Washington & British Columbia Railway

The Washington & British Columbia Railway (AAR reporting mark WBC, commonly abbreviated W&BC) is the second-largest British Columbian railway company, owning and operating 758.6 miles of railway in BC and Washington state, USA. The W&BC provides extensive passenger and freight service throughout its network.

= Organisation = The W&BC is a public-private partnership, with the BC government holding 45%, and the Burlington Northern & Gulf Railroad (BN&G) owning 55%, but it functions like any other Crown corporation in BC; responsible for it is the Ministry of Labour, Industry and Railways. All rights of way and infrastructure in BC are owned outright by the Dominion government; the lines in the US are held with the same 55-45 split as the company itself, to satisfy American law. However, all operations fall under the responsibility of the Ministry, including the US operations; in addition, the Ministry is also responsible for all maintenance and upkeep costs over the entire system. The Ministry also covers losses at the end of the fiscal year if losses exceed revenues by 10% or more.

= History = When the Great Northern started considering abandoning some of its lines in the southern Interior in the early 1930s, the Dominion government countered by threatening to nationalise all GN lines and operations in the Dominion. This led to negotiations between the GN and government, which resulted in the establishment of a joint-venture company between the GN and the government. The Washington & British Columbia Railway was created in 1937, with the GN holding 60% and the Dominion 40%, under the terms described above.

The arrangement was initially expensive for the government, but over the long term it has proved advantageous to both sides, as the government encouraged the construction of new industries and businesses in areas served by the W&BC. And, unlike in places in the north-west US where the railways were allowed to abandon lines, there has been far less loss for communities due to the railway leaving town.

When the Great Northern became part of the Burlington Northern Railway in 1970, its share passed on to the new company. In 1974, the Dominion government bought a further 5% of the BN's share of the W&BC, and also took over ownership of the Nelson–Spokane Spokane Falls & Northern Line, which had belonged to the Northern Pacific Railway prior to the formation of the BN.

Most of the W&BC network was built prior to its creation, but some expansion did take place in the subsequent years.

An important amount of this expansion took place in Greater Vancouver. Firstly, a 6.1 mile branch from Boundary Bay on the Victoria Terminal Line to Tsawwassen was opened in 1959, and was later extended by 1.6 miles after the opening of the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal. In 1960, the 4.5 mile Tilbury Line was opened to serve the Seaspan Coastal Intermodal facility opened on Tilbury Island, Richmond that year; this spurred further industrial development of the area. The first new development was a rail-served industrial park inhabited by several food processing and cold storage facilities; later, a fertiliser factory and a liquefied natural gas plant were opened there, as well. Despite how short it is, this line provides the W&BC with a great deal of revenue. The industrial branches of the Victoria Terminal Line were then further extended, with the opening of a branch to the Guichon Auto Terminal in 1970, and another to the the Deltaport coal and container terminals in 1984.

= Motive power and rolling stock = Although the W&BC does own its own extensive fleet of diesel and electric locomotives and multiple-unit trainsets, it's not uncommon to see locomotives of the BN&G or the British Columbia Railway on working W&BC trains.

Steam locomotives
The W&BC inherited 68 steam locomotives from the Great Northern in 1937. These were reclassified and renumbered according to the BCR's system of classification and numbering.

Throughout the steam era, the W&BC locomotive fleet was supplemented by engines from both the BCR and the Great Northern, with shunters and, often, power for short freight turns being supplied by the former for use in BC and by the latter for use in Washington; W&BC steam locomotives occasionally turned up on Kettle Valley Railway lines between 1937 and the late 1940s. W&BC class Hm2a number 3619 holds the distinction of being the last steam locomotive to pull a revenue train on a Class I railway in the United States, a through freight from Addy, WA to the Kaiser Magnesium plant at Mead, WA on 17 May 1973.

Electric locomotives
The biggest task undertaken after the establishment of the W&BC, by order of the Ministry of Railways, was the electrification of its lines in the Lower Mainland; in 1938 and 1939, 119.5 of the 147.6 miles of W&BC lines in the Lower Mainland Region had been put under wire. Post-war expansion of electrification has led to only 3.4 miles of line in the Region being non-electrified; however, none of the W&BC's lines in the Interior areas have been electrified. As with steam locomotives, classification and numbering of W&BC electric locomotives follows the BCR system.

Diesel locomotives
Unlike the BCR, the W&BC followed the lead of the Great Northern in its dieselisation plans, for the most part using the same locomotive types as well, though a significant number of BC-made locomotives were purchased as well - both for the W&BC and for the GN. Classification and numbering follows the BCR system.

