Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation has a rich history dating back to 1935, when it was formed to meet the growing demand for grain transportation in the province.
The company's primary focus has always been on providing railcars to farmers and grain elevators, making it easier for them to transport their crops to market.
Today, the corporation operates as a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railway Company, leveraging its extensive rail network to deliver grain cars to customers across Western Canada.
With a fleet of over 14,000 railcars, Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation is one of the largest railcar providers in the country.
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History of Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation
The Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation was established on October 2, 1979, with the goal of purchasing and renting grain rail cars for the transportation of statutory grains between Saskatchewan and export ports.
Its existence and activities were governed by the Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation Act, which provided a framework for the corporation's operations.
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The corporation invested heavily in new rolling stock, with the government investing $55 million in 1990 for the purchase of 1,000 new covered rail cars.
This investment helped the corporation generate a positive financial return during most of its operating years, returning a cumulative $20.5 million in dividends to the government.
However, by 2016, the corporation had recorded a deficit of $221,000, and by 2017, it was announced that the corporation would be wound down and its assets sold off.
A major factor in this decision was the need for a $100 million investment to purchase new rail cars within a decade to continue operations in the long term.
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Railcar Operations
Saskatchewan Grain Car Corporation had a significant fleet of rolling stock, which played a crucial role in the grain trade. The corporation obtained its initial rolling stock from the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railway.
Between 1981 and 2010, the corporation manufactured 1,000 steel rail cars, each with a capacity of 128.8 cubic meters. By 2010, approximately 906 cars remained in operation.
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The corporation's rolling stock was allocated to various rail operators, with 417 cars operated by Canadian National and 489 by Canadian Pacific. Around 800 cars were still in their original brown and orange paint scheme.
The corporation also had a number of hopper cars, which were put up for sale in 2017 as part of its winding down. The sale was prioritized for 13 shortline operators based in Saskatchewan.
Here's a breakdown of the rail operators that acquired the hopper cars:
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