Railways in Southern British Columbia

1880s

1883

• CPR reaches British Columbia from the east by end of season
• Northern Pacific completes mainline (via Sandpoint, Spokane) [Peter]

1884

• CPR reaches Rogers Pass by end of season

1885

• November, 7 - Last spike in Eagle Pass, November 7, 1885

1887

• Hall brothers discover silver near Nelson(McCulloch's Wonder, p19)

1888

• April - Corbin gets charter for Spokane Falls & Northern Railway(McCulloch's Wonder, p21)

1889

• SF&N reaches Little Dalles(McCulloch's Wonder, p21)
• Columbia & Kootenay Steam Navigation Company (CKSN) founded, serving SF&N (McCulloch's Wonder, p24)

1890s

1890

• August, 20 - CPR charters Columbia & Kootenay Railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p24)
• James Baker obtains BC charter for British Columbia Southern Railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p22)

1891

• Spring - C&K completed to Nelson (McCulloch's Wonder, p24)
• Silver found in Sandon (')
• Two railroads chartered to build to Nicola that both died. Nicola Valley Railway (backed by CPR) [Spences Bridge to Nicola] and Nicola, Kamloops & Similkameen Coal & Railway Company (indep.) [Kamloops to Nicola to Princton and Osoyoos] (McCulloch's Wonder, p{{{p}}})
• GN crosses into Canada for first time at New Westminster (McCulloch's Wonder, p146) but blocked from Vancouver by Fraser River

1892

• Shuswap & Okanagan (S&O) - built from Sicamous to Vernon - only know built before or during 1893 (CPR). (McCulloch's Wonder, p27)
• N&S receives charter (')

1893

• December - N&FS opens to Five Mile Point (McCulloch's Wonder, p26)
• Great Northern Railway mainline completed (via Jennings, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint, Spokane) (McCulloch's Wonder, p28)
• August, Northern Pacific Railway bankrupt (McCulloch's Wonder, p29) and obtained by Great Northern (McCulloch's Wonder, p44)

1894

• October - N&S reaches Three Forks (')

1895

• April - K&S construction started (McCulloch's Wonder, p32)
• October, late - K&S reaches Sandon (McCulloch's Wonder, p32)
• December, 15 - N&S reaches Sandon (McCulloch's Wonder, p32)

1896

• January - C&W charter for Trail to Penticton by Heinze (McCulloch's Wonder, p35)
• Trail smelter built by Heinze (McCulloch's Wonder, p34)
• Rossland to Trail narrow gauge built by Heinze (McCulloch's Wonder, p34)
• December - CPR buys CKSN (McCulloch's Wonder, p37)
• CPR buys BCSR charter (McCulloch's Wonder, p38)
• CPR signs Crows Nest Agreement with federal government (McCulloch's Wonder, p39)
• Vancouver businessmen charter Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern Railway & Navigation Company (VV&E) from Vancouver to Kootenays (McCulloch's Wonder, p40)
• December - Heinz starts construction on C&W (McCulloch's Wonder, p41)
• CPR builts Revelstoke to Arrowhead (The Skyline Limited, p49)

1897

• June, 16 - Heinz (C&W) fails in merger with VV&E (McCulloch's Wonder, p41)
• September 23 - Mackenzie & Mann acquire controlling interest in VV&E (McCulloch's Wonder, p45)
• C&K completed up Slocan Valley to Slocan City (')
• September - Heinz's C&W connects Trail to Robson West [Peter]

1898

• February - Heinz sells Rossland, smelter, and half C&W to CPR (McCulloch's Wonder, p42)
• March 19 - Corbin charters Kettle River Valley Railway in US to connect Boundary with his SF&N but denied Canadian portion (McCulloch's Wonder, p43)
• June 15 - VV&E (Mann) agrees to build from Miday to Coast, CPR agrees to build from Kootenays only to Midway (McCulloch's Wonder, p47)
• June 27 - VV&E starts construction at Penticton (McCulloch's Wonder, p47)
• July 1 - Great Northern obtains control of Corbin's SF&N (McCulloch's Wonder, p44)
• October 15 - Last spike on CPRs Crows Nest to Kootenay Landing railway built in just over year (McCulloch's Wonder, p44)
• late - CPR works on C&W (McCulloch's Wonder, p48)

