Wabush Lake Railway
Encyclopedia
The Wabush Lake Railway is a Canadian
short line railway operating in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Opened in 1963, the railway operates a line running between Labrador City
, Labrador
, and Wabush
, where it interchanges with the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
.
The Wabush Lake Railway is owned by the Wabush Mining Company, which mines iron ore near Labrador City. The ore is transported from the mine to the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
connection at Wabush. The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway transports the ore between Wabush and Arnaud Jct., Quebec using Wabush locomotives, currently a mix of power leased from CEFX and QNS&L. At Arnaud Junction, the ore is transferred to Wabush Lake Railway's sister company, Chemin de fer Arnaud
(Arnaud Railway), for the final journey to ship loading facilities at nearby Pointe-Noire, Quebec
.
In 2010, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines opened the Bloom Lake Mine, just west of Labrador City, Newfoundland. As part of this new operation, Genessee & Wyoming was contracted to operate the Bloom Lake Railway, to transport ire ore from the mine to a connection with the Wabush Lake Railway. The Wabush Lake Railway began acting as a middle man, taking the Bloom Lake Railway trains, and transporting them to Wabush Junction for the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
(QNS&L) to transport to the Chemin de fer Arnaud
just as they would Wabush trains. The Arnaud then takes the trains to the Consolidated Thompson's dock at Pointe-Noire, Quebec
.
Currently, this railway (along with the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
line, Arnaud Railway
, and QNSL
) form an isolated railroad network, as it does not interchange with any other rail lines on the North America
n network at this time.
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...
short line railway operating in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
Opened in 1963, the railway operates a line running between Labrador City
Labrador City, Newfoundland and Labrador
Labrador City is a town in western Labrador , near the Quebec border. As of 2006, its population is 7,240...
, Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, and Wabush
Wabush, Newfoundland and Labrador
Wabush is a small town in the western tip of Labrador, known for transportation and iron ore operations for over three decades ....
, where it interchanges with the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River...
.
The Wabush Lake Railway is owned by the Wabush Mining Company, which mines iron ore near Labrador City. The ore is transported from the mine to the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River...
connection at Wabush. The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway transports the ore between Wabush and Arnaud Jct., Quebec using Wabush locomotives, currently a mix of power leased from CEFX and QNS&L. At Arnaud Junction, the ore is transferred to Wabush Lake Railway's sister company, Chemin de fer Arnaud
Chemin de fer Arnaud
The Chemin de fer Arnaud is a Canadian short line railway operating in the province of Quebec.Opened in 1965, the railway operates a line running around Sept-Îles Harbour from Arnaud Junction, on the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway to ship loading facilities at Pointe-Noire.The railway is...
(Arnaud Railway), for the final journey to ship loading facilities at nearby Pointe-Noire, Quebec
Pointe-Noire, Quebec
Pointe-Noire is an unincorporated community in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is within the cityof Sept-Îles in the Sept-Rivières regional county municipality and the Côte-Nord region of eastern Quebec....
.
In 2010, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines opened the Bloom Lake Mine, just west of Labrador City, Newfoundland. As part of this new operation, Genessee & Wyoming was contracted to operate the Bloom Lake Railway, to transport ire ore from the mine to a connection with the Wabush Lake Railway. The Wabush Lake Railway began acting as a middle man, taking the Bloom Lake Railway trains, and transporting them to Wabush Junction for the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River...
(QNS&L) to transport to the Chemin de fer Arnaud
Chemin de fer Arnaud
The Chemin de fer Arnaud is a Canadian short line railway operating in the province of Quebec.Opened in 1965, the railway operates a line running around Sept-Îles Harbour from Arnaud Junction, on the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway to ship loading facilities at Pointe-Noire.The railway is...
just as they would Wabush trains. The Arnaud then takes the trains to the Consolidated Thompson's dock at Pointe-Noire, Quebec
Pointe-Noire, Quebec
Pointe-Noire is an unincorporated community in the Canadian province of Quebec. It is within the cityof Sept-Îles in the Sept-Rivières regional county municipality and the Côte-Nord region of eastern Quebec....
.
Currently, this railway (along with the Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation
Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. is a Canadian short line railway that stretches 134 miles through the wilderness of western Labrador and northeastern Quebec. It connects Emeril Junction, Labrador with the community of Schefferville, Quebec on the interprovincial boundary...
line, Arnaud Railway
Chemin de fer Arnaud
The Chemin de fer Arnaud is a Canadian short line railway operating in the province of Quebec.Opened in 1965, the railway operates a line running around Sept-Îles Harbour from Arnaud Junction, on the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway to ship loading facilities at Pointe-Noire.The railway is...
, and QNSL
Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway
The Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway is a Canadian regional railway that stretches through the wilderness of northeastern Quebec and western Labrador. It connects Labrador City, Labrador, with the port of Sept-Îles, Quebec, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River...
) form an isolated railroad network, as it does not interchange with any other rail lines on the North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n network at this time.