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Okanagan Valley Railway
CP turned over their operation to OmniTRAX. The first Okanagan Valley Railway train into Kelowna was on November 24, 1998. Using former I.C GP-10's. 1064 1049 1038. In Dec.1999, 1038 1049 and 1064 were sent to the CKRY in Kansas and replaced with former C.N. M-420[W]s 3557 3558 still in C.N. paint. Early March 2001, these units were wrecked in a collision witha loaded runaway tank car. OVR leased two CN GP38-2's #4700, 4718 until replacement units arrived.
Clicking on the picture above will show many views of the accident. 3558 was wrecked beyond repair and has been stripped of all useful parts. 3557 was sent to the Carton Trail Railway in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, for parts removal.
NBSR 3735 was sent here as a replacemnt unit. Upon arrival it was determined the unit was not operable. This unit was delivered to Action Metal in Kelowna on March 4, 2003. Scrapping was finished March 30, 2003.
On Oct.18,2001 HBRY GP-20 2506 and CTRW GP-10 1025, still lettered in Central Kansas Railway, arrived in Kelowna. November 28, 2001: OVR GP-10 1049 returned to service in the Okanagan. 1049 did not last a year before failing. 1025 suffered damage around April 20, 2003. May 1, 2003, HBR MLW-420 3550 made its first trip to Kelowna. CKRY which was part of OmniTRAX, has been sold to WATCO as of June 1, 2001.
Late December 2001, OVR's fleet, Carton Trail Railway (CKRY) GP-10 1025, Okanagan Valley Railway (CKRY) GP-10 1049 and Hudson Bay Railway (CKRY) GP-20 2506, parked outside the OVR office.
 HBRY 3550, which is the replacement for CKRY 1025. First trip to Kelowna was May 1, 2003. |  One of probably only two GP-20's in Canada, at mile 118. Nov. 6, 2003. CKRY 2506. |
Pictures below were taken April 10, 2004, Vernon, BC. GP-10: Main generator replacement.
 Rear-left view. |  Generator installed. |  Front view. |
1049 has 'donated' its generator.
This unit has not run for more than a year,
May 2005 it was scrapped in Kelowna.
1006's first job was on a work train for a major tie replacement from Vernon to Sicamous, to upgrade the track for the announcement below. Traffic will increase substantially. March 3, 2006, CKRY 2506 is off the OVR, on its way to the POVA (Pend Orielle Valley RR) at Sandpoint, ID.
Scan of 2004 press release, Feburary 2005 press release, June 2006 press release. 2007: nothing has happened. March, 2008: press release part one and part two.
Okanagan Valley Wine Train
Nagel Tours' FunTrain Canada Inc. has been cancelled.
“The Okanagan Valley Wine Train” (Press release, 2003)
“Will not run” (Press release, 2004)
The Wine Train is no longer running and is FOR SALE.
Click here for pictures on the Wine Train derailment, September 9, 2002.
On March 1, 1999, the first 13 ex VIA passenger cars arrived in Kelowna.
Cars remain in VIA paint but with the VIA logo neatly painted out. Reporting marks are:
FTRN
Coaches: 5473, 5487, 5532, 5603, 5654, 5585, 5440.
Cafe Lounge: 752, 755.
E-Sleepers: 1128 Elmsdale, 1137 Enfield, 1157 Evelyn, 1159 Eldorado.
Steam Generator Car: 15475.
March 5, 1999, the following passenger cars arrived:
Coaches: 5446, 5522, 5590.
Club Galley Cars: 653 Mount Royal Club, 654 St. James's Club, 658 Boulevard Club, 659 York Club.
March 18, 1999, baggage car 9653 arrived.
With a 275KW, 480V, 3-phase Caterpillar Diesel generator now installed in the Steam Generator car, the following cars are converted for Head-end power:
All Club Galley Cars, Coaches 5522, 5585, 5603, 5654, Cafe Lounge 752, Elmsdale Sleeper 1128.
Baggage Car 9653 is used for maintenance.
As of June, 2003, all unmodified cars, except for coaches 5473 and 5590 have been sold.
The Kamloops Historical Society purchased coach 5590 in November 2005 and
5473 in November, 2006.
Where the Wine Train is stored.
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CN supplied the power for 1999 season. 2000, Kelowna Pacific Railway had taken over from CN.
The first trip of the Wine Train in June 1999. GMD-1 #1437 and SD-38-2 #1652, at the High Rd. crossing, are heading north to Armstrong.
The GMD-1 didn't work out very well and only lasted a few trips, being replaced by a GP-9u or the SD-38's.With the KPR take over, it's the MLW M-420's.
First train to Kelowna with a E.O.T. (Fred) was CN on May 3, 1995.
Frequencies of interest in the Kelowna area are: |
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| KPR End to End | 160.515 |
| Kelowna Switcher | 160.935 |
| OKAN E-to-E / repeater | 160.545 |
| Kettle Valley tourist train | 159.900 |
| Ham repeater VHF | 146.620- |
| A/P Ham repeater VHF | 146.680- |
| Ham repeater UHF | 447.775- |
| Ham simplex VHF | 146.52 |
| Ham simplex UHF | 446.000 |
There are several other Ham repeaters in Kelowna as well.
LINKS:
Kelowna in the 50's Packing house fires, 1950's industries in Kelowna .
Railsnorthwest (Yahoo) Current rail news of the Okanagan and B.C.
BC-Interior Railways (Yahoo) Items about the Okanagan and southeastern B.C.
Western Shortline Rosters Very detailed listing of power.
Rails Canada Canadian Rail Sites.
RailServe.com Regional railroad sites.
Railroad Data.Com Over 5000 rail links.
“BRANCHLINE” Canada's Rail News Magazine, which also publishes the Canadian Trackside Guide.
Railroad Reporting Marks