= Network = The W&BC has a network of 758.6 miles (453.7 miles in BC) which, like the British Columbia Railway, is divided into 3 operating areas called Regions; responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the lines and infrastructure within a given operating area is the responsibility of the Region in question. The numbering of regions and lines is coordinated with those of the BCR.

In the listing below Secondary Lines (i.e. branchlines) are listed below the Trunk Lines (i.e. mainlines) to which they are officially attached. Only terminal stations and stations connecting to other lines are indicated.

1. Lower Mainland Region (HQ Brownsville)
178.8 miles (142.5 miles in BC), 175.4 miles electrified, 116.6 miles double tracked, 19.2 miles passenger only, 45.9 miles freight only; 35.2 miles closed.
 * Line 14 Semiahmoo Line: Vancouver Pacific Central (BCR)–Grandview Jct (BCR)–Brunette (BCR)–Sapperton (CP)–Brownsville (BCH)–Nordel Jct–Mud Bay–Blaine Jct, WA–Custer, WA–Bellingham (BN&G, NWP), 46.4 miles, electrified (New Westminster–Bellingham; 23.8 miles in BC); Brownsville–Bellingham (43.2 miles) double tracked, Mud Bay–Blaine Jct (13.2 miles) passenger only (Pacific Central–Brunette owned by BCR, W&BC has running rights)
 * Line 141 Burrard Inlet Line: Grandview Jct-Raymur–Burrard Inlet Ferry Dock, 1.4 miles, double tracked, freight only
 * Line 1411 Vanterm Branch: Raymur–Ballantyne Yard–Vanterm (CP), 0.8 miles, double tracked, freight only
 * Line 14111 Ballantyne Pier Branch: Ballantyne Yard–BC Sugar–Ballantyne Pier, 1.1 miles, freight only
 * Line 1412 Grain Pier Branch: Ballantyne Yard–Alliance Grain Pier, 0.7 miles, freight only
 * Line 142 Tilbury Line: Nordel Jct–Tilbury, 4.3 miles, electrified, freight only
 * Line 143 Kickerville Line: Custer, WA–British-American Yard–Neptune Beach, WA, 10.1 miles, electrified, freight only
 * Line 1431 BA Refinery Spur: British-American Yard–British-American Refinery 1, 2.3 miles, electrified, freight only
 * Line 15 New Westminster Southern Line: Brownsville–Liverpool (BCH, BCR)–Cloverdale (BCH)–Blaine Jct, 26.4 miles (25.3 miles in BC), double tracked, electrified; Cloverdale–Blaine Jct (9.8 miles) freight only
 * Line 16 Victoria Terminal Line: Cloverdale (BCH)–Mud Bay–Boundary Bay–Port Guichon, 17.5 miles, electrified; Cloverdale–Boundary Bay (13.7 miles) double tracked, Boundary Bay–Port Guichon (3.8 miles) freight only
 * Line 161 Tsawwassen Branch: Boundary Bay–Heron Bay–Tsawwassen Ferry, 8.0 miles, electrified; Boundary Bay–Heron Bay (2.0 miles) double tracked, Heron Bay–Tsawwassen Ferry (6.0 miles) passenger only
 * Line 1611 Deltaport Branch: Heron Bay–Deltaport Triage, 3.6 miles, electrified, double tracked, freight only
 * Line 16111 Deltaport Branch Coal Spur: Deltaport Triage–Deltaport Coal Terminal, 5.1 miles, electrified, freight only
 * Line 16112 Deltaport Branch Container Spur: Deltaport Triage–Deltaport Container Terminal, 3.5 miles, electrified, freight only
 * Line 162 Auto Terminal Spur: Port Guichon–Guichon Auto Terminal, 2.5 miles, freight only
 * Line 17 VV&E Line: Cloverdale (BCH)–Abbotsford (BCH, NWP)–Chilliwack, 44.8 miles, electrified; Cloverdale–Abbotsford (25.5 miles) double tracked; W&BC has running rights over BCR line from Chilliwack to Hope; Atchelitz–Hope (35.2 miles) closed 1939
 * Line 171 Sumas Crossing Line: Abbotsford (BCH, NWP)–Sumas, WA (BN&G, NWP), 3.4 miles, electrified

4. Similkameen Region (HQ Princeton)
220.9 miles (196.5 miles in BC), 1.6 miles freight only, 25.7 miles closed
 * Line 43 Manning Park Line: Hope (BCR, CP via BCR)–Princeton (BCR), 90.5 miles
 * Line 44 Similkameen Line: Princeton–Oroville, WA–Oroville Jct (BN&G)–Rock Creek (BCR)–West Midway (BCR)–Curlew, WA, 121.3 miles (72.5 miles in BC; Princeton–Rock Creek (BCR Junction) 106.6 miles, West Midway–Curlew 14.7 miles; Rock Creek–West Midway owned by BCR, W&BC has running rights; pre-1939 route Bridesville–West Midway 25.7 miles)
 * Line 441 Sooyoos Lake Line: Oroville, WA (BN&G)–Sooyoos (BCR), 7.5 miles (4.9 miles in BC)

