The kettle valley brakemen bring railway history to life with true stories and original songs about british columbias dramatic steam train era with special emphasis on the spectacular kettle valley railway. Penticton was once the head quarters of the kettle valley railway kvr. The beginning of the kettle valley railway the idea for the kettle valley railway was born at the turn of the 20th century. How to find the kvr trail in penticton bc walking, hiking. We have renovated the single mans bunkhouse for an overnight stay experience, advanced bookings only. Updated sources provide more information about the individuals, from andrew mcculloch himself to the laborers who made the railway a reality. I could have listed 50 excellent fiction and nonfiction railway books, but. Cycling the kettle valley railway ebook by dan langford. In 1896, surveying began and by 1898, the railway to the kootenays from eastern canada was complete. The new york, ontario and western railway by joe bux with the. Osborn elevation elgin extended feet fiscal yearjune fond du lac. This corridor is one of the most dynamic routes in canada, with some truly impressive scenery and spectacular views. Secondhand railway books early railway history buffer books. There is a sister website devoted to granite creek.
Stour valley railway through time takes the reader on a tour of the line, past and present, showing through old and contemporary photographs the history of the stations on the line over the last fortyfour years. A descriptive history of hotham valley tourist railway. Acceptable, rear pages water damaged but all text readable. With over 15,000 copies sold, cycling the kettle valley has proven to be a remarkable resource for anyone interested in the stunning abandoned railbed located in the southern interior of british columbia. For a unique ghost town experience, visit vanishing. You can book your group on a regular run or charter the train for your own special day. The first part of the book 18561916 examines the railways earl. The kettle valley railway is an abandoned railway bed that runs about 600 kilometres through southcentral bc between midway and hope. This line is closed, although track remains for a portion between appleby and warcop. The line was one of a network of railways constructed by the cpr to reach the rich mineral deposits in the mountainous southeast see mining. One of the premier rail trails in north america, it contains spectacular sections through impressive canyons requiring tunnels and trestles to carry the. The kettle valley railway kvr is an abandoned railbed located in southern british columbia between midway and hope.
Ride the historic kettle valley rail trail from myra canyon to penticton on july 7, 2019. Both pichi richi and steamranger have book and souvenirs etc for sale as well so it would be best to check them out as well. Photos, maps, personal memories and local books of nene valley railway. As time permits, there will be a web site for blakeburn, and others for exploring the princeton merritt tulameen hedley keremeos area. A pictorial history of rail development in southern british columbia and the building of the kettle valley railway. However, a disastrous fire in january 1961 saw the demise of most of the surrounding timber mills leaving only the dwellingup operation. The new edition of mccullochs wonder provides train buffs with a longawaited update to a classic railway history. Read cycling the kettle valley railway by dan langford available from rakuten kobo. The newnes railway line also called wolgan valley railway is a closed and dismantled railway line in new south wales, australia. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. A history of the iowa central railway, and minneapolis and the age of railways, all published by the university of minnesota press. Penticton was the busiest station on the kettle valley railway.
Connecting canals at cromford and whaley bridge, the 33 mile line incorporated a number of steep inclines along which trains were hauled using steamdriven cables. The railbed of the kettle valley railway still winds through the incredible okanagan highlands. Kettle valley railway knowbc the leading source of bc. This book has been rereleased this year 2003 in a revised, 25th anniversary paperback edition. Kvr trail kettle valley railway recreational trail. Mar 20, 2020 the journey begins at bassaleg junction and runs close to the ebbw river in the deepening ebbw vale. His book the pictorial history of railroading in british columbia was one of ten finalists selected for the prestigious eatons book award in 1981. For the railway buff and particularly those who are fascinated by the rich history of the coast to kootenay rail line, the kettle valley railway, this book is a virtual pot of gold. The kettle valley line this song, about the scenic railway line that ran from hope, at the head of the fraser valley, along the southern border of british columbia to lethbridge in alberta, was written by the late ean hay. The kettle valley rail trail is a multiuse recreational rail trail located in the okanaganboundary region of southern british columbia the trail uses a rail corridor that was originally built for the nowabandoned kettle valley railway.
Kettle valley steam railway ride the historic kettle. This bustling railway town boasted two stations, a wharf connecting with the steam ships, and its own luxury railway hotel. Midway to penticton completed oct 2, 1914 princeton to penticton completed april 23rd 1915. In fact it was john whites book driving the kettle valley railway that really got me started in the kvr. Around each bend the ride becomes progressively better with 270 degree views of okanagan lake, the city of kelowna and its surrounding mountains. Map of the kettle valley railway and connecting railway trails kettle valley railway. As is typical for railway beds, the grade never exceeds 2. Mar 05, 2012 this is a video of the photos i took of the kvr in august 2011. A new history of the railways in britain by christian. Discover the best history of railroads in best sellers. It opened in 1915 and was abandoned in portions beginning in 1961, with the surviving portion west of penticton seeing their last trains in 1989. Mar 01, 2011 the author does a great job on this fascinating story of the kettle valley railroad giving the complete history of its conception, construction and later demise. The line ran for 32 mi 51 km from the main western line to the township of newnes. With over 15,000 copies sold, cycling the kettle valley has proven to be a remarkable resource for anyone interested in.
