Roberval & Saguenay

by R.L.Kennedy

Alcan plant at Port Alfred, Quebec. September 12, 2003 Renaud Chodkowski

The Roberval and Saguenay Railway is owned by Alcan Aluminium Ltd. to serve its smelter as well as other industries, primarily forestry-based ones, including the Price Bros. newsprint mill in Alma built in the 1920's. Its trains operate over CN to connect between two portions of the Roberval Saguenay; 19 miles between La-Baie and Jonquiere and 10 miles from Herbertville Station to Alma, Quebec. These running rights were granted by the CNR in the fall of 1975.

The Roberval and Saguenay had its beginnings with the Quebec incorporation in 1908 of the most unusually named Ha! Ha! Bay Railway to build from Jonquieres to Bagotville on Ha! Ha! Bay, with branches to Chicoutimi pulp mills, to Lake Kenogami and St.Alexis. The R&S itself was incorporated in Quebec in 1911 to build from Roberval on the Quebec and Lake St. John Ry. around Lake St. John to rejoin the Q&LSt.J at Chicoutimi and also at St.Bruno via a branch. It bought the Ha! Ha! Bay June 28, 1914.

The Alma and Jonquieres Railway was incorporated in Quebec in 1912 to build from Herbertville on the Quebec and Lake St. John to a point between Grand Decharge and Petite Decharge and from St. Joseph d'Alma to Jonquieres. Construction did not begin until April 1923 and was completed in August. It too came under ownership of Alcan and eventually was merged (January 1, 1974) into the Roberval & Saguenay.

In 1922 R&S was authorized to build to the Quebec and Saguenay at La Malbaie. In 1929 the principal route was changed to run from Arvida northwesterly to a point on the Quebec and Chibougamau south of L'Ascension.

R-S was owned by the Chicoutimi Pulp Company until it closed down in 1925 after which time it was acquired by Alcan.

A hydro-electric power station was built at Isle Maligne in 1926. The Shipshaw Power Development was built in 1943 to provide increased electricity to the Alcan smelter allowing it to respond to greatly increased demand for aluminum in war production.

Aerial view of the Alma industrial megacomplex and part of the Grande-Décharge River and Lac Saint-Jean Alcan 2001

Roster

Roberval Saguenay in common with many shortlines operated with used locomotives, some often acquired from the contractor who built the line. In addition to steam locomotives R-S had three steeplecab trolley pole electric locomotives of a typical early design. Numbers 6, 7 and 8 were built new by Baldwin-Westinghouse in 1912. More steam locomotives filled the small roster until the first diesel came along early in 1941. Number 18 was a 50-ton Whitcomb center-cab with twin Hercules engines. A single Alco S-2 followed in 1943, marked for parent Aluminum Company of Canada. In 1947, a single Alco RS-2, 19, was added to the roster, followed two years later by number 20, now being built in Canada by MLW. It was the first road switcher built by MLW and as such it was preserved by the CRHA. The number 21 was given to former Alcan 72-359 the S-2 above. An RS-3, 22, followed in 1955. A new RS-18 came along in 1960 and another in 1965, a low nose unit.

A power shortage during 1969-1972 was filled by some leased CNR RS-18's and two MLW leasers 675 and 676, RS-27's.

After a pause of several years two new units were bought in April 1972. These were a unique new model by MLW the M420TR, a 2000HP "transfer" unit designed like a switcher with road trucks. Alcan bought the only two units of this model! (A newer model sold only to Mexico.) Lettered for parent Alcan, they were in the same number series, 26 and 27. These were the last new locomotives bought for more than twenty years.

The used locomotive market was turned to for needs the following year when four RS-3's were acquired, two ex D&H and two ex RDG. After two years a used RS-11 ex SP was acquired followed by 9 C-420's all ex LIRR. All of these units would have cost far less than one new unit However, they turned to new units once again, this time from GE since MLW was out of business.

GE provided some leased demonstrator units in 1993. These were B23-7S (Super Series) remanufactured from U23B units. It was a way for GE to provide medium horsepower four axle units at less than the cost of brand new yet thoroughly renewed rather than just rebuilt. The program met with limited success, in Canada Roberval & Saguenay was the only taker. At the time, GE had a presence in Canada at the former MLW plant in Montreal, although these units were produced in Erie. GE was unable to get sufficient orders for new units and soon left Canada. BC Rail having been the only major customer and this was for just 22 units. This was before the success of AC powered units.

When next power was required they turned to AMF in Montreal for remanufactured GM units. This time GP40's (4 ex CN and 3 ex KCS/IC) were rebuilt into GP38-2's and the 7 units were delivered mostly in 1997.

Alma & Jonquieres was absorbed by Roberval & Saguenay January 1, 1974. It had two used steam locomotives which were replaced by two new diesels, one in 1949 and one in 1951, both MLW S-4's.

Roster Gallery

Coming and going at Mile 14. RS 25 with leased CNR 3691 August 27, 1971. David M. More

September 12, 2003 Renaud Chodkowski

History of aluminium