelsey, the small community we spoke of earlier, with perhaps a half dozen houses, we drop off those fertilizer cars. I step off the train here to record the action. Ken, an expert with the brake and throttle works the locomotive so masterfully it’s almost magical. He’s done it for so long, and seen it all, it’s all second nature to him. Dean works the turnouts and couples and uncouples car. The two crew members work as one and keep in touch via radio. In the old days, they’d use hand signals.

Moving on, we stop at Rosalind, with a population of some two hundred, to drop more empties to be loaded with grain. Remains of an old siding are seen in town. In an old timetable I found it’s listed the “Barium Spur” (as in the metal). They quarried clay here.

Next we pass the ghost town of Anketon where the concrete bases from some old grain elevators can be seen. Every town on the prairies, no matter how small, had grain elevators. Today, along the Battle River Railway, there are a few of these old prairie sentinels still standing, a couple in Forestburg and one in Alliance (on the section I did not travel). Some are still used too, that’s rare. Most of the grain loaded along the line however, is done so producer style meaning it’s taken directly from the delivery truck, or filled from track side bins usually without the involvement of any middlemen.

Heisler is the next stop and a row of empty grain cars are spotted on the siding there. Ted mentions a good restaurant in town and I catch the glimpse of a nice old hotel from the locomotive cab. Some of the rail cars left behind are leased by the BRR – recall the CNR often shorts them of cars and these help satisfy the need.

Making good time, well as good a time can be made at 25mph, we’re soon back in Forestburg, the biggest town along the line and home of the railway’s headquarters. I watch the crew switch the siding. The old wood-cribbed grain elevators here will not be discussed this report and instead will merit a write up on their own later. They’re some old timers.

This is where I leave the train. Ted and Dean will continue on to Alliance before returning to Forestburg. They had a long shift: I heard the train coming into town later that evening. Twelve hour days are not unusual here.

I head to the office to take some time to talk with Peter, who’s best described as the railway’s dispatcher and car-allotment specialist. Formerly of the Great Sandhills Railway in Saskatchewan, he mentions that business has steadily increased the couple years he’s been here. From a low of perhaps 600-700 cars hauled the first full year, now they’re on track (I’ve been waiting some time to use that pun) to transport more them 3000 of them. It’s seems this group is doing everything right! And indeed they must be, as their success is often written about. They’ve in a way become a benchmark of success to which other prairie short line railways that serve the grain industry subscribe to.

Just southeast of Forestburg is a spur line that from 1950-1980s served a nearby coal mine. Peter mentions the possibility of a new customer coming online soon, but naturally has to be a bit vague about it, and I wonder if he’s hinting that coal will make a comeback? More so, he’s likely speaking of more oil loading points. There is a lot of wells in the area.

The Battle River Railway does the occasional passenger excursion using a a nice old coach (not seen this trip) painted up in the old CNR green and gold colours.

So there we have it, a day in the life of the Battle River Railway. What we witnessed and reported on here is but a small snippet of a very big picture. I’ve learned a lot on what it takes to make the trains run, stuff I thought I knew, but was wrong. The railway business for me is now a little less mysterious.

I’d like to thank everyone at the Battle River Railway for accommodating me. Ted, I could listen to your railway stories all day long. Dean, I now know just how hard, dirty and potentially dangerous working on the railway can be. Peter and Ken at the office, thanks for putting up with me and answering my questions. Locomotive #5251, you’re a sweet ride – a bit noisy, but sweet. This gig fulfils a life-long dream. The young boy inside me, who’s loved trains as long as he can remember, is very pleased. He’s in his happy place.

To see some other train themed reports, follow these links…
Meeting Creek station and elevators.
Locomotives of the Great Sandhills Railway.
Champion Park.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: October, 2014.
Location: Forestburg, AB.

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Battle River Railway #5251

Our first look at Battle River Railway #5251. The dangling balls tell them to stop.

Battle River Railway #5353

Engine #5353 joins her sister when the trains are particularly heavy.

Battle River Railway locomotive

Pulling out of the shed.

