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History

Opened in the year 1883 by a coal miner named Sir Robert Dunsmuir , the E&N Railway's first length, between the two communities that the line is named after, was constructed over a period of three years, its last spike being driven in 1886 at a now-obscure location known as Cliffside, about 40 km south of Nanaimo. The E&N was extended into the city of Victoria in 1888, west to Port Alberni in 1911, and north to Courtenay three years later. The E&N Railway was originally to have been built all the way to Campbell River, but that plan fell through due to the outbreak of World War I.

Between 1905Events January-April January 22 Massacre of Russian demonstrators at the Winter Palace in Saint Petersburg, one of the triggers of the abortive Russian Revolution of 1905. January 26 The Cullinan Diamond is found near Pretoria, South Africa at the Premier and 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep, the E&N Railway was owned and operated by Canadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway CPR AAR reporting marks CP CPAA CPI is a freight railway corporation in Canada, operating a rail network stretching from Vancouver to Montreal. It also serves major cities in the northern United States, such as Minneapolis, Ch. VIA took over operation of CP's passenger train service (called The Malahat) in 1979Events January-February January 1 Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations January 4 State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings. while CP tried to maintain its freight operation, despite declining traffic. In early 1999For the album by Prince, see 1999 (album 1999 is a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the UN. Events Kosovo War Former child star Gary Coleman files for bankruptcy Y2K prep, shortline operator RailAmerica purchased the E&N from CP, along with a railcar ferryA ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and possibly their vehicles, on a relatively short-distance, regularly-scheduled service. Ferries form an important part of the public transport systems of many waterside cities, allowing direct transit bet operation between Nanaimo and VancouverThis article refers to the city in British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver can also refer to Vancouver, Washington, USA, a suburb of Portland, Oregon. For other uses, see Vancouver (disambiguation Vancouver (49n16, 123w07 PST) is a Canadian city in the provin - the E&N's only connection with the North American rail network.

Despite the purchase by RailAmerica, freight traffic has continued to decline and the future of the E&N has been in doubt for several years as RailAmerica has also sought to abandon this recent acquisition due to unprofitability. Signficant taxpayer investments in public highways during the 1990s, including a major reconstruction of highway 1British Columbia provincial highway 1 is the B. section of the Trans-Canada Highway. Its total accumulated distance through British Columbia is 1,039 km, including the distance travelled on ferries. Vancouver Island section The Island branch of Highway 1,, has led to reduced driving times between Victoria and Nanaimo, but has also drastically impacted the privately owned rail line which does not have the benefit of the provincial subsidies accorded to its competing highways. With next to no freight traffic and only a daily passenger train, the future of the E&N without direct government subsidies for its continued operation, let alone future upgrades, remains doubtful.