NL Railway
The Newfoundland railway operated for just over a century. From 1882 the trains ran over completed portions of a projected trans-insular line. Passenger service started across the island in June 1898 and ran until July 1969 when all passenger service was replaced with buses. Freight trains continued to run until 1988.
The Newfoundland railway operated for just over a century. From 1882 the trains ran over completed portions of a projected trans-insular line. Passenger service started across the island in June 1898 and ran until July 1969 when all passenger service was replaced with buses. Freight trains continued to run until 1988.
The NFLD Railway was a narrow (3’6″) gauge line for reasons of economy and was the longest such line in North America, and was regarded with particular affection by railway buffs (its gentle nickname, “the Newfie Bullet”. The main line was 548 miles, from St. John’s to Port aux Basques. Numerous branch lines made the operating trackage in the peak years (1915-31) 906 miles. Today there are very few signs that there was a railway in Newfoundland.
The NFLD Railway was a narrow (3’6″) gauge line for reasons of economy and was the longest such line in North America, and was regarded with particular affection by railway buffs (its gentle nickname, “the Newfie Bullet”. The main line was 548 miles, from St. John’s to Port aux Basques. Numerous branch lines made the operating trackage in the peak years (1915-31) 906 miles. Today there are very few signs that there was a railway in Newfoundland.
The railbed has since been designated a “T’railway” and a linear provincial park.
The railbed has since been designated a “T’railway” and a linear provincial park.
Locomotive #1024, 1948
Last steam locomotive built for the Newfoundland Railway by the Montreal Locomotive Company. It was scrapped by CN in 1957.
From the A.R. Penney Collection. Courtesy of Harry Cuff Publications.
Railway LANTERN
Railway LANTERN
The railway lanterns were used as tools by railway workers to communicate with each other. Before the world of radios railway workers relied on hand signals, whistle signals and at night, lanterns to communicate and give directions. By night, the lantern became the most important tool on the railway, and were revered as such. Railway lanterns also had multiple different coloured globes or lenses, each with a different meaning. The lantern and lamp was an invaluable tool for the railways since the first railway.