SD40-2W engine

Under the hood…

Battle River Railway engineer

Engineer Ted, master of throttle and brake.

Battle River Railway train

The string of cars that will be our train wait on the main track.

Train Battle River Railway

A little closer…

Battle River Railway freight

We stop for a pick up.

Locomotive hotplate

How many pots of coffee have been brewed on this old hotplate?

SD40-2W locomotive cab

We add a few empty fertilizer cars to the consist.

Battle River Railway

Soon we’ll be on CNR tracks.

Battle River Railway freight train

The first half of the journey was run long-hood forward.

Kiron Alberta

We’ll exchange cars with the train in the distance.

East Camrose grain elevator

Lookout! Actually we’re barely moving here.

CNR train East Camrose

We’ll pick up the cars to the left.

SD40-2W cab

We back away from our train.

CNR Dash 9-44CW

The CNR reverses to collect what we left for them.

SD40-2W control stand

The locomotive control stand, a jumble of gauges, switches and levers.

SD40-2W porch

Stetting up the movie camera.

View from locomotive cab

Coming through!

Battle River RR #5251

We’ve got some switching to do.

Switching rail cars

Dean, the second crew member.

Battle River Railway siding

Dropping some fertilizer cars.

Riding rail car

We’ll make this connection and be on our way.

Switching Battle River Railway

Dropping more cars at yet another town.

Old rail spur

Remains of an old siding.

Cow on tracks

We encountered more then one cow on the tracks.

Heisler Alberta

Downtown Heisler Alberta.

Forestburg AB elevators

Forestburg has some old-school grain elevators that still see use.

Battle River Railway engine

The locomotive added a splash of colour to an otherwise dismal grey day.

Switching cars Battle River RR

More switching to do.

Forestburg Alberta train

The cars on left will be taken south…without me.

GMD SD40-2W locomotive

This locomotive was built in the 1970s and came from the CNR.

Battle River RR Forestburg

Backing past the elevator.

Ex-CNR SD40-2W locomotive

Dropping cars at a producer loading site.

SD40-2W locomotive

I say my goodbyes.

Love note

When I return home I find a note from Connie…

52 responses

  1. Rory Hand says:

    Hi Chris and Connie- great article. Just wondering, where exactly did the interchange occur there with CNR? From looking at Google Street view/maps, I wondered if it was at Kiron AB, as opposed to in Camrose itself. Am I correct? Thanks for any info you can give me!

    • Thanks Rory! They do both. On our trip they did it in Kiron and it’s the common interchange point. But other times they’ll go right into Camrose. The track west of Kiron is CN’s.

  2. LuiFelDur says:

    hello chris awesome documentary about the battle river railway thanks for the pictures of my favorite diesel locomotive the gmd sd40-2w the nature and the constructions the documentary has video

  3. Mike Lisowski says:

    Can’t say you didn’t see that thing coming! Cool paint job!

  4. Mike Collins says:

    Guessing they don’t have many issues with wheel wear!

  5. Edna Gord says:

    Great photo, love trains!

  6. Eric Augatis says:

    Wow, never even heard of this operation!!!

  7. Anne Clough says:

    “Our” beautiful train. Was in Alliance on Saturday all decked out for Christmas. I’m sure all the passengers had a great time joining in our Santa Days. Always nice to see the train pulling into town.

  8. Trevor Sokolan says:

    Technically there is one curve on the south side of Camrose. It’s not BRR track proper but they do run over the CN to access the interchange at Camrose.

  9. Maxwell Crosby says:

    Sweet paint scheme!

  10. Shelagh Hooton says:

    Your article on the Battle River Railway is fascinating. I had no idea we had that here in Alberta. Love the pictures in the article, especially the ones of the grain elevators through the window of the train engine. you must have been a fantastic day riding the rails – I am definitely envious!

    • It was a blast! The train crew was so cool and documenting the operation was an experience of a lifetime. Thanks for taking the time to read the post!

  11. Jeremy Freeman says:

    I saw some grain elevators last summer when I was in Alberta. I wish I was there long enough to take the tour. They look so cool!

