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EspañolKETTLE VALLEY RAILWAY
(Redirected from Kettle Valley Railroad)
The 'Kettle Valley Railway' ('KVR') was a railway running through southern British Columbia up until 1961. Much of the railway's original route has become a rail trail (a hiking and bicycle path). Portions of the Trans-Canada Trail through British Columbia follow the route as well.
The railway was built out of necessity to service the growing mining demands in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. When the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) completed the transcontinental railway in 1885, the route cut through the Rocky Mountains significantly North of British Columbia's mining towns within the Kootenay region. It was far easier for American railways to quickly build trackage North from Spokane following the convenient valleys and exploit the valuable mining region. This resulted in countless amounts of mining related revenues to be exported to American railways and smelters. The Kettle Valley Railway was created in part to help preserve both Canadian sovereignty within the Kootenay region of British Columbia, and also retain mining revenues in Canada.
The route selected involved connecting the railway with Vancouver. However, this was not an easy task, as two mountain ranges stood in the way. Construction was some of the most costliest per track mile when compared against most other North American railway projects, and it took nearly 20 years to complete.
The line ran from Castlegar to Hope where it connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The KVR lost its prominence when the Crowsnest Highway was constructed 1949, but portions of the railway were not shut down until 1961.
During the Kettle Valley Railways lifespan, on numerous occasions it acted as "The Second Mainline" when washouts, avalanches and rock slides closed off the main CP Rail line.
The first sections of the railway that were abandoned included the sections via the Coquihalla Canyon. Maintenance of the track in these areas was difficult to say the least. Annual snowfalls excceded 14 feet in this area, thus avalanches and rock slides kept the railway closed through most of the year. Upon closure, trains accessed the KVR via Spences Bridge and Merritt until the complete line was abandoned in the 1980's.
The next sections of railway to be abandoned by CP Rail were the sections East of Penticton. These early abandonments included the famed Myra Canyon section of the railway. Rail operations continued into Penticton via way of Spences Bridge, Merritt and Princeton until the late 1980's when CP Rail petitioned to abandon the remaining trackage. Shortly after receiving permission, CP Rail commenced the removal of the track from Penticton to Spences Bridge. During this time, a group determined to preserve a portion of the railway emerged in Summerland and was successful in preserving a portion of the railway through Summerland.
One of the major landmarks on the former line are the Othello-Quintette Tunnels, which are lined up in a straight line, cutting through the Coquihalla River's gorge near Hope. They are open in summer for sightseeing. Andrew McCullough, who engineered the complex series of bridges and tunnels through Coquihalla Canyon was an avid reader of Shakespeare. As a result, many of the areas in the Coquihalla Region are named after characters in Shakespearean literature, such as Iago, Romeo, Juliet, Lear, Jessica, Shylock and Portia.
On the Smithsonian Folkways FW03569 1961 recording, "Bunkhouse and Forecastle Songs of the Northwest," Stanley G. Triggs sings a song called "The Kettle Valley Line" while accompanying himself on the mandolin.
One of the most popular sections of the hiking trail along the former Kettle Valley line is the section through Myra Canyon. Myra Canyon is located South of Kelowna on Okanagan Mountain. The section of line originally transited between Midway and Penticton. When the railway was built, the section of railway between Myra station and June Springs station required 18 wooden trestles and two tunnels in order to traverse the deep canyon. After some repair work, they became an attraction for tourists.
The 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire from August to September 2003, resulted in 12 of the 18 trestles on the Myra Canyon section of the route being burnt down. Additionally the bridge decks of two of the metal trestles were destroyed in the fire.
Soon after the 2003 forest fire, the B.C provincial government announced that it was rebuilding the damaged trestles. As of December 2006, public access is now available from the Myra parking lot to Trestle #12 on the east side and from Ruth parking lot to Trestle #2 on the west side. Resortation efforts to the remaining trestles are schedule for completion in the latter portion of 2007. For up to date information on the restoration process contact the Penticton Visitor Centre at 1-800-663-5052 or visit the Penticton's Official Tourism Site.
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway has been operating along a preserved ten-kilometre section from Prairie Valley Station to Canyon View Siding, near Summerland, British Columbia.
★ Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society
★ Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park
★ Spirit of 2010 Rail Trail
★ Trans-Canada Trail
★ Penticton's Official Tourism Site
Kettlevalleytrain.JPG
The 'Kettle Valley Railway' ('KVR') was a railway running through southern British Columbia up until 1961. Much of the railway's original route has become a rail trail (a hiking and bicycle path). Portions of the Trans-Canada Trail through British Columbia follow the route as well.
| Contents |
| History |
| Myra Canyon Trestles |
| Kettle Valley Steam Railway |
| External Links |
History
The railway was built out of necessity to service the growing mining demands in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. When the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP Rail) completed the transcontinental railway in 1885, the route cut through the Rocky Mountains significantly North of British Columbia's mining towns within the Kootenay region. It was far easier for American railways to quickly build trackage North from Spokane following the convenient valleys and exploit the valuable mining region. This resulted in countless amounts of mining related revenues to be exported to American railways and smelters. The Kettle Valley Railway was created in part to help preserve both Canadian sovereignty within the Kootenay region of British Columbia, and also retain mining revenues in Canada.
The route selected involved connecting the railway with Vancouver. However, this was not an easy task, as two mountain ranges stood in the way. Construction was some of the most costliest per track mile when compared against most other North American railway projects, and it took nearly 20 years to complete.
The line ran from Castlegar to Hope where it connected with the Canadian Pacific Railway. The KVR lost its prominence when the Crowsnest Highway was constructed 1949, but portions of the railway were not shut down until 1961.
During the Kettle Valley Railways lifespan, on numerous occasions it acted as "The Second Mainline" when washouts, avalanches and rock slides closed off the main CP Rail line.
The first sections of the railway that were abandoned included the sections via the Coquihalla Canyon. Maintenance of the track in these areas was difficult to say the least. Annual snowfalls excceded 14 feet in this area, thus avalanches and rock slides kept the railway closed through most of the year. Upon closure, trains accessed the KVR via Spences Bridge and Merritt until the complete line was abandoned in the 1980's.
The next sections of railway to be abandoned by CP Rail were the sections East of Penticton. These early abandonments included the famed Myra Canyon section of the railway. Rail operations continued into Penticton via way of Spences Bridge, Merritt and Princeton until the late 1980's when CP Rail petitioned to abandon the remaining trackage. Shortly after receiving permission, CP Rail commenced the removal of the track from Penticton to Spences Bridge. During this time, a group determined to preserve a portion of the railway emerged in Summerland and was successful in preserving a portion of the railway through Summerland.
One of the major landmarks on the former line are the Othello-Quintette Tunnels, which are lined up in a straight line, cutting through the Coquihalla River's gorge near Hope. They are open in summer for sightseeing. Andrew McCullough, who engineered the complex series of bridges and tunnels through Coquihalla Canyon was an avid reader of Shakespeare. As a result, many of the areas in the Coquihalla Region are named after characters in Shakespearean literature, such as Iago, Romeo, Juliet, Lear, Jessica, Shylock and Portia.
On the Smithsonian Folkways FW03569 1961 recording, "Bunkhouse and Forecastle Songs of the Northwest," Stanley G. Triggs sings a song called "The Kettle Valley Line" while accompanying himself on the mandolin.
Myra Canyon Trestles
Photograph of Myra Canyon Rail Bridge taken just days before it was destroyed by fire. August, 2003.
Firefighters stand in front of a Myra Canyon trestle soaked in fire retardant. August, 2003.
One of the most popular sections of the hiking trail along the former Kettle Valley line is the section through Myra Canyon. Myra Canyon is located South of Kelowna on Okanagan Mountain. The section of line originally transited between Midway and Penticton. When the railway was built, the section of railway between Myra station and June Springs station required 18 wooden trestles and two tunnels in order to traverse the deep canyon. After some repair work, they became an attraction for tourists.
The 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park Fire from August to September 2003, resulted in 12 of the 18 trestles on the Myra Canyon section of the route being burnt down. Additionally the bridge decks of two of the metal trestles were destroyed in the fire.
Soon after the 2003 forest fire, the B.C provincial government announced that it was rebuilding the damaged trestles. As of December 2006, public access is now available from the Myra parking lot to Trestle #12 on the east side and from Ruth parking lot to Trestle #2 on the west side. Resortation efforts to the remaining trestles are schedule for completion in the latter portion of 2007. For up to date information on the restoration process contact the Penticton Visitor Centre at 1-800-663-5052 or visit the Penticton's Official Tourism Site.
Kettle Valley Steam Railway
The Kettle Valley Steam Railway has been operating along a preserved ten-kilometre section from Prairie Valley Station to Canyon View Siding, near Summerland, British Columbia.
External Links
★ Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society
★ Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park
★ Spirit of 2010 Rail Trail
★ Trans-Canada Trail
★ Penticton's Official Tourism Site
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