Northern Alberta Railways
Encyclopedia
Northern Alberta Railways was a Canadian
railway
which served northern Alberta
and northeastern British Columbia
. Jointly owned by both Canadian National Railway
and Canadian Pacific Railway
, NAR existed as a separate company from 1929 until 1981.
and the Canadian Northern Railway
, both of which were building westward from Edmonton
, Alberta
to the Yellowhead Pass
of the Rocky Mountains
.
Following the Dominion Land Survey
grants to settlers, the Peace River
region of northwestern Alberta was one of the few places left on the prairies with available agricultural land, however there was no railway connection.
Several lines were chartered to serve both the Peace River and Waterways regions of the province, beginning with the Athabaska Railway in 1907. It was to build northeast from Edmonton to Dunvegan
, Alberta, then to Fort George, British Columbia
.
(ED&BC). Construction of the ED&BC started in 1912 heading toward Westlock
, Alberta
, reaching High Prairie in 1914, and Spirit River
in 1915. Deciding not to proceed to Dunvegan, a branch was built south from Rycroft
, Alberta to Grande Prairie
, Alberta in 1916 (400 miles or 643.7 km northwest from Edmonton
).
In 1924 the line was extended to Wembley
, A;lberta and it reached Hythe
, Alberta in 1928. In 1930 the line was extended westward across the provincial boundary to its western terminus at Dawson Creek
, British Columbia
.
. Construction faltered and a political scandal
ensued, and the line was rechartered in 1913 under the ownership of J.D. McArthur. Construction of the AG&W began in 1914 from Carbondale
, Alberta and reached Lac La Biche, Alberta in 1916. It reached Draper
, Alberta in 1922 and its terminus at Waterways, Alberta in 1925.
on the ED&BC to Peace River Crossing
, Alberta in order to access barge traffic on the Peace River
. Construction of the CCR began in 1914 and was completed in 1916.
The CCR was subsequently extended to Berwyn
, Alberta in 1921, then to Whitelaw
, Alberta in 1924, Fairview, Albeta in 1928 and Hines Creek
, Alberta in 1930.
, Alberta, where it connected to the ED&BC line, to Barrhead
, Alberta.
(GTPR) and Canadian Northern Railway
(CNoR) had fallen victim to similar circumstances brought about by the financial strain of the conflict and falling traffic levels. The Dominion government had nationalized
the GTPR and CNoR, along with other previously federally owned lines into the Canadian National Railways.
Following the federal example, and in an attempt to preserve rail service to northern and northwestern Alberta, the provincial government leased the ED&BC and CCR in 1920 for five years. In 1921 the government entered into a five year agreement with the Canadian Pacific Railway
(CPR) to operate the ED&BC and CCR. That same year, the provincial government purchased the A&GW outright and chose to operate it separately.
CPR immediately raised freight rates on the ED&BC and CCR lines, charging "mountain prices", claiming that the cost of operating on grades into the Peace
and Smoky River
valleys of the northwestern prairie was as much as it cost to operate in the Rocky Mountains
. Consequently Peace River farmers paid the highest freight charges on the Canadian prairies to reach the lakehead at Port Arthur
and Fort William
.
The provincial government purchased the ED&BC and CCR from McArthur in 1925, following the expiration of the five year lease. Dissatisfied with the CPR's operation of the ED&BC and CCR, the provincial government allowed the operating contract for the these railways to expire in 1926, with operations subsequently taken over by the new provincial Department of Railways and Telecommunications which was also tasked to operate the AG&W and the newly-built PVR.
In 1928, the provincial government began to solicit proposals from both the CPR and the Canadian National Railways (CNR) for purchasing the provincial railways. In 1924, CNR president Sir Henry Thornton visited the ED&BC line and in 1928, CPR president Edward Beatty
did the same.
In summer 1942, following the entry of the United States
into the Second World War, the Alaska Highway
civil defence project resulted in tremendous growth for the NAR, as the system was the only railway to service Alaska Highway mile 0 at Dawson Creek
, British Columbia
.
NAR also saw increased traffic from defence spending in both the Peace River and Fort McMurray regions as Royal Canadian Air Force
training bases for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
were established.
In 1958 the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE), owned by the province of British Columbia
, built east to Dawson Creek
and then north to Fort St. John
. Traffic from Dawson Creek which used to run on NAR now mostly ran on PGE.
NAR completely dieselized its locomotive fleet by October 1960, these were GP 9. 201 - 208 (208 was hit in 1972 and renumbered 211), GMD-1 301 - 304, and SD 38-2 401 - 404.
