Longworth station

Longworth, like Hutton to its northwest, and Lindup to its southeast, was an original train station (1914) on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway^[4][5] (the Canadian National Railway after nationalization). The name, a locational surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, deriving from any one of the places called "Longworth" in Berkshire, Herefordshire, or Lancashire,^[6] was probably^[7] selected from the list prepared by Josiah Wedgwood (submitted at the request of William P. Hinton, the railway's general manager).^[8]

Longworth lies at Mile 79.4, Fraser Subdivision^[9] (about Mile 169 during the line's construction). New arrivals for the Mile 172 camp and those passing through to Mile 166 (northwest of Lindup) often become lost on the forest trails.^[10]

An interesting example of track maintenance workers was the 1936 section crew.^[11] The image shows John Prudun (1902–81)^[12] (left background), George Wlasitz (1891–1962)^[13] (left foreground), Peter Doonchoff (c.1883–1945)^[14] (foreman: centre background), Steve Wlasitz (1919–2008)^[15] (right foreground), and Steve Bylycia (1899–1956)^[16] (right background). Subjects who advanced to section foremen were John Prudun at Hansard and Steve Bylycia at Hutton. George Wlasitz of Lindup, who remained a section hand, would at least have employment throughout the Great Depression and go on to qualify for a 20-year pass that allowed free travel on Canada and U.S. railroads. His son Steve would qualify for a 10-year pass that allowed free travel within Canada for the family, before resigning for a better paying sawmill job.^[17]

Built in 1914, the standard-design Plan 100-152 (Bohi's Type E)^[18][19] station building was demolished in 1969.^[20] Longworth, and similarly isolated communities, unsuccessfully appealed when the Prince George-McBride way freight ceased operations in 1977.^[21] These crews, who knew everyone along the line, would often stop beside residents' homes, especially where heavy groceries needed carrying.^[22]

Although CNR trains struck straying livestock,^[23] wildlife was a greater problem. During one 24-hour period in 1982, collisions with trains killed 17 caribou near Longworth. Steep snow banks along the rail lines made it all but impossible for moose and caribou to get off the track in time. Over a three-week period, 30 caribou and 150 moose were estimated to have been killed in the area. The reported deaths of 1,000 moose in a previous year was reckoned an understatement.^[24]

The remaining passenger shelter went in 1996.^[25]