The new york, ontario and western railway, new york postcard. The new york, ontario and western railway was the first classone railroad in the united states to be abandoned in its entirety. See more ideas about kettle, british columbia and vancouver city. Books about south australian railways page 1 south. Relics of the line today stations barnard castle site is now occupied by a car park for the glaxo welcome factory but station masters house survives. This section runs from faulder to trout creek, running through west summerland and the prairie valley railway station. Books will be of interest to standard and narrow gauge and logging modelers in ho, hon3, o scale, on3,on30, s scale sn3, 1.
New model railroad products for the week of april 23, 2020. Back then, much of the right of way was used by ranchers and people used atvs on the right of way. The kettle valley and its railways by hal riegger, used. The trail uses a rail corridor that was originally built for the nowabandoned kettle valley railway. Kettle valley railway, kvr, mileboards a historical.
Tunnels and trestles are what cyclists remember most about the spectacular 600 kmlong kettle valley railway one of the premier rail trails in canada. The route of the vancouver and nicola valley railway. Whereas other rail lines were closed gradually, the federal government closed down the railroad on march 29, 1957, for its failure to pay employee withholding taxes. In 1910, when engineer andrew mcculloch tackled the challenge of getting the kettle valley railway across this canyon, he knew it would not be easy. The kettle valley railway oh, what an adventure it was to ride on the kettle valley railway, or the kvr as it was called. New visuals capture the dramatic landscape that had to be conquered to complete the railway. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Kvr shuttle services when you book any of our selfguided kvr cycle tours, a shuttle from penticton to midway or rock creek is already included in the cost of your tour. The station house was on the penticton wharf, at the base of martin street. May 22, 2011 we did have maps of the old sar system and others in sa at one time, at the nrm the book shop sells more than just railway books though. We are pleased to offer a huge selection of music books, rock and pop books. In 1910, andrew mcculloch began construction of the kettle valley railway that would connect the kootenays to the bc coast.
The kettle valley railway was built for the canadian pacific railway between 1910 and 1914 and the steam trains of the time were a vital connection from the coast to the kootenays, transporting people and goods. The kettle valley railway kvr was once part of the canadian pacific railway and is now one of the most scenic sections of the trans. A pictorial history of the kettle valley railway by barrie sanford. One of the wonders of the old west, under the sure hand of engineer andrew mcculloch this unique railroad traversed some of the most. The museum contains the original station house, built in 1900 and currently houses exhibits commemorating the steam railway era of southern british columbia and the british columbia provincial. Biking the kettle valley railway kvr, an old, abandoned railway bed that has a new lease on life, is one of the top things to do the okanagan valley in spring, summer and fall. The main museum houses interpretive exhibits on the kettle river valley s rich cultural rail, mining, forestry, and agriculture heritage. The kettle valley and its railways, a pictorial history of rail development in southern british columbia and the building of the kettle valley railway. History of the kettle valley railway kvr in penticton bc. Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. When the province took ownership, it was initially left abandoned and many buildings, trestles and tunnels were vandalized. Once a comprehensive railroad system, the decommissioned tracks are now home to an extensive recreational trail providing almost 650 km 400 mi of connected pathways throughout the region. The author is himself a retired railway man whose own working career and that of several of his close relatives included years of experiences involving the now defunct kvr. Although there were many hardships, the railway was completed in 1916.
A distinct chapter in western canadian history lies just a few minutes from the village. Trip on the kettle valley railway from hope to the. The line was not in full operation until after world war 1. The station was designed to provide a place of business for the railways, and a comfortable place for passengers to wait before boarding the trains and ships. Kettle valley railway kvr, a subsidiary and later a division of the cpr, crossed southern bc from hope to midway via the coquihalla pass and the kettle r valley.
The kettle valley railway was a subsidiary of the canadian pacific railway that operated across southern british columbia, west of midway running to rock creek, then north to myra canyon, down to penticton over to princeton, coalmont, brookmere, coquihalla and finally hope where it connected to the main cpr line. Well illustrated book which explores the development of british steam from its lowly beginnings to the. It successfully carried millions of commuters to and from their jobs every day, organized its trunk route services to yield a profit under the brand name intercity, and pioneered worldbeating research and technological development through its own research center and engineering subsidiary. Jan 01, 2010 the kettle valley railway kvr is an abandoned railbed located in southern british columbia between midway and hope.