9. Kettle Falls Region (HQ Kettle Falls)
358.9 miles (114.7 miles in BC), 0.6 miles passenger only, 21.6 miles freight only, 34.6 miles closed
 * Line 90 Washington & Great Northern Line: Republic, WA–Curlew, WA–Coopers Wye (BCR)–Kettle Falls, WA, 81.0 miles (14.4 miles in BC)
 * Line 901 Grand Forks Branch: Coopers Wye (BCR)–Grand Forks (BCR), 3.0 miles
 * Line 902 Phoenix Line: Coopers Wye (BCR)–Columbia Jct–Copper Jct–Phoenix, 24.2 miles
 * Line 9021 Passenger Depot Spur: Columbia Jct–Grand Forks (BCR), 0.6 miles
 * Line 9022 Granby Smelter Spur: Copper Jct–Granby Smelter (BCR), 3.3 miles, freight only
 * Line 91 Spokane Falls & Northern Line: Troup (CP)–Salmo (NWP)–Northport, WA–Kettle Falls, WA–Spokane, WA (BN&G, NWP, SI, UP), 195.1 miles; (W&BC has running rights over CPR line from Troup to Nelson)
 * Line 911 Red Mountain Line: Northport, WA–Rossland West, 14.8 miles (6.3 miles in BC), freight only
 * Line 912 Magnesium Spur: Mead, WA–Kaiser Magnesium, 2.2 miles + 1.3 miles spurs, freight only
 * Line 99 Bedlington & Nelson Line: Kootenay Bay–Sirdar Jct (CP)–Creston (CP)–North Bonner, ID (SI)–Bonners Ferry, ID (BN&G, SI), 33.4 miles (7.4 miles in BC; Kootenay Bay–Sirdar Jct (34.6 miles) closed 1978; Sirdar Jct–Creston owned by CP, W&BC had running rights)

= Passenger services = The W&BC operates passenger trains in the full range of service types from Limited Express trains making very few intermediate stops down to RailBus services run under contract to local transit agencies. Many W&BC trains offer international service; the W&BC is one of the only two Class I railways in the US operates its own passenger trains, rather than delegating them to Amtrak (the North Western Pacific Railroad is the other). Tickets for W&BC trains can be purchased at BCR stations, and vice versa.

The various categories of passenger service are defined by the Ministry of Labour, Industry & Railways in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport & Communications; these categories are applicable to and used by all railways providing passenger service in British Columbia.

Like all other railways in BC, ticket prices for W&BC passenger trains are based on the Ministry's Schedule of Railway Fares.

Limited Express
The W&BC operates two Limited Express making very few or no intermediate stops. One of these, the Columbia Limited, runs year round; the other, the Hozameen Limited, is seasonal, and is the only one of the W&BC's Express or Limited Express trains to operate entirely within BC.

The Columbia Limited features full-service dining cars open to first and second class passengers, sleeping cars (first class) and sleeperette cars (second class), as well as baggage handling, free of charge for first class passengers, or for a surcharge for second class passengers. It may be used for domestic travel, but for travel between three or fewer domestic stops a surcharge is applied. The short-trip surcharge is not applicable to the Hozameen Limited

International

 * 911/912 Columbia Limited (W&BC/VIA Rail/Amtrak): Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Portland, Oregon, USA
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end. Two consists are used: in one, chair cars (first and second class) are supplied by CP, baggage cars, the dining car, sleepers (first class), sleeperettes (second class), and staff are supplied by VIA; in the other, staff and all stock other than second class chair cars (supplied by Amtrak) are supplied by the W&BC. This train runs over the trackage of the Canadian Pacific between Calgary and Nelson, of the W&BC between Nelson and Spokane, and of the Burlington Northern & Gulf between Spokane and Portland. Between Calgary and Creston, VIA Rail locomotives work the trains; the W&BC has running rights for this train between Creston and Nelson, its locomotives being used for the bulk of the trip, between Creston and Spokane. Between Spokane and Portland, Amtrak provides the locomotive. Intermediate stops:
 * Alberta: Lethbridge
 * BC: Summit Lake, Fernie, Creston, Nelson, Salmo, Waneta (BC customs checks)
 * Washington: Northport (US customs checks), Kettle Falls, Deer Park, Spokane, Pasco, Wishram

Domestic

 * 431/432 Hozameen Limited: Vancouver (Pacific Central) – Manning Park
 * One return trip daily Friday through Sunday, summer timetable only. First and second class chair cars with a cafeteria car, baggage service free of charge to both classes. Intermediate stops: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope

Express
Due to the nature of its trunk lines, all of the W&BC's Express trains are international services. The short-trip surcharge is not applicable to travel occuring entirely inside Washington state on trains other than the Bitterroot Mountaineer.


