BC Rail is a railway in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Chartered as a private company in 1912 as the Pacific Great Eastern Railway, it was acquired by the provincial government in 1918. In 1972 it was renamed to British Columbia Railway, and in 1984 it took on its present name of BC Rail. Until 2004 it operated as the third largest railway in Canada, providing freight, passenger, and excursion rail services throughout BC on 2320 km of mainline track.
In 2004, the operations were leased to Canadian National Railway CN. BC Rail remains an operating, publicly owned crown corporation today.

Here we see BC Rail RDC3 Dayliners no. 31 and 33 built by Budd in 1956-57 entering Squamish en route from North Vancouver to Lillooet with train #1 on 1 June 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

A 12 Cylinder Alco engine block, probably 12V-251B from an RS18, in BC Rail workshops at Squamish, British Columbia, 1 June 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

A new 16 cylinder 2075hp Caterpillar (CAT) engine block to be fitted to an RS18 engine at BC Rail workshops at Squamish, British Columbia, 1 June 1995. This requires a modification to the rear of the carbody as seen on BCRail 606.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

Southbound BC Rail freight with a GE Dash 8-40CM and a GM SD40-2 in the lead and a Dash 8-40 in the middle of the train to provide additional power and dynamic braking. Here the train is just completing the 32 km descent at 2,2% and crossing the Fraser River Bridge near Lillooet late in the evening of 30 May 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 4609 (GE Dash 8-40CM built in 1990), 766 (GM SD40-2 built in US in 1985) and a rebuilt MLW RS18 head a Vancouver-bound freight at Squamish, British Columbia, 1 June 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 4623 (GE Dash 8-40CM built in 1993) has just arrived with a freight at North Vancouver, BC on 28 May 1995. Note the "Draper Taper" behind the cab for extra rear visibility and the rear door.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 4643 (GE Dash 9-44CWL built in 1995) is an unmanned mid-train helper. The loco is controlled by radio from the lead loco using Locotrol. It's seen here on a southbound freight near Whistler, BC on 31 May 1995. The absence of a rear door has kept these locomotives from leading and modifications are being made.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail "slug" S410 which has no diesel engines and takes electricity to drive its traction motors from its "mother" 606. This arrangement gives high tractive effort at the low speeds needed in shunting. Seen at North Vancouver, BC on 28 May 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 606 is an Alco/MLW RS18 rebuilt with a CAT 3516 engine. Rebuilding has necessitated the extended radiators at the rear of the loco. Here no.606 is "mother" to "slug" S410 as they switch the yards at North Vancouver on 28 May 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

British Columbia Railway (now BC Rail) 632, a 2000hp Alco C-420 now derated to 1800hp was built in the US in 1966 and purchased second-hand in 1972. It's seen here at Chetwynd, BC on 16 May 1978.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 682 is a 2000 hp Alco/MLW M-420B without a driving cab. It was built in 1975. Here we see it together with a rear view of 4623 (GE DASH 8-40CM) at North Vancouver, BC on 28 May 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 4603 (GE DASH 8-40CM) and recently purchased 7495 (GE B36-7) still in Santa Fe livery and an SD40-2 head a southbound freight near Whistler, BC on 31 May 1995. 4603 is controlling 7495 and the SD40-2 through the multiple-unit hoses and the mid-train helper 4643 by Locotrol radio link.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 756 (GM SD40-2 built in London, Ontario in 1980) and 4607 (GE DASH 8-40CM built in US in 1990) head a southbound local freight near Pemberton, BC on 31 May 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail "slug" S408 is jacked up and undergoing maintenance at BC Rail's workshops, Squamish, BC on 1 June 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 4626 (GE DASH 8-40CM) is undergoing body repairs at BC Rail's workshops, Squamish, BC on 1 June 1995. The "Draper Taper" behind the wide body cab is clearly seen.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.

BC Rail 626 (Alco/MLW RS18) has just been rebuilt with a CAT 3516 engine and is now being steam cleaned prior to repainting in the red, white and blue livery at BC Rail's workshops, Squamish, BC on 1 June 1995.
Photo and scan copyright Pat and David Othen.