Longworth station is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Longworth, British Columbia. Via Rail's Jasper–Prince Rupert train calls at the station as a flag stop.
History
Longworth, like Hutton to its northwest, and Lindup to its southeast, was an original train station (1914) on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway1914 Timetable. p. 4. (the Canadian National Railway after nationalization). The name, a locational surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from any one of the places called "Longworth" in Berkshire, Herefordshire, or Lancashire, was probablyPrince George Citizen, 27 Jan 1984 selected from the list prepared by Josiah Wedgwood (submitted at the request of William P. Hinton, the railway's general manager).Prince George Citizen, 27 May 1957
Longworth lies at Mile 79.4, Fraser Subdivision (about Mile 169 during the line's construction). New arrivals for the Mile 172 camp and those passing through to Mile 166 (northwest of Lindup) often become lost on the forest trails.Fort George Herald, 7 Jun 1913
An interesting example of track maintenance workers was the 1936 section crew. The image shows John Prudun (1902–81) (left background), George Wlasitz (1891–1962) (left foreground), Peter Doonchoff (c.1883–1945) (foreman: centre background), Steve Wlasitz (1919–2008) (right foreground), and Steve Bylycia (1899–1956) (right background). Subjects who advanced to section foremen were John Prudun at Hansard and Steve Bylycia at Hutton. George Wlasitz of Lindup, who remained a section hand, would at least have employment throughout the Great Depression and go on to qualify for a 20-year pass that allowed free travel on Canada and U.S. railroads. His son Steve would qualify for a 10-year pass that allowed free travel within Canada for the family, before resigning for a better paying sawmill job.
Built in 1914, the standard-design Plan 100-152 (Bohi's Type E) station building was demolished in 1969. Longworth, and similarly isolated communities, unsuccessfully appealed when the Prince George-McBride way freight ceased operations in 1977.Prince George Citizen, 11 Oct 1977 These crews, who knew everyone along the line, would often stop beside residents' homes, especially where heavy groceries needed carrying.Prince George Citizen, 25 Jul 1977
Although CNR trains struck straying livestock,Prince George Citizen: 26 Aug 1937 & 25 Jul 1940 wildlife was a greater problem. During one 24-hour period in 1982, collisions with trains killed 17 caribou near Longworth. Steep snow banks along the rail lines made it all but impossible for moose and caribou to get off the track in time. Over a three-week period, 30 caribou and 150 moose were estimated to have been killed in the area. The reported deaths of 1,000 moose in a previous year was reckoned an understatement.Prince George Citizen: 18 Jan 1982 & 23 Feb 1982
The remaining passenger shelter went in 1996.Prince George Free Press, 21 Jan 1996
Service 1914–15 1916–c.1917 c.1918–c.1921 c.1921–c.1923 c.1924–1931 1932–42 1943–c.1958 c.1959–1965 1965–66 1966–77 1977–present 1920 Timetable: Bulkley Valley Museum. p. 8. 1922 Timetable: Northern BC Archives. p. 8. 1925 Timetable. p. 105. Prince George Citizen: 12 & 19 Nov 19311932 Timetable. p. 58.1933 Timetable: Northern BC Archives. p. 8.1935 Timetable. p. 60.1942 Timetable. p. 58. 1943 Timetable: Northern BC Archives. p. 9.1945 Timetable. p. 61.1949 Timetable. p. 59. 1960 Timetable. Northern BC Archives1964 Timetable. Northern BC Archives 1965 Timetable. Northern BC Archives 1967 Timetable. Northern BC Archives1968 Timetable. Northern BC Archives1972 Timetable. Northern BC Archives1973 Timetable. Northern BC Archives 1990 Timetable. Northern BC Archives1992 Timetable. Northern BC ArchivesRecent timetables Passenger Reg. stop Flag stop Flag stop Flag stop Regular stop Regular stop Flag stop Reg. stop Flag stop Flag stop Way freight Flag prob. Flag stop Reg. probably Regular stop Reg. probably Reg. stop Regular stop Regular stop Reg. stop Reg. stop
Footnotes
External links Via Rail Station Description