Abandoned Cowichan Sub

Looking West on CN's abandoned Cowichan Sub, deep in the heart of the Cowichan Valley. This line relied heavily on the forestry industry. Many feel the railway could have lasted a few more years if CN had been willing to go after the woodchip traffic, but CN, in their infinite wisdom decided to abandon it instead, a move which cost them a lot of money as they had to pay the freight customers to switch to truck. CN ran the line into the ground, it was no wonder that no short line operator, or local group wanted to take over, it would have required many millions of dollars to repair the rail line. 80 lb rail was the heaviest that CN used here, however most of the line was actully 65 lb rail. Lets just say the Milwaukee Road's trackage out west was in better shape. By the end, the rails were laid in the mud, ties had rotted away years before.