1899

• early - CPR works on C&W (McCulloch's Wonder, p48)
• February 27 - new BC Government (Semlin) cancels subsidies to VV&E (McCulloch's Wonder, p48)
• June - Shaughnessy succeeds Van Horne as president of the CPR (McCulloch's Wonder, p48)
• September 18 - CPR complets C&W to Grand Forks, grading to Midway (McCulloch's Wonder, p49)

1900s

1900

• early - CPR has track to Midway and Eholt (McCulloch's Wonder, p49)
• January - CPR surveys from Midway to Hope (McCulloch's Wonder, p50)
• May - Granby Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company opens first mine at Phoenix (McCulloch's Wonder, p65)
• June - James Dunsmiur becomes BC premier (McCulloch's Wonder, p53)
• August - Granby Consolidated opens smelter in Grand Forks (McCulloch's Wonder, p65)
• December 13 - VV&E sold to Great Northern and CPR announces plan for Vancouver & Grand Forks (McCulloch's Wonder, p54)

1901

• March 28 - Dunsmiur announces subsidy award for Kootenay and coast railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p56)
• May 11 - Midway & Vernon (M&V) (independent) receives provincial charter.(McCulloch's Wonder, p81) Subsidy increased in spring 1902 but no construction yet.
• May 23 - Kettle River Valley Railway receives federal Charter and Republic & Kettle River (US) by Holland (McCulloch's Wonder, p68)
• June - Great Northern gains complete control of VV&E (McCulloch's Wonder, p58)
• July - GN starts construction on Washington & Great Northern (US) north up Kettle River to Canada from Marcus(WA). Also started building from GN mainline to Crowsnest area.(McCulloch's Wonder, p58)
• July - BC Government commissions Edgar Dewdney to survey Hope Mountains for a railway route (McCulloch's Wonder, p59)
• August 31 - Construction starts on Kettle River Valley Railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p68)
• October 28 - KRVR-R&KR receives first locomotive (McCulloch's Wonder, p68)

1902

• January 2 - KRVR-R&KR reaches Curlew (McCulloch's Wonder, p69)
• January - GN blocked from Grand Forks by KRVR
• CPR builds from Nelson to Proctor (McCulloch's Wonder, p256)
• April 12 - KRVR-R&KR completes Grand Forks to Republic (US) (McCulloch's Wonder, p73)
• W&GN (GN) completes from Carson (Grand Forks) to Republic (McCulloch's Wonder, p74)
• June - Dunsmuir charters Vancouver & Coast-Kootenay Railway for BC McLean brothers. (McCulloch's Wonder, p62)
• June 9 - VV&E comples from Cascade to Carson (south of Grand Forks) (GN) (McCulloch's Wonder, p74)
• November 9 - GN crosses KRVR tracks into Grand Forks, which KRVR blocks by parking locomotive across (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• November GN completed to Granby Smelter (at Grand Forks) [Peter]
• Columbia River bridge completed at Robson [Peter]
• CPR builds Kootenay and Arrowhead from Lardeau to Gerrard [Peter] (The Skyline Limited, p179)
• late - Tracy Holland resigns as head of Kettle Valley (McCulloch's Wonder, p76)

Note: Kettle River Valley Railway (CDN) and Republic & Kettle River Railway (US) were merged into single entity called Kettle Valley Lines

1903

• September - Vancouver & Coast-Kootenay Railway starts token construction (McCulloch's Wonder, p63)
• October - Vancouver & Coast-Kootenay dies
• William Hamilton Merritt revives charter for Nicola, Kamloops & Similkameen Coal & Railway Company (see 1891)

1904

• January 1 - Midway & Vernon (independent) starts token construction at Vernon - one man with wheelbarrow to sustain charter(McCulloch's Wonder, p82) built 1/4 of mile over several years

1905

• Corbin (backed by CP) announces Spokane International to Moyie Lake
• June 20 - grading starts on Spences Bridge to Nicola railway NK&S (McCulloch's Wonder, p91)
• July 5 - M&V starts construction from Midway end (under McLean brothers) (McCulloch's Wonder, p83)
• November - M&V completes grading from Midway to Rock Creek (McCulloch's Wonder, p84) but did not get further. Officially disolved in 1927. (McCulloch's Wonder, p86)
• November 12 - CPR leases NK&S from Mr. Merritt. CPR talks of connecting it to Midway. (McCulloch's Wonder, p90)
• November 9 - CPR and GN clash just west of Midway over property rights (McCulloch's Wonder, p102)