  12. Rob says:

    I was the last CN Crew to use that engine before it was sold to the BRR after a crossing accident in Bashaw.

  13. David Dray says:

    I just shared this with Trains magazine and I know readers will like it. Lucky you!

  14. Terry Koda says:

    That was pretty cool , awesome you showed the pictures of the elevators in Forestburg ! My grandfather was the grain buyer for Alberta wheat pool there, (used to be Federal Grain) , in the mid 60’s to early 70’s my brother and I used to cut the grass around the elevators. Used to love hanging out there ! I will have to show my mom these pictures , thank you ! Awesome job !

    Terry

    • We’re so happy our article brought back pleasant memories. It’s seems everyone remembers grain elevators with great fondness. I hope your mom enjoys the pictures.

  15. Mike Rules says:

    So many great articles on this site, but this one is a favorite. Lucky you, getting to ride that train. I am green with envy.

  16. donhunny says:

    Another fine posting. It was like being there. I’ve read about a dozen articles on your site and have been blown away. I’ll starting digging into your archive tomorrow.

  17. Connie Biggart says:

    Your dream come true! It will be a memory you have forever!

  18. Tim Swaren says:

    A correction in my first reply: ”
    The plant is now closed but the buildings still stand on the outskirts of the town. I don’t know if you would have been able to see them from the railway or not.”

    What a dummy! Of course you would see them! LOL! The railway goes right past the plant. That IS the “Barium Spur!” I haven’t been through Rosalind in a while and for some stupid reason I was thinking the old plant was on the other side of town! After looking at your pics again, I realized the plant is right there in front of you.

  19. Tim Swaren says:

    Also about coal trains using that line, I remember back in the late ’70s, my uncle (who worked at the Diplomat Mine) talking about a plan Luscar Coal had in the works about starting a mine in the Tofield/Ryley area, east of Edmonton. They were talking about bringing some of the coal down to the Diplomat tipple and then shipping it to the Battle River power plant by truck. But there was a lot of opposition to a coal mine in the area at the time and the plan was shut down and instead Luscar developed the Paintearth Mine.
    Luscar still owned the mining rights to a large amount of land in the Tofield area and when Sherritt International bought out Luscar in the early 2000s, those mining rights were transferred to them. About 6-7 years ago, Sherritt again proposed a large coal mine in the area, this time to supply a coal gasification plant they wanted to build. The gas would have been sold to refineries in Edmonton to assist in processing oilsands bitumen. Again there was a loud outcry from the local landowners and Sherritt shelved the plan (for the time being).

  20. Tim Swaren says:

    Chris, the “clay” they used to excavate at Rosalind was bentonite clay, which they dug out of the coulee hills in the Battle River valley just south of Rosalind.The bentonite was processed at a small plant that operated in Rosalind for many years and sold to drilling companies to be used in the making of drilling mud. The plant is now closed but the buildings still stand on the outskirts of the town. I don’t know if you would have been able to see them from the railway or not.

    • Thanks for sharing this. Yes, we saw the buildings used to process the material.

      • Janis McTavish says:

        You mentioned an old timetable that listed the Barium Spur.
        Do you have more information on that? We own the old Mud Plant and would love any info
        Janis McTavish

        • That’s all we have I’m afraid. A donation to our historic society, any size, could have someone here digging up more info for you. We’re well connected, have access to many private government and business archives and records and the knowledge and skill on how to track things down. Message us for more details.

        • Janis McTavish says:

          Chris:
          Could you send me an address to make the donation, and I could tell you some of the info I have, and what I am looking for
          Thanks

    • Janis McTavish says:

      Tim, we own the “mud plant”, and would be interested in knowing more about the rail spur, when it was installed etc.
      Janis McTavish

  21. Bob Henry says:

    Excellent pictures and description of what is involved on a typical day on a railroad.
    Thanks.

  22. Fantastic trip report, Chris! I’m glad you got to experience that. It sounds like it was an awesome day, despite the gray skies.

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