a community owned line located in central Alberta, Canada. Our intent is to prevent further loss of transportation and agricultural infrastructure. The BRR will operate as a user-friendly short-line where producers and other interested parties will be able to consider both originating and terminating freight on the line.
I am elated to finally say that the Battle River Railway is up and running. There were times, I must admit, that this moment seemed elusive, but we persisted and endured and we did make it.
Suffice it to say that it would appear that a healthy sense of humour is a tremendous asset in the administration of a short line. It has been somewhat of a challenge as we iron out the wrinkles in our relationships with CN and our regulators - the provincial government. BRR received its Permanent Operating Authority from Alberta Transportation on November 10, 2010. CN delivered our locomotive, BRR 5353, purchased from CN, to Camrose on December 2. The first run of 50 cars finally arrived in Camrose on December 9. BRR lifted them on Saturday morning, December 11 and they were spotted at the six sidings along the line. Note the rail "roadese" that one learns through this process! The picture above shows the ribbon cutting on Dec. 14 before the locomotive set off to pull the loaded cars back to Camrose.
Our capable crew consisting of engineman Harvey Skaar, a 36 year CN veteran and conductor Ken Dumont, a long time CN veteran also, set off for Kiron under the capable direction of a pilot from Progressive Rail. BRR is required to employ a pilot for at least 3 train runs to observe, coach and certify our crew. Once certified, our crew will have the authority to operate the trains on its own. Board members Dennis Freadrich and I, and shareholder Jerry Weller took an intensive 2-week railroad rules course in St. Albert in early November. We came away with a certified rules card and a much better appreciation of railway operations. Dennis Freadrich will act as Train Master for BRR, I will act as general manager and Jerry will act as a training brakeman/conductor.
We are up and running, but please be patient with us because the learning curve is still steep. In the wise words of Train Master Freadrich, "We will learn to do this properly and we will have fun doing it." Happy railroading, everyone.
Ken Eshpeter, President