Beginning in the 1960s, Alberta's nascent oil and gas industry began to have an impact on the NAR as traffic began to increase on both the Dawson Creek and Fort McMurray branches. In 1964, the federal government built the Great Slave Railway north from the NAR at Grimshaw
, Alberta to Hay River
, Northwest Territories
to carry passengers and cargo which could then be transferred to barge
s and continue down the Mackenzie River
.
In 1966, the passenger train to Waterways was replaced by Budd Rail Diesel Car
s, but the experiment was unsuccessful, and it was replaced in 1967 by a mixed train. On June 1, 1974, the passenger train to Dawson Creek was discontinued.
During the 1970s, significant investments also began in the Fort McMurray region as the Athabasca Oil Sands
deposits began to be exploited.
to Hay River
, Northwest Territories
and west to Dawson Creek
, British Columbia
. NAR disappeared as a corporate entity with the departure of CPR from the joint ownership. NAR shops and Dunvegan Yards in Edmonton were demolished and the new Dunvegan Woods housing development was built on the site.
In 1996, CN identified parts of its former NAR trackage for divestiture, either through sale or abandonment. Several lines were subsequently sold to shortline operators.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
railway
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
which served northern Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
and northeastern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. Jointly owned by both Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
and Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
, NAR existed as a separate company from 1929 until 1981.
Predecessor railways
Railway construction in northern Alberta during the early 20th century was dominated by the Grand Trunk Pacific RailwayGrand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
and the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
, both of which were building westward from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
to the Yellowhead Pass
Yellowhead Pass
The Yellowhead Pass is a mountain pass across the Continental Divide of the Canadian Rockies. It is located on the border between the Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, and lies within Jasper National Park and Mount Robson Provincial Park....
of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
.
Following the Dominion Land Survey
Dominion Land Survey
The Dominion Land Survey is the method used to divide most of Western Canada into one-square-mile sections for agricultural and other purposes. It is based on the layout of the Public Land Survey System used in the United States, but has several differences...
grants to settlers, the Peace River
Peace River Country
The Peace River Country is an aspen parkland region around the Peace River in Canada. It spans from northwestern Alberta to the Rocky Mountains in northeastern British Columbia, where the region is also referred to as the Peace River Block.- Geography :The Peace River Country includes the...
region of northwestern Alberta was one of the few places left on the prairies with available agricultural land, however there was no railway connection.
Several lines were chartered to serve both the Peace River and Waterways regions of the province, beginning with the Athabaska Railway in 1907. It was to build northeast from Edmonton to Dunvegan
Dunvegan, Alberta
Dunvegan is an unincorporated community within the Municipal District of Fairview No. 136 in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located south of the town of Fairview on the northern bank of the Peace River at the mouth of the Dunvegan Creek....
, Alberta, then to Fort George, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
ED&BC
The company was rechartered in 1911 under the ownership of J.D. McArthur as the Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia RailwayEdmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway
The Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway was an early pioneer railway in northwestern Alberta, designed to open up the Peace River district....
(ED&BC). Construction of the ED&BC started in 1912 heading toward Westlock
Westlock, Alberta
Westlock is a town in central Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1913, the town is primarily an agricultural, business, and government administration centre serving communities and rural areas within surrounding Westlock County.- Geography :...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, reaching High Prairie in 1914, and Spirit River
Spirit River, Alberta
Spirit River is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located north of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 49 and Highway 731.The community is largely agricultural, being located in the fertile Peace Country. Together with neighboring Rycroft, it is a service centre for the oil and gas...
in 1915. Deciding not to proceed to Dunvegan, a branch was built south from Rycroft
Rycroft, Alberta
Rycroft is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located 68 km north of the city of Grande Prairie and 7 km east of Spirit River. Dunvegan Provincial Park is located 20 km north of the community.-Demographics:...
, Alberta to Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie, Alberta
Grande Prairie is a city in the northwestern part of the province of Alberta in Western Canada. It is located on the southern edge of the Peace River Country . The city is surrounded by the County of Grande Prairie No...
, Alberta in 1916 (400 miles or 643.7 km northwest from Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
).
In 1924 the line was extended to Wembley
Wembley, Alberta
Wembley is a town in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located west of Grande Prairie at the junction of Highway 43 and Highway 724. A resident of Wembley is known as a "Wemblian", or "Wembleyite".-Demographics:In 2001, the town population was 1,542....
, A;lberta and it reached Hythe
Hythe, Alberta
Hythe is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 54 km west of Grande Prairie, the nearest major urban centre, on Highway 43. It is located in the centre of the Peace River Country, and supports a rural agricultural economy. It has an elementary school and a junior high...
