Railways in Southern British Columbia

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The railway events in this timeline are represented in this Railways in Southern British Columbia Map.

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

1888

1889

1890s

1890

1891

  • Spring - C&K completed to Nelson (McCulloch's Wonder, p24)
  • Silver found in Sandon Kaslo and Slocan Railway
  • 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, p88)
  • GN crosses into Canada for first time at New Westminster (McCulloch's Wonder, p146) but blocked from Vancouver by Fraser River
  • October 1 - Shuswap & Okanagan (S&O) - built from Sicamous to Vernon (Okanagan Landing) (CPR). (McCulloch's Wonder, p27) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 1, p60) [1]

1892

1893

1894

1895

1896

1897

1898

  • early - Corbin's smelter in Northport starts operation - serving Rossland via his Red Mountain Railway(Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p89)
  • 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 and Red Mountain Railway (McCulloch's Wonder, p44) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p89)
  • 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)
  • GN's Bedlington & Nelson Rly (CDN) and Kootenai Valley Railway (US) starts construction between Bonners Ferry (mainline) to border to Creston to Kuskonook (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p54) ([2] says complete to border by end of 1898)

1899

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)
  • CPR completes construction on BCSR to Kimberley (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p45)
  • GN's Bedlington & Nelson Railway completes route to Kuskonook (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p54) (started in 1898) with shared trackage between Wyndell (n. of Creston) to Sirdar Jct (at Kootenay Lake)

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)
  • GN builds Morrissey Creak Branch in Crowsnest from CPR track (short spur?) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p29)
  • Kootenay Central Railway (Windermere) chartered independently (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p38)

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

  • GN builds Montana & Great Northern (US) from mainline at Jennings to border (via Rexford) and Crows Nest Southern (CDN) from border to Swinton (in Crossnest) and connected with Morrissey spur (from 1901) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p29)

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
  • GN reroutes mainline between Columbia Falls and Jennings via Rexford (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p29)
  • GN extends Crows Nest Southern through Fernie (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p29) (to Michel by 1908)
  • GN abandons section from CPR to Kuskonook (short!) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p54) officially abandoned in 1913.

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)
  • GN builds from Curlew to Ferry, US (opposite Midway) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p108)

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)
  • GN operates VV&E from Midway to Molson (opposite Bridesville) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p108)

1907

1908

1909

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
  • Canadian Northern Pacific starts construction at Port Mann (Railway Mileposts: Vol 1, p85)
  • CPR leases Kootenay Central Railway (Windermere) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p39)
  • GN ceases operation of Kaslo & Slocan (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p54)

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)
  • CPR builds 42 miles south of Golden to Spillimacheen and 25 miles north from Colvalli to Fort Steele (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p39)

1912

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)
  • Canadian Northern Pacific completes track through canyon (just to Boston Bar?) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 1, p85)

1914

1915

1916

1919

1920s

1920

1921

  • GN abandon's Red Mountain line between Rossland and Northport (originally built in 1896 by Corbin) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p89)

1923

  • KVR builds spur to Skaha Lake from Penticton and from Okanagan Falls to Haynes with barge on Skaha Lake connecting (connected in 1931) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p117)

1925

1926

1930s

1931

1935

1936

1937

  • September 30 - GN abandons Princeton to Hedley
  • GN abandons Crows Nest Southern from border to Elko (Elko to Michel abandoned in 1926) (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p29)

1940s

1940

1942

1944

  • GN cancels tracksharing agreement with KVR through Coquihalla for large fee (McCulloch's Wonder, p223)
  • July - December - CPR builds from Oliver (end of track) to Osoyoos (McCulloch's Wonder, p231)

1945

1949

1950s

1951

1955

1957

1958

1959

1960s

1961

1962

1964

  • January 17 - last passenger train on KVR (McCulloch's Wonder, p245) - one year short of 50 years of operation

1967

1970s

1970

  • CP reworks Colvalli and Cranbrook because of Koocanusa flooding means that Crowsnest connects at Fort Steele instead of Cranbrook (Railway Mileposts: Vol 2, p23)

1972

1973

1977

1978

1979

1980s

1980

1983

  • BN abandons south of San Poil (ie to Republic) [6]

1988

1990s

1991

1993

  • Grand Forks Railway formed by Pope & Talbot to operate 5km of track in Grand Forks using part of CP's Boundary Subdivision and Carson Spur to BN Railway [8]

1995

1996

  • BN's Wenatchee to Oroville sold to shortline [9]

1998

  • CP leases S&O to Okanagan Valley Railway [10] [11]
  • BN sells N&FS from Columbia Gardens (between border and Fruitvale) and Parks to shortline [12]

2000s

2000

2004

  • Kettle Falls International (Omnitrax) takes over from BN on railways in Northeastern Washington State and BC, including the former N&FS (to Columbia Gardens), Kettle Falls to Grand Forks to Curlew and San Poil[14]

2007

  • Kettle Falls International abandons from US border to Curlew (keeps from Kettle Falls to Grand Forks).

Unknown

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