The E&N bridge over French Creek is on the Port Alberni Subdivision, just off Highway 4A in Coombs. The 39.0 Port Alberni Subdivision is a branch line off the mainline Victoria Subdivision in Parksville.
Looking downstream on French Creek
The bridge viewed from the Highway 4A bridge over French Creek
From Parksville, the Port Alberni Subdivision passes through Errington, Coombs, Hilliers, Whiskey Creek and then Little Qualicum Falls
Provincial Park. Next it passes around and above Cameron Lake, MacMillan Provincial Park, over the Alberni Summit, through Summit and
Loon Lakes, and then down a winding ride route into the Alberni Valley.
If you’re interested, there is a pretty good Google map that shows the Port Alberni Subdivision route.
It’s unlikely that we will ever see rail traffic in this area again – and that’s a shame.
