Ile-aux-Pres Railway & Marine Company was a 42 inch (Cape Gauge) common carrier located on Île-aux-Prés, Labrador, Canada. Called simply "The Marine" by locals it provided a vital link to the the outside world as well as being the fastest (which is not the same as actually being fast) link between communities on the island.

Contents 1 History 2 Divisions 3 Equipment 3.1 Motive Power 3.1.1 Steam 3.1.2 Diesel 3.2 Rolling Stock 3.2.1 Freight 3.2.2 Passenger 3.2.3 Non-Revenue 3.3 Naval 3.3.1 Viscount Martin 3.3.2 North Star 3.3.3 Alice Ames 3.3.4 Outport Ferries

History

Railway service on Ile-aux-Pres began in 1884. Loggers at that time were cutting down timer upstream on the Severn River and floating it down to a mill at the settlement of Interieur. In order to reach more timber away from the rapidly diminishing forests along the Severn the Interieur Bay Land Company constructed a rail line southward out of Interieur. Two years later the railway was organized separately from its parent as the Interieur Bay Railway. Seeking a more easily accessible winter harbor the newly organized railway was extended to Bonne Chance Harbor. In 1891 the Government of Newfoundland funded an extension to Watertown and a branch to Hollyhead on Pessimism Bay.

Simultaneous to the expansion of the rail service in the center of the isle, a railway was under construction along the islands eastern coast. The Coast of Labrador Railway was part of an ambitious scheme to construct a line to link various lumber and mining operations along the frequently iced in northeastern coast of the isle to a year round ice free port at Débarquement. The prospect of profit for such a line was never as good as its promoters suggested. The line entered government receivership in 1892. Robert G. Reid was contracted to operate the line.

By 1898 Reid had managed to assume control of the entire railway network of Newfoundland. With this accomplished and seeking to expand his empire Reid turned to Ile-aux-Pres. Reid was able to convince the already debt ridden colonial government to fund a new mainline across the island. This new line would leave the Coast of Labrador line at Pimlico and head westward toward Interieur and then over the Furness Plateau to the Isle's main town at Orbec. Further the government would also purchase the Interieur Bay line and lease it to Reid. In return Reid would operate a steamboat ferry system connecting Debarquement with Port aux Basuqe, NF and North Sydney, NS. Reid would also be responsible for constructing a telegraph line from Orbec to Port aux Basque via submarine cable as well as performing a number of upgrades to the port facilities at Débarquement, including a new mechanical coal unloader.

A ceremonial start to construction was held at midnight 1 January 1900. Actual construction did not proceed until late March. Construction of the mainline was completed in early October except for the bridges over the Goose and White Rivers. The first train left Débarquement for Orbec 10 November 1900.

More history is yet be invented researched.

Divisions

The railway was divided into three operating divisions which all met at the division point yard at Interieur.

• The Eastern Division operated the Mainline east of Interieur as well as the former Coast of Labrador Railway as the East Island Line.
• Western Division operated the Mainline west of Interieur
• The Watertown Division consisted of the former Interieur Bay Railway and operated the Watertown Line.

In 1971 the Watertown Division was merged into the Western Division.

The company's ferries and airline were both organized as separate divisions as well until they were sold the Marine Atlantic and Air Canada respectfully.

Equipment

Motive Power

Steam

I still need to compile more information on the Steam Roster

After consolidation of the three railways power was decidedly influenced by the need to operate trains to remote locations over poorly maintained track. Since most of the branches lack reversing facilities large tank engines continued to be favored for the rare new purchases.

See Also: Steam Roster

Diesel

A single GE 25 ton locomotive was purchased in 1938 for use in the shops at Interieur. The railway returned to GE for a pair of GE 50 ton locomotives during WWII to take over switching work at Interieur and Debarquement.

Canadian National purchased a group of 6 NF110s in 1953 for the IaP, allowing for the retirement of most of the pre-1920's locomotives. They were followed by 10 NF210s in 1959 thus ending the steam era on the Marine. A quartet of G8s arrived in 1965.

See Also: Diesel Roster

Rolling Stock

Early equipment on the isle was imported from Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland. Four wheel equipment dominated on the Interieur Bay Railway until 1890 when a fire swept through the the yard at Interieur. Bogie equipment has been standard since.

Equipment sizes ranged from similar to 3 foot gauge equipment to full size standard gauge. After Newfoundland entered into confederation with Canada, CN purchased substantial replacement narrow gauge equipment for use on the Newfoundland and Ile-aux-Pres Railways. The specially built narrow gauge equipment was not considered to be cost effective and by the mid 1950's new equipment were generally just regauged standard gauge equipment.

After CN established railcar ferry service to North Sydney a pool of cars was developed for interchange between the narrow and standard gauge systems.

The Ile-aux-Pres Railway used the reporting mark IaP. Occasionally equipment was transferred from the Newfoundland Railway to the Ile-aux_Pres with thier NFLD reporting marks coming with them. After the CN takeover all equipment was changed to CN. Later equipment was labeled CNF, which was also used by the Newfoundland Railway. From 1979 until abandonment Terra Transport used the reporting mark TT. In practice some CN or later TT equipment was marked CNI or TTI during the Terra Transport years, though this equipment was recorded as having CNF or TT markings. Neither the Interieur Bay or Coast of Labrador railways utilized reporting marks for their equipment.

Freight

The Freight roster was always geared heavily toward flat cars, both bulkhead and normal cars. These found considerable use for moving both raw logs and finished lumber. During the Tera Transport era TOFC and COFC service was run using converted logging flats. Several special self-unloading container cars were constructed for the IaP and NF lines. Box cars were utilized heavily for outbound lumber, paper, potato, and fish. Just about all inbound goods came by boxcar. Despite the harsh climatically conditions on the Isle insulated boxcars did not arrive until CN regauged several during the 1950's. Together the flat and boxcar fleets made up approximately 60% of the freight cars on the IaP.

Passenger

Most of the railroad's passenger equipment were built in the Orbec car shops. During the CN years almost all new equipment was instead built for standard gauge and retrucked. Three new cars were purpose built for the IaP in 1961, however these cars were built to standard gauge dimensions despite their intended use on the 42 inch gauge.

Non-Revenue

Naval

Viscount Martin

North Star

Alice Ames

Outport Ferries

• Action
• St. Aubin
• Issac Tamlin
• Action II
• Pessimism Bay