Southern Rails Cooperative
Encyclopedia
The Southern Rails Cooperative Ltd. (SRCL) is a Canadian
short line railway company operating on trackage in southwest Saskatchewan
. Southern Rails Cooperative was the first shortline railway to operate in Saskatchewan and operated as the first modern common carrier shortline railway. The railway is a farmer owned co-operative that operates two short-line railways in Saskatchewan, totalling 71 km of trackage. The former Canadian Pacific Railway
Colony subdivision that runs from Rockglen
to Killdeer and the former Canadian National Railway
Avonlea subdivision that runs from Avolea
to Parry
, The company subsequently expanded along the Avonlea subdivision into Moose Jaw.
The railway uses a custom built Brandt Road Rail vehicle that was built from the chassis of a Kenworth highway tractor. The rail vehicle is very similar to those used by the Canadian Pacific Railway through their maintenance of way (MOW) department. This vehicle enables the railway to move rolling stock from both railines efficiently even though the branchlines are 160 km apart.
The SRCL network connects with two class I railways. At Moose Jaw SRCL connects with Canadian National, servicing stations at Truax
, Avonlea
, Briercrest
and Tilney;
while the Colony subdivision connects to the Fife Lake Railway
(operated by the Great Western Railway
) at Rockglen. Once the producer grain cars arrive in Assinaboia, they are interchanged onto the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
short line railway company operating on trackage in southwest Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. Southern Rails Cooperative was the first shortline railway to operate in Saskatchewan and operated as the first modern common carrier shortline railway. The railway is a farmer owned co-operative that operates two short-line railways in Saskatchewan, totalling 71 km of trackage. The former Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
Colony subdivision that runs from Rockglen
Rockglen, Saskatchewan
Rockglen, Saskatchewan, Canada, is a community in the Burning Hills of the Wood Mountain Uplands, providing a school, community hall, public library and five parks, as well a local service industry. The municipal office of Rural Municipality #12 Old Post lies within the boundaries of Rockglen, and...
to Killdeer and the former Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
Avonlea subdivision that runs from Avolea
Avonlea, Saskatchewan
Avonlea is a village in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada, approximately 60 km southwest of Regina.- Demographics :History of the area can be found at ....
to Parry
Parry, Saskatchewan
Parry is a hamlet in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Listed as a designated place by Statistics Canada, the hamlet had a population of 18 in the Canada 2006 Census....
, The company subsequently expanded along the Avonlea subdivision into Moose Jaw.
The railway uses a custom built Brandt Road Rail vehicle that was built from the chassis of a Kenworth highway tractor. The rail vehicle is very similar to those used by the Canadian Pacific Railway through their maintenance of way (MOW) department. This vehicle enables the railway to move rolling stock from both railines efficiently even though the branchlines are 160 km apart.
The SRCL network connects with two class I railways. At Moose Jaw SRCL connects with Canadian National, servicing stations at Truax
Truax, Saskatchewan
Truax is a hamlet that, as of 2009, does not have 'organized hamlet' status in Saskatchewan, Canada. It is located 80 km southwest of Regina and approximately 75 km southeast of Moose Jaw. Truax was incorporated as a village in on September 9, 1912...
, Avonlea
Avonlea, Saskatchewan
Avonlea is a village in south-central Saskatchewan, Canada, approximately 60 km southwest of Regina.- Demographics :History of the area can be found at ....
, Briercrest
Briercrest, Saskatchewan
-Area statistics:*Lat 50° 10' 00" N*Long 105° 16' 00" W*Dominion Land Survey Section 18 Tsp 14 Rge 24 W2*Time zone UTC-6-External links:******...
and Tilney;
while the Colony subdivision connects to the Fife Lake Railway
Fife Lake Railway
The Fife Lake Railway is a Canadian shortline railway company operating on trackage in Saskatchewan, Canada. The railway is owned by seven local municipalities. The Fife Lake Railway took over the former Canadian Pacific Railway Fife Lake subdivision consisting of 94 km of trackage.The owners of...
(operated by the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway (Saskatchewan)
The Great Western Railway is a Canadian short line railway company operating on former Canadian Pacific Railway trackage in southwest Saskatchewan. GWR is the operating company whereas Westcan Rail Saskatchewan Ltd. is the owner of the track and structures...
) at Rockglen. Once the producer grain cars arrive in Assinaboia, they are interchanged onto the Canadian Pacific Railway.