, Alberta in 1928. In 1930 the line was extended westward across the provincial boundary to its western terminus at Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
A&GW
In 1909 a charter was granted to the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway (A&GW) to build from Edmonton to Waterways, Alberta on the Athabasca RiverAthabasca River
The Athabasca River originates from the Columbia Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada...
. Construction faltered and a political scandal
Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal
The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Scandal was a political scandal in Alberta, Canada in 1910. It resulted in the resignation of the provincial government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford over allegations of conflict of interest in the government's involvement in the financing of the Alberta...
ensued, and the line was rechartered in 1913 under the ownership of J.D. McArthur. Construction of the AG&W began in 1914 from Carbondale
Carbondale, Alberta
Carbondale is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Sturgeon County. It is located west of Highway 28, approximately north of Edmonton's city limits.- References :...
, Alberta and reached Lac La Biche, Alberta in 1916. It reached Draper
Draper, Alberta
Draper is an unincorporated community in northern Alberta, Canada within the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. It is located approximately southeast of Fort McMurray on the southern bank of the Clearwater River...
, Alberta in 1922 and its terminus at Waterways, Alberta in 1925.
CCR
In 1913 a charter was granted to the Central Canada Railway (CCR) under the ownership of J.D. McArthur to build from Winagami Junction, AlbertaAlberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
on the ED&BC to Peace River Crossing
Peace River, Alberta
Peace River is a town in northwestern Alberta, Canada, situated along the banks of the Peace River, at its confluence with the Smoky River, the Heart River and Pat's Creek. It is located northwest of Edmonton, and northeast of Grande Prairie, along Highway 2. The Peace River townsite is nearly ...
, Alberta in order to access barge traffic on the Peace River
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
. Construction of the CCR began in 1914 and was completed in 1916.
The CCR was subsequently extended to Berwyn
Berwyn, Alberta
Berwyn is a village in northwestern Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately west of the Town of Peace River, southwest of the Town of Grimshaw, and northeast of the Duncan's First Nation reserve....
, Alberta in 1921, then to Whitelaw
Whitelaw, Alberta
Whitelaw is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Fairview No. 136. It is located north of Highway 2, approximately northeast of Grande Prairie.- References :...
, Alberta in 1924, Fairview, Albeta in 1928 and Hines Creek
Hines Creek, Alberta
HInes Creek is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located 67 km west of Grimshaw and 28 km north of Fairview, along Highway 64.- Demographics :The population of the Village of Hines Creek according to its 2010 municipal census is 396....
, Alberta in 1930.
PVR
In 1926, the provincial government passed a statute authorizing the government to construct the Pembina Valley Railway from BusbyBusby, Alberta
Busby is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within Westlock County. It is located on Highway 651, approximately northwest of Edmonton and west of Highway 2.- History :...
, Alberta, where it connected to the ED&BC line, to Barrhead
Barrhead, Alberta
Barrhead is a town in central Alberta, Canada, within the County of Barrhead No. 11. It is located along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 and Highway 18, approximately northwest of the City of Edmonton...
, Alberta.
Provincial ownership
In 1920, the lines owned by J.D. McArthur entered financial difficulties following the First World War. Coinciding with the problems faced by the McArthur lines (ED&BC, A&GW, and CCR), both the Grand Trunk Pacific RailwayGrand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
(GTPR) and Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
(CNoR) had fallen victim to similar circumstances brought about by the financial strain of the conflict and falling traffic levels. The Dominion government had nationalized
Nationalization
Nationalisation, also spelled nationalization, is the process of taking an industry or assets into government ownership by a national government or state. Nationalization usually refers to private assets, but may also mean assets owned by lower levels of government, such as municipalities, being...
the GTPR and CNoR, along with other previously federally owned lines into the Canadian National Railways.
Following the federal example, and in an attempt to preserve rail service to northern and northwestern Alberta, the provincial government leased the ED&BC and CCR in 1920 for five years. In 1921 the government entered into a five year agreement with the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
(CPR) to operate the ED&BC and CCR. That same year, the provincial government purchased the A&GW outright and chose to operate it separately.
