The early morning of Saturday, 16 Feb 2002, was dark and overcast with light rain falling as the up-island run of SaveRail Coalition's rally to save the Esquimalt & Nanaimo Railway departed Victoria. This lobby group published a web site and had an article in the Times Colonist, the Victoria newspaper, promoting the event.
At that time of year passenger traffic on the E&N normally required only one Dayliner. The SaveRail Coalition rented an additional car which was coupled to the regular car for a trip up-island to, Shawnigan Lake, Duncan, Nanaimo, Parksville, and Courtenay. Return fare from Victoria to Courtenay was $60 and all seats in their car were sold-out.
Just prior to the train's departure at 08:15 in the morning there was barely enough light for digital photography. The Town Crier walked the asphalt platform clang-clanging his hand-held bell crying... "All Aboard".
The lead Dayliner, VIA number 6135, had a small white and blue lettered banner strung across it's yellow front, plus a larger one on each side stating, "SAVE OUR RAILWAY". Train flag holders didn't show white or green but instead a Canadian and a British Columbia provincial flag hung limp in the damp. Supporters waved goodbye as the train eased past the green over red signal to cross the Blue Bridge (Johnson Street Bridge) into Victoria West and on to the Western Communities.
The rain was steady as the train reached Shawnigan Lake's VIA shelter. A dozen or so supporters held a twelve foot long banner and waved while VIA 6135 North made a very brief stop. The Dayliners then disappeared round the bend trailing a blue haze of diesel exhaust which dissipated into the grey mist. Everyone went home.
A slightly larger crowd greeted the train at Duncan while the Town Crier, who boarded in Victoria, could be heard shouting in the distance. The crowd milled about the platform between the station and the dripping Dayliners as the train departed northward once more. It was still grey, still overcast, still raining, and everyone's soaked. It's was so depressing. There's was little hope of saving the railway.
