In theory, I could have avoided the tortuous drive up Quebec's route 389 from Baie Comeau to Labrador City since, in those days at least, the QNS&L carried cars. Unfortunately, they carried cars on separate trains running on a separate schedule on their then thrice weekly round trip summer passenger service betweem Labrador City and Sept Îles. Getting any schedule information in printed form back then was more than a bit dicey. At the time of my travels, the QNS&L didn't have printed schedules available for their passengers in either Sept Îles or Labrador City! The car carrying service was thoroughly undocumented. As of 1999, the car service apparently operated only twice a week in the summer and, for example, it appeared in certain circumstances to require that your car spend the weekend locked up in the railyards in Sept Îles. Logistics, aside, however, the ride was great, not least because of an ancient but thorougly serviceable Pullman Standard dome car at the rear of the train. The pictures below speak for themselves; the scenery and views are, in my opinion, the match of the Alaska railroad. Except for the fact that very few rail buffs seem to be aware that this route exists, much less that there is scheduled passenger service available! As of October 2008, Wikipedia provided this update on the current status of the QNSL passenger service now operated by Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc.: The railway formally began operations on December 1, 2005 with the conclusion of an agreement between the three owners of Tshiuetin Rail Transportation and the owner of the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway, the Iron Ore Company of Canada. This agreement, finalized in the fall of 2005, saw QNSL sell its Menihek Subdivision, for the nominal sum of $1.00 (CAD). Tshiuetin Rail Transportation took possession of the Menihek Subdivision "as is, where is". The company provides all passenger rail and limited freight service. The company will also provide passenger rail service on the remaining QNSL-owned line running from the port of Sept-Îles, QC to Emeril Jct, NL (and on to Schefferville, QC) and from Emeril Jct., NL to Labrador City, NL. The Menihek Subdivision was originally part of the QNSL main line, constructed between 1951 and 1954. After mining activity in Schefferville ended during the 1980s, QNSL shifted its priority to the Sept-Îles, QC to Labrador City, NL line, and the Emeril Jct, NL to Schefferville, QC line saw limited freight and subsidized passenger service for the remaining First Nations communities in the region. The agreement between IOC and the three First Nations who own Tshiuetin Rail Transportation Inc. has resulted in the first aboriginal ownership of a railway line in Canada. As of the summer of 2009, Tshiuetin Rail Transportation had inaugurated their own website which includes information on the current schedule and service on the line. The following contact information comes from their website: Sept-Îles : Phone: (418)-962-5530 Phone: 1-866-962-0988 Fax: (418)-960-0984 Schefferville : Phone: (418)-585-2333 Fax: (418)-585-2344 Unfortunately, passenger service on the spur to Labrador City that I travelled back in 1999 has been discontinued. Tshiuetin Rail Transportation states the following at their website: "This is to advise you that the passenger train does not travel to Labrador City anymore. Travelers travelling to and from Labrador must take highway 500 to Emeril Jct. Travelers can wait for the train at the camp at Emeril. It is your responsibility to travel to Emeril, approximately 45 minutes drive from Labrador City." Anyone who is aware of any shuttle or taxi service operating between Emeril and Labrador City should contact me with details and rate information so I can include it here. | ||
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They actually sell tickets at this station, unlike the station in Sept Îles where you are directed to a nearby (?) travel agent for the purchase of transportation. The car carrier can be seen in one of the pictures. I was told there are no height restrictions, but don't expect to be able to put your car on the train if you've got a canoe (or other moveable object) strapped onto your roof. | ||
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The train consisted of three Budd RDC's (whose lineage reportedly goes back to the B&M by way of the CN) and one Pullman dome car. The dome was, of course, the place to be. Vending machines in one of the RDC's was the closest thing the train offered to a diner. | ||
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The countryside becomes more dramatic as we head south. The iron ore freight on the route are the reason for the railroad's existence; indeed it's the mining company that owns and operates the railroad. | ||
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Yep, that's a helicopter alright. Don't expect this kind of service the next time your Amtrak or VIA passenger train has mechanical difficulties! | ||
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These pictures were actually taken before my drive to Labrador City when I went to the train station in Sept Îles on a Monday morning (following a rather dull weekend which I spent hanging around Sept Îles). I had hoped to take the Monday morning summer train to Labrador City with my car. I was told that the car wouldn't be shipped before sometime on Tuesday afternoon or evening... Not wanting to be in Labrador City for a day and a half without a car, it was at this point that I decided to drive overland to Labarador City and take the train (sans car) from there on Tuesday. It turns out there are a couple of hotels very near to the train station in Labrador City, including The Two Seasons Hotel where I ended up staying, where I could have hung out while awaiting the arrival of my vehicle. On the other hand, I would have missed the scenery of northern Quebec including the immmense hydro-electric projects which dominate much of the otherwise totally undeveloped landscape. | ||
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While driving up to Lab City on Quebec 389, prior to reaching the mine at Fermont, the road followed and crisscrossed the Quebec Cartier Mining Company Railway (that's the QCM) for several miles. My 550 kilometer drive through the wilderness was interrupted at one point when I had to stop for this heavily laden ore train. |
