This the the final stop on the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railroad, the station in Victoria at one end of the Johnson Street Bridge. Built by coal baron, Sir Robert Dunsmuir, the railway has been in operation since 1886 though it has changed hands a number of times. Initially it did not run all the way to Victoria and the small station above is relatively modern. There is a good short history of the E & N that you can read by clicking HERE. A lot of Victoria's early history is tied up with the Dunsmuir family. Robert Dunsmuir also built Craigdarroch Castle, one of Victoria's most outstanding heritage buildings. His son, James Dunsmuir, became premier of the province of British Columbia and built Hatley Castle, another remarkable heritage building, as his personal residence. I earlier posted a picture of this station with the Dayliner train.
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway Station
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2 comments:
Once again, I find myself scratching my head about the controversy regarding the blue bridge and this station on the downtown side of it.
The growing western communities need commuter rail to relieve rush hour car traffic congestion, and the existing E&N line seems to me to be the obvious, natural route.
Instead, to save 15 million on a new bridge, minus the rail element, an alternative rail line is being proposed down the already congested Douglas street, the main entry route for all traffic coming from the west.
The E&N rail line is there now, and only requires upgrades on rail-crossing warnings and barriers because of increased use.
This has to be much cheaper than building a whole new line negatively affecting Douglas Street car traffic.
This is a superb perspective! Very interesting structure!
- Pixellicious Photos
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