1906

• CPR's Nicola Branch under construction (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• January 8 - NK&S starts laying track at Spences Bridge up Nicola
• June 16 - Kettle Valley starts slowly building north from Grand Forks (McCulloch's Wonder, p77)
• October 31 - NK&S approved between Spences Bridge and Coutlee (McCulloch's Wonder, p92)

1907

• CPR's Nicola Branch completed (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• January 22 - first coal leaves Nicola Valley (McCulloch's Wonder, p94)
• April - NK&S starts operation to Nicola (McCulloch's Wonder, p92)
• May - GN crosses border from Oroville (south of Keremeos) building towards Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p105)
• July 10 - GN reaches Keremeos {MW|p=107}}
• spring - Spokane Intl nears complation (McCulloch's Wonder, p106)
• June 24 - Kettle Valley Lines completes track through Grand Forks (McCulloch's Wonder, p77)
• end of summer - KVL built to 18 miles north of Grand Forks (McCulloch's Wonder, p77)
• general depression causes drop in copper prices so KVL suspends operating to Republic (McCulloch's Wonder, p78)
• GN stops construction in Crowsnest at Michel (near Fernie) (McCulloch's Wonder, p107)

1908

• April - J.J. Warren (for KVR) and Shaughnessy (for CPR) discuss joint effort (McCulloch's Wonder, p114)

1909

• July - GN grade to Princeton, ready for rails (McCulloch's Wonder, p108)
• December 23 - first GN train to Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p108)

1910s

1910

• March 10 - Bill passed with subsidy to KVR for Midway to Nicola, under CPR sponsorship, and modify KVR charter to build through Coquihalla (McCulloch's Wonder, p122) also gave Midway&Vernon grade (Grand Forks to Rock Creek) to KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p127)
• May 10 - McCulloch appointed chief engineer of KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p124)
• July 9 - grading starts at Merritt towards Brookmere (Otter Summitt) (McCulloch's Wonder, p129)
• October 4 - grading starts at Midway towards Rock Creek, fixing M&V grade (McCulloch's Wonder, p131)
• December 17 - first track layed at Merritt by KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p132)
• February 21 - GN starts tunnel east of Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p148), also start building east from Abbotsford
• end of year - GN to Tulameen (from Princeton) and Hope (from Abbotsford) (McCulloch's Wonder, p149) NOT - see 1911

1911

• February 8 - KVR tracks to Rock Creek from Midway (McCulloch's Wonder, p133)
• May 22 - agreement between GN and Canadian Northern Pacific Railway to share trackage between Hope and Sumas (CNPR) (McCulloch's Wonder, p150)
• July 1 - Construction starts on Kettle Valley Railway at Penticton(McCulloch's Wonder, p64+) purely ceremonial (McCulloch's Wonder, p137)
• September 29 - KVR reaches Otter Summitt from Merritt (29.4miles) (McCulloch's Wonder, p136)
• end of year - KVR 15 miles north of Rock Creek (McCulloch's Wonder, p136)
• end of year - GN track to Coalmont (from Princeton) and only 5 miles from Abbotsford (McCulloch's Wonder, p150)
• GN builds connection between Oroville and its mainline at Wenatchee (McCulloch's Wonder, p152)

1912

• spring - McCulloch lays out plans for Adra curved tunnel (McCulloch's Wonder, p143)
• March - Premier McBride proposes Pacific Great Eastern (McCulloch's Wonder, p156)
• April 10 - KVR announces that will go through Princeton rather than pass north of the town (McCulloch's Wonder, p145)
• May 1 - GN starts operating between Princeton and Coalmont (McCulloch's Wonder, p267)
• July - KVR receives first and only locomotives lettered for KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p141)
• August - both KVR and GN start grading to Coquihalla Summitt (McCulloch's Wonder, p158)
• September - grading starts on Penticton/Hydraulic Lake (McCulloch's Wonder, p143)
• October 26 - first KVR locomotive arrives in Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p141)
• November 15 - KVR and GN agree on shared trackage at Coquihalla Summitt (KVR) (McCulloch's Wonder, p159)
• "by 1912, GN's VV&E done except for Coquihalla Pass (McCulloch's Wonder, p145)
• Canadian Northern Pacific Railway under construction in 1912 (McCulloch's Wonder, p153)

