E&N (SVI): The Wild West Express
For the first time in 9 years on Vancouver Island, the Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway saw a passenger excursion that didn’t involve VIA Rail’s Budd RDCs. Instead, two GP9s pulled a five car passenger train from Nanaimo to Duncan and return in order to raise funds for the Nanaimo train station. The passenger train, which was named The Wild West Express, was a huge success, and Elevation Media was there to capture this historical moment in Vancouver Island railway history.
Starting from Wellcox Yard we watch the preparation from the beginning of the day and then hop in the SRY GP9’s for an exclusive cab ride over the Wellcox spur and through Nanaimo on the mainline. Once we climb off the train at the Nanaimo station, we don’t miss any of the action trackside as the official excursion takes us from Nanaimo to Duncan. On our return trip back to Nanaimo, night falls upon the railway as we get a look at the first night train on the E&N in years. From the cab of a GP9 or trackside from the rail line, every amazing scene from this historic day was captured.
Bonus Features:
Uncut Cab Ride: View the entire cab ride from Wellcox Yard, along the Wellcox Spur, through Nanaimo to Wellington and back to the Nanaimo Station. Over 60 minutes of raw footage!
A Glimpse of the SVI: We take a look at the SVI’s operations on the E&N as we watch the freight crew head north to Courtenay with poll cars and south to Duncan with hopper cars. We as well take a short look at the VIA Rail Budd RDCs in various locations. Approximately 20 minutes of extra footage.
E&N (SVI): The Wild West Express DVD. Running Time 64 Minutes. Filmed and Released in 2010.
Starting from Wellcox Yard we watch the preparation from the beginning of the day and then hop in the SRY GP9’s for an exclusive cab ride over the Wellcox spur and through Nanaimo on the mainline. Once we climb off the train at the Nanaimo station, we don’t miss any of the action trackside as the official excursion takes us from Nanaimo to Duncan. On our return trip back to Nanaimo, night falls upon the railway as we get a look at the first night train on the E&N in years. From the cab of a GP9 or trackside from the rail line, every amazing scene from this historic day was captured.
Bonus Features:
Uncut Cab Ride: View the entire cab ride from Wellcox Yard, along the Wellcox Spur, through Nanaimo to Wellington and back to the Nanaimo Station. Over 60 minutes of raw footage!
A Glimpse of the SVI: We take a look at the SVI’s operations on the E&N as we watch the freight crew head north to Courtenay with poll cars and south to Duncan with hopper cars. We as well take a short look at the VIA Rail Budd RDCs in various locations. Approximately 20 minutes of extra footage.
E&N (SVI): The Wild West Express DVD. Running Time 64 Minutes. Filmed and Released in 2010.
