Twilight on the Rails

Enshrouded in political controversy, the pending demise of passenger train service on BC Rail on the last day of October 2002 set off a furor in rural British Columbia. When several BC Rail passenger employees choose retirement during the last week of service, the cameras witness first-hand the final run of Engineer Brad Cunningham and Conductor Tom Bruvall amid celebrations and roses. The final run for the train itself two days later is beset with delays as demonstrators representing the tourism industry blockade the train at Williams Lake. Further drama ensues as the Seton Lake Indian Band also protests with an after dark blockade at Seton Portage, trying to make their voice heard by a government that seems to have turned a deaf ear to the folks in the rural countryside. Through BC Rail employees, witnesses, and townspeople along the line, Twilight on the Rails is a fascinating look at the tragedy associated with the end of an era. This story involves real everyday people like Gladys Stock, the passenger service agent at Lillooet. She, with her husband Lloyd, fight for their train and mourn the loss of their town’s connection to the outside world. This is a story you will never forget.