1913

• January - regulat trains from Midway to Carmi (McCulloch's Wonder, p171)
• spring - Trout Creek Bridge near Summerland under construction (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• April 9 - KVR and GN agree on sharing Coquihalla Pass (McCulloch's Wonder, p160) built by KVR, trackage leased to GN for 999 years. KVR trackage between Otter Summitt and Princeton. Also CPR gets trackage between Midway and Curlew (to bypass Midway to Grand Forks) (McCulloch's Wonder, p161)
• June 1 - KVR leased to CPR for 999 years. (McCulloch's Wonder, p171)
• August - construction starts on Hope to Coquihalla Summitt (McCulloch's Wonder, p160) starting from Hope
• August 26 - construction starts towards Coquihalla Summitt from 'the loops' (McCulloch's Wonder, p170)
• October 25 - first train from Penticton over Trout Creek Bridge (McCulloch's Wonder, p170)
• end of year - track between Penticton and Osprey Lake (40m) (McCulloch's Wonder, p170)
• December - construction starts on Fraser River bridge at Hope (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+) (McCulloch's Wonder, p171)
• December - track reaches Hydraulic (from Rock Creek) (McCulloch's Wonder, p171)
• late - GN basically gives up on BC railroading, cutting back service, construction up Tulameen (McCulloch's Wonder, p161)

1914

• February 28 - KVR officially changes route to go through Princeton (including trackage rights on GN west of Princeton) (McCulloch's Wonder, p174)
• March - track to west end of Adra Tunnel (from Penticton) (McCulloch's Wonder, p174)
• April - grading on entire Osprey Lake to Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p174)
• July - track from Penticton to Chute Lake (McCulloch's Wonder, p175)
• Myra Canyon trestles under construction (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• August - WWI starts (McCulloch's Wonder, p179) - Coquihalla mostly graded, and tunnels under construction
• October 12 - Railway complete between Penticton and Midway (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+), (McCulloch's Wonder, p2)
• October 25 - GN completes Princeton to Otter Summitt, thereby connecting through to Merritt and Spences Bridge (McCulloch's Wonder, p176)

1915

• April - construction just east of Princton (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)
• April 23 - Last spike on Midway to Merrit section at Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+), (McCulloch's Wonder, p177)
• March 4 - track into Hope from CPR mainline (McCulloch's Wonder, p181)
• May 31 - offical opening of the Kettle Valley Railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+) trains operating between Summerland and Princeton (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+), so KVR complete except for Coquihalla (McCulloch's Wonder, p177)
• September - Slide Creek Bridge (m31.8) Coquihalla Subdivision under construction (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+)
• September - track to Ladner Creek (17.5m from Hope) (McCulloch's Wonder, p181)
• November 1 - CPR turns over Nicola branch to KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p178)
• December - construction on Coquihalla pass but not completed until 1916 (work restarted in May 1916) (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+) (McCulloch's Wonder, p182)

1916

• May - work restarts on finishing Coquihalla pass (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+)
• May 26 - JJ Hill dies (McCulloch's Wonder, p186)
• July - work still ongoing on Coquihalla pass (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+)
• July 31 - work done on Coquihalla pass (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+) (McCulloch's Wonder, p184)
• September 27 - GN operates single inspection train over Coquihalla (McCulloch's Wonder, p187)

1920s

1920

• October - Copper Mountain Subdivision opens (McCulloch's Wonder, p96+)

1930s

1931

• CPR completes railway between Proctor and Kootenay Landing along Kootenay Lake (McCulloch's Wonder, p256)

1940s

1942

• Kootenay & Arrowhead (K&A) abandoned from Lardeau and Gerrard (The Skyline Limited, p179)

1960s

1961

• Coquihalla line abandoned (McCulloch's Wonder, p160+)

1967

• track at Hope ends just east of Station, abandoned earlier (McCulloch's Wonder, p64+)

1970s

1977

• CPR bargeslip at Lardeau abandoned (The Skyline Limited, p179)

1979

• track at Beaverdell removed (McCulloch's Wonder, p160+)

1980s

1980

• track between Merritt and Nicola (the Nicola spur) removed (McCulloch's Wonder, p261)

1988

• Merritt's station closed (McCulloch's Wonder, p261)

1990s

1991

• track between Spences Bridge and Penticton pulled up (McCulloch's Wonder, p261)

1995

• Summerland tourist train starts operation (McCulloch's Wonder, p160+)

Unknown

• 1891? - GN builds into Crowsnest Pass, and to Phoenix mines (McCulloch's Wonder, p98)