CPR immediately raised freight rates on the ED&BC and CCR lines, charging "mountain prices", claiming that the cost of operating on grades into the Peace
Peace River (Canada)
The Peace River is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River flows into the Slave River, a tributary of the Mackenzie River. The Mackenzie is the 12th longest river in the world,...
and Smoky River
Smoky River
Smoky River is a river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a major tributary of the Peace River. The descriptive name refers to the presence of "smouldering beds of coal in the riverbank" noted by the Cree Indians....
valleys of the northwestern prairie was as much as it cost to operate in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
. Consequently Peace River farmers paid the highest freight charges on the Canadian prairies to reach the lakehead at Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Ontario
Port Arthur was a city in Northern Ontario which amalgamated with Fort William and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Port Arthur was the district seat of Thunder Bay District.- History :...
and Fort William
Fort William, Ontario
Fort William was a city in Northern Ontario, located on the Kaministiquia River, at its entrance to Lake Superior. It amalgamated with Port Arthur and the townships of Neebing and McIntyre to form the city of Thunder Bay in January 1970. Ever since then it has been the largest city in Northwestern...
.
The provincial government purchased the ED&BC and CCR from McArthur in 1925, following the expiration of the five year lease. Dissatisfied with the CPR's operation of the ED&BC and CCR, the provincial government allowed the operating contract for the these railways to expire in 1926, with operations subsequently taken over by the new provincial Department of Railways and Telecommunications which was also tasked to operate the AG&W and the newly-built PVR.
In 1928, the provincial government began to solicit proposals from both the CPR and the Canadian National Railways (CNR) for purchasing the provincial railways. In 1924, CNR president Sir Henry Thornton visited the ED&BC line and in 1928, CPR president Edward Beatty
Edward Wentworth Beatty
Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty, GBE was a Canadian lawyer, university chancellor, and businessman. He was president of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1918 to 1943, chancellor of Queen's University from 1919 to 1923, and chancellor of McGill University from 1920 to 1943.He studied at Upper Canada...
did the same.
Northern Alberta Railways
In 1928 the provincial government grouped the ED&BC, CCR, AG&W, and PVR under the collective name Northern Alberta Railways (NAR), which received a federal charter on March 1929. The NAR was subsequently sold to both the CNR and CPR in equal portions with both companies agreeing to maintain the NAR as a joint subsidiary. At that time, the NAR was the third-largest railway in Canada. In 1937 the NAR began to show a profit for the first time.In summer 1942, following the entry of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
into the Second World War, the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
civil defence project resulted in tremendous growth for the NAR, as the system was the only railway to service Alaska Highway mile 0 at Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
NAR also saw increased traffic from defence spending in both the Peace River and Fort McMurray regions as Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
training bases for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan , known in some countries as the Empire Air Training Scheme , was a massive, joint military aircrew training program created by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, during the Second World War...
were established.
In 1958 the Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE), owned by the province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, built east to Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
and then north to Fort St. John
Fort St. John, British Columbia
The City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...
. Traffic from Dawson Creek which used to run on NAR now mostly ran on PGE.
NAR completely dieselized its locomotive fleet by October 1960, these were GP 9. 201 - 208 (208 was hit in 1972 and renumbered 211), GMD-1 301 - 304, and SD 38-2 401 - 404.
Beginning in the 1960s, Alberta's nascent oil and gas industry began to have an impact on the NAR as traffic began to increase on both the Dawson Creek and Fort McMurray branches. In 1964, the federal government built the Great Slave Railway north from the NAR at Grimshaw
Grimshaw, Alberta
Grimshaw is a town in northern Alberta located west of the Town of Peace River at the junction of Highway 35, Highway 2, and bypass Highway 2A, and the Mackenzie Northern Railway...
, Alberta to Hay River
Hay River, Northwest Territories
Hay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
to carry passengers and cargo which could then be transferred to barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s and continue down the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is the largest river system in Canada. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country's Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories...
.
In 1966, the passenger train to Waterways was replaced by Budd Rail Diesel Car
Budd Rail Diesel Car
The Budd Rail Diesel Car, RDC or Buddliner is a self-propelled diesel multiple unit railcar. In the period 1949–62, 398 RDCs were built by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States...
s, but the experiment was unsuccessful, and it was replaced in 1967 by a mixed train. On June 1, 1974, the passenger train to Dawson Creek was discontinued.
During the 1970s, significant investments also began in the Fort McMurray region as the Athabasca Oil Sands
Athabasca Oil Sands
The Athabasca oil sands are large deposits of bitumen, or extremely heavy crude oil, located in northeastern Alberta, Canada - roughly centred on the boomtown of Fort McMurray...
deposits began to be exploited.
