ROUTE of the Cariboo: PGE / BC Rail

Canadian Caboose Press

ROUTE OF THE CARIBOO: PGE/BC RAIL

Route of the Cariboo: PGE/BC Rail


By Adolph Hungry Wolf - 8-1/2" x 11, hard cover, 256 pages, color covers, color and b&w photos

"Route of the Cariboo" presents railroading in one of North America's most scenic and rugged regions. The Pacific Great Eastern Railway was incorporated in 1912 to serve a sparsely-populated wilderness whose natural resources were expected to sustain train traffic. For many years afterwards, the line operated at a loss and was several times threatened with abandonment, its two disconnected segments taken over by the provincial government and its initials--PGE--jokingly said to mean the "Province's Great Elephant."


Today's modern BC Rail system covers over 1,200 miles and barely resembles the old PGE operation, although the fantastic scenery is still there. Tourists come from around the world to enjoy it, travelling on BC Rail's efficient Rail Diesel Cars or aboard the summertime Royal Hudson Steam Train which offers the continent's last regularly scheduled mainline steam-powered passenger service.


This first fully-illustrated history of the PGE and BC Rail includes nearly 400 photographs and illustrations, including 64 pages in full color, showing the trains, stations, people and tracks that make up this fascinating railway. The informative text includes numerous entertaining first-hand accounts and anecdotes, plus maps and equipment rosters. Readers who have not yet travelled over BC Rail will wonder why, before they finish this volume.