Located in southern british columbia, it was once named by outside magazine as one of the top 10 trails to cycle. Kettle valley and its railways by hal riegger w dust. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. On this site i will show some of the sights to be seen along this old abandoned railway, as well as share some of the history. The kettle valley steam railway is a heritage railway near summerland, british columbia the kvsr operates excursion trains over the only remaining section of the kettle valley railway. The line runs through beautiful vistas, orchards, vineyards, and over the.
The trail was developed during the 1990s after the canadian pacific railway abandoned train service. If you are planning your own trip, or just need a shuttle along the way, these are your go to people for the trail. Kettle valley steam railway summerland 2020 all you. A short history and photographs of historic coalmont, b. Kettle valley railway kettle valley railway kvr, a subsidiary and later a division of the cpr, crossed southern bc from hope to midway via the coquihalla pass and the kettle r valley.
It took six years of backbreaking and sometimes dangerous work to build the 330mile line 530 kilometres. Situated in central southern british columbia, this converted railway to trail way traverses some of canadas warmest climates through spectacular mountain and valley scenery. The kettle valley railway reporting mark kv was a subsidiary of the canadian pacific railway that operated across southern british columbia, west of midway running to rock creek, then north to myra canyon, down to penticton over to princeton, coalmont, brookmere, coquihalla and finally hope where it connected to the main cpr line. This website will give you a glimpse of life in coalmont past and present. Tunnels and trestles are what cyclists remember most about the spectacular 600 kmlong kettle valley railwayone of the premier rail trails in canada. But there was no canadian railway to carry the ore to a port on the west coast where it could be shipped to markets around the world. This is the route through bc that my mother used when she emigrated from germany to pentiction in 1952 the run is from hope to penticton on the coquihalla subdivision this was an important cp rail. This book describes one of the greatest railroad construction sagas in canadian history. The line carried much steelworks freight traffic between the north east of england and workington in cumbria. He has also written for trains and other national or international magazines.
A couple hiking over one of the trestle bridges overlooking myra canyon on the kettle valley railway. It also provides the perfect backdrop for staff reward trips or business and convention outings. There were rich silver and copper mines in the kootenays. Apr, 2017 if biking the kettle valley railway isnt on your bucket list, it needs to be. Calendar use the calendar below to select your date and book online. Support the kettle valley steam railway nonprofit society donate.
Built during 1910 1915, the kvr kootenay to coast connection powered our pioneer fruit industry into world markets, transported our families on vacations and errands. Jan 12, 2009 the new york, ontario and western railway was the first classone railroad in the united states to be abandoned in its entirety. When i started touring the kettle valley railway in the late 90s, much of the right of way was actually drivable by vehicle. This edition has an introduction by k hoole, the modern authority on the history of the railways of northeast england. Francis frith the uks leading publisher of local photographs since 1860. He is the author of many books on railroad history, including the tootin louie. It was pure joy cycling over these old trestles while ed told us stories about the history of the ara. Its publication did much to raise the quality of railway history as a whole. Greyhound canada its history and coaches 0919487718 lawrence a. Completed in 1916, it carried freight and passengers in comfort and safety for over 40 years. What was once a little known, abandoned rail line through the rugged southern interior of british columbia, open to all who dared travel it, is. Kettle river museum one of the best small museums youll. The kettle valley rail trail is a multiuse recreational rail trail located in the okanaganboundary region of southern british columbia. The first two photos were taken at the tunnel just across the lake from summerland, bc, then a panoramic view of penticton and points south then our final arrival at the former cpr station in penticton where in one photo my son patrick is posing with his three venture leaders then a group photo with yours truly on the right and patrick third from the right.
The trains have long since stopped running, but the legacy of the railways continues to this day. The kettle valley line the british columbia folklore society. Welcome to touring the kettle valley railway, a photographic tour of the historic kettle valley railway. The second half of todays ride will cross 18 railway trestles, some boasting 60 metres 200 ft above the valley below and 2 tunnels.
The scenic views are interspersed by fascinating panoramas of collieries long gone, together with pictures of the varied railway architecture employed. The story of the kettle valley railway paperback march 1. Barry sanford has written widely on railway and technical subjects. A historical field guide to the kvr 9780969697121 by smuin, joe and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. Called the most difficult railway in the world to build the kettle valley spanned deep mountain gorges and tunnelled through solid rock. Along the way, it passed through a tunnel now known as the glowworm tunnel, because it is famous for its glowworms. We have a small gift shop that where you can purchase regional history books and memorabilia. The kettle valley and its railways by hal riegger and a great selection of related books.
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