Canadian National Railway
In 1981, CN (name/acronym change after 1960) bought out CPR's share in the NAR system and incorporated these lines into the CN network, allowing CN to operate unhindered north from EdmontonEdmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
to Hay River
Hay River, Northwest Territories
Hay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
, Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
and west to Dawson Creek
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Dawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. The municipality of had a population of 11,529 in 2009. Dawson Creek derives its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the community. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
. NAR disappeared as a corporate entity with the departure of CPR from the joint ownership. NAR shops and Dunvegan Yards in Edmonton were demolished and the new Dunvegan Woods housing development was built on the site.
In 1996, CN identified parts of its former NAR trackage for divestiture, either through sale or abandonment. Several lines were subsequently sold to shortline operators.
- Swan Landing, Aberta (near JasperJasper, AlbertaJasper is a specialized municipality in western Alberta, Canada. It is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in the Athabasca River valley....
) to Grande Prairie, Alberta (the former Alberta Resources Railway) and west to HytheHythe, AlbertaHythe is a village in northern Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 54 km west of Grande Prairie, the nearest major urban centre, on Highway 43. It is located in the centre of the Peace River Country, and supports a rural agricultural economy. It has an elementary school and a junior high...
, Alberta (west of Grande Prairie on the NAR) was operated by Alberta RailnetSavage Alberta RailwaySavage Alberta Railway , known as Alberta RailNet between 1999 and 2005, was a Canadian short line railway that operated in the province of Alberta until late 2006.-History:...
(ARN), which was owned by North American Railnet, and later renamed to the Savage Alberta RailwaySavage Alberta RailwaySavage Alberta Railway , known as Alberta RailNet between 1999 and 2005, was a Canadian short line railway that operated in the province of Alberta until late 2006.-History:...
(SAR). On December 1, 2006, CN announced that it had purchased Savage Alberta Railway for $25 million and that it had begun operating the railway the same day. CN had also maintained ownership of the portion between Hythe, Alberta and Dawson Creek, British Columbia where it connects to former BC Rail trackage. The trackage between Hythe and Dawson Creek fell into disuse in 1998, but CN agreed to re-open it as a condition of purchasing BC Rail.
- Edmonton to BoyleBoyle, AlbertaBoyle is a village in northern Alberta, Canada within Athabasca County. It is located on Highway 63, approximately north of Edmonton.Boyle is named after former Alberta Minister of Education Justice John R...
(south of Fort McMurray) was purchased in 1997 by the Lakeland and Waterways Railway (LWR), a subsidiary of Canadian shortline holding company RailLink. RailLink was subsequently purchased by RailAmericaRailAmericaRailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
.
- Boyle, Alberta to Fort McMurrayFort McMurray, AlbertaFort McMurray is an urban service area in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo in Alberta, Canada. It was previously incorporated as a city on September 1, 1980. It became an urban service area when it amalgamated with Improvement District No. 143 on April 1, 1995 to create the Municipality...
, Alberta is now operated by Athabasca Northern RailwayAthabasca Northern RailwayThe Athabasca Northern Railway was an historic railway in Alberta Canada.The ANR operated a line running between Boyle, Alberta and Fort McMurray, Alberta....
and is owned by shortline operator Cando Contracting.
- CN maintains ownership of former NAR trackage between Edmonton and SmithSmith, AlbertaSmith is a hamlet in northern Alberta, Canada within the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River No. 124. It is located on Highway 2A, approximately northwest of Edmonton, at the confluence of the Lesser Slave River and the Athabasca River.- History :...
, Albeta.
- North and west of Smith, Alberta, the former NAR to Peace River, Aberta and Grimshaw, Alberta as well as all of the ex-Great Slave Railway north from Grimshaw, Alberta to Hay RiverHay River, Northwest TerritoriesHay River , known as "the Hub of the North," is a town in the Northwest Territories, Canada, located on the south shore of Great Slave Lake, at the mouth of the Hay River. The town is separated into two sections, a new town and an old town with the Hay River Airport between them...
, Northwest TerritoriesNorthwest TerritoriesThe Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
was purchased in 1998 by the Mackenzie Northern RailwayMackenzie Northern RailwayThe Mackenzie Northern Railway was a Canadian railway operating in Alberta and the Northwest Territories. It is the northernmost trackage of the contiguous North American railway network.-History:...
(MKNR), a subsidiary of Canadian shortline holding company RailLink. RailLink was subsequently purchased by RailAmericaRailAmericaRailAmerica, Inc., based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a holding company of a number of short-line railroads and regional railroads in the United States and Canada....
.
- On January 19, 2006, CN announced the purchase from RailAmerica Inc. of the Mackenzie Northern Railway, the Lakeland & Waterways Railway, and the Central Western Railway (jointly known as RLGN/CWRL).