Journal: News & Comment

Remnant

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How long, I wonder, has it been since a railway spur ran diagonally through this part of Vancouver? The buildings still leave room for it (although that's hard to notice from ground level), and the modern mall at the southwest end follows the same angle even though it has no need to. (The very tip is a Starbucks location.)

There are a few vestigial rails still visible just north of Pender Street, yet a relatively old structure cuts the right-of-way off at Columbia and Alexander streets, just before it connects with what are still well-used rail lines at the Burrard Inlet waterfront. I have never known a train to run along that old cut in my 36 years in the city.

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