 * '141/142 Cascades'' (W&BC/Amtrak): Vancouver, BC (Pacific Central) – Eugene, Oregon, USA
 * Two daily return trips with special Talgo consists jointly owned by the W&BC and Amtrak and painted in a distinctive Cascades livery; second class chair cars only, with cafeteria car, no baggage service. Intermediate stops:
 * BC: White Rock (BC customs checks)
 * Washington: Blaine (US customs checks), Ferndale, Bellingham, Mount Vernon, Stanwood, Everett, Edmonds, Seattle, Tukwila, Tacoma, Olympia-Lacey, Centralia, Kelso-Longview, Vancouver
 * Oregon: Portland, Oregon City, Salem, Albany


 * 171/172 Coast–Kootenay: Vancouver (Pacific Central) – Nelson
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end. First and second class chair cars only (no sleeping accomodations), with a cafeteria car; baggage handling free of charge to first class passengers, and available to second class passengers with a surcharge. This train does not stop anywhere on the section between Bridesville and West Midway. Intermediate stops:
 * BC: Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Allenby, Princeton, Keremeyus, Chopaka (BC and US customs checks)
 * Washington: Oroville, Molson, Curlew, Danville (BC and US customs checks)
 * BC: Grand Forks, Billings (BC and US customs checks)
 * Washington: Kettle Falls
 * BC: Waneta (BC and US customs checks), Columbia Gardens, Salmo


 * 441/442 Bitterroot Mountaineer: Penticton, BC – Coeur d'Alene, ID
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end, using an Amtrak consist (second class chair cars only, with a cafeteria car) pulled by a W&BC locomotive. Between Penticton and Sooyoos this train runs over BCR trackage, between Sooyoos and Oroville, Washington over W&BC trackage, and between Oroville and Spokane over BN&G trackage. This train makes no stops in BC other than at Penticton; passengers go through BC customs checks there. The train stops at Nighthawk, Washington only for US customs checks; passengers may not board or alight there. Intermediate stops:
 * BC: none
 * Washington: Nighthawk (US customs checks), Oroville, Okanogan, Chelan, Wenatchee, Odessa, Spokane

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts along the route they serve. Most are second-class only with seat-side drink and snack service, but some trains covering longer distances have first class chair cars and a cafeteria car; none of the domestic Local trains do not have baggage handling. Local trains do not have official names, instead they have only numbers. Train numbers with no letter suffix are locomotive-hauled; the suffix 'D' denotes trains operated by diesel trainsets (called "diesel cars", or "DC" for short, by the W&BC). All local trains run at least twice daily in each direction to allow for trains to be useful for passengers making day trips.

International

 * 1401.1-3/1402.1-3: Vancouver, BC (Pacific Central) – Bellingham, Washington, USA
 * Three daily return trips, second-class only with seat-side drink and snack service.


 * 4401.1-2/4402.1-2: Princeton, BC – Oroville, Washington, USA – Sooyoos, BC
 * Two daily return trips, second-class only with seat-side drink and snack service.


 * 4403.1-2/4404.1-2: Sooyoos, BC – Oroville, Washington, USA – Grand Forks, BC
 * Two daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.


 * 9001.1-2/9002.1-2: Republic, Washington, USA – Grand Forks, BC – Kettle Falls, Washington, USA – Spokane, Washington, USA
 * Two daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.


 * 9101.1-3/9102.1-3: Nelson, BC – Spokane, Washington, USA
 * Three daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.

Domestic

 * 1701.1-2/1702.1-2: Vancouver (Pacific Central) – Princeton
 * Two daily return trips, first and second class with a cafeteria car.

Two daily return trips operated by DC, first and second class with a cafeteria compartment.
 * 4301D.1-2/4302D.1-2: Hope – Princeton – Keremeyus

Two daily return trips operated by DC, second-class only, no drink/snack service.
 * 9021D.1-2/9022D.1-2: Grand Forks – Phoenix

Commuter services
The W&BC operates several special services dedicated to commuter traffic in Greater Vancouver under contract to the Greater Vancouver Transit Authority: the West Coast Express service between Pacific Central Station and White Rock, and RailBus services between Cloverdale and Tsawwassen Ferry, and between Cloverdale and Abbotsford. Fares are fully integrated into the GVTA fare structure.