CN installs second line near Rivers

Details

Published on Wednesday, July 29, 2015

By Jessie Bell

Vehicular traffic has increased recently with the steady movement of gravel trucks along Hwy. 25. They turn south, using several gravel roads en route to the CN main line where their product is being used to build up a bed for a second rail line. The work extends east of Levine siding (just east of Rivers) and will end just west of Hwy. 10, a total of eight kilometres.

The gravel is being hauled from the Beever pit, owned and located west of the farm yard of Marlin and Eleanor Beever. The estimated amount of gravel required to build up the new line was predetermined from a survey. 

Some 32 freight trains meet and pass along the line at Rivers every day. The added track will allow for straight-through traffic while another train is temporarily parked. The estimated length of today’s freight trains is more than two miles and some 230 rail cars long. While the new line is being built up with gravel, supplies are being stockpiled in Rivers rail yard. A huge pile of black wooden ties are stored on the east side and on Friday, July 24, crews were operating equipment to remove more than 70,000 concrete ties off a flat bed; these have been piled south of the elevator. A huge mound of crushed rock has also been poured nearby.

It was reported that gravel roads may be damaged by the fleet of gravel trucks; they are repaired where necessary. The addition of work crews in the area has created a rise in business within the town.