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Written and maintained by Hector Turner (hectorturner@home.com)
Contents Copyright ©2000
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| BRIDAL VEIL FALLS AND THE COQUIHALLA: |
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One of the most amazing areas of the KVR that can still be seen is the upper Coquihalla from Portia to Coquihalla summit. Although the actual railbed is inaccessible in many places, one can travel along the Trans-Mountain Pipeline road which parallels the right-of-way. Not far from the summit is the remains of the Bridal Veil Falls trestle. As Dan Langford had reported on his webpage, the trestle has indeed fallen and is lying on the floor of the canyon. Quite a sad sight as this was one of the most spectacular bridges still left on the KVR.
You can access the railbed (by bike or foot only, it has been gated off to non-authorized trafic) from the Coquihalla lakes recreation area by the toll booths. See John White's book "Driving the Kettle Valley Railway" for maps and directions. UPDATE! Jim Stotesbury, from the Coquihalla Lakes Lodge, reports that the above mentioned Trans-Mountain Pipeline road has blasted a new road all the way down to Portia. It leaves the old railbed about 2k from the summit and heads down to the river. Although private property, hundreds of cyclists are now taking the trip.
Bridal Veil Falls trestle... before and after
Concrete snowshed on the Coquihalla--Above photos courtesy of Dean & Mary Miller |
| TROUT CREEK BRIDGE IN WEST SUMMERLAND: |
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Today the dream of the Kettle Valley Railway lives on in West Summerland with the opening of the Kettle Valley Steam Railway. Steam trains are again running over a part of the KVR and the Okanagan Valley again echoes to the sound of the steam whistle. How this came about was through a group of dedicated individuals... the Kettle Valley Railway Heritage Society, in partnership with the Royal BC Museum, the BC Forest Museum and the BC Government. Together they managed to save 16 km of track from Trout Creek Bridge to Faulder. After a lot of hard work by everyone involved; repairing track and laying sidings; acquiring and restoring rolling stock; building links with the community; and last but not least... finding a locomotive. It all came together on September 17, 1995 when the first steam train in over 40 years ran across the Trout Creek Bridge and on into the station stop at West Summerland! The train is now operated by the re-formed Kettle Valley Railway Society, a non-profit, charitable organization. If you are intersted in joining the society, making a donation or even volunteering to help with the running of the train, check out the Museums & Societies section of the KVR Info pages.
-- Photos courtesy of Robert Turner from his book "Steam on the Kettle Valley"
Operating Schedule: May 20 to June 30 : Saturday, Sunday, and Monday |
| ADVENTURE IN MYRA CANYON: |
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UPDATE: Tragedy Strikes the Kettle Valley! 12 of the historic Kettle Valley Railway trestles through scenic Myra Canyon have been destroyed by the still-burning Okanagan Mountain Fire in Kelowna, BC. In addition to the 12 wooden trestles that have been destroyed, the 2 steel bridges are seriously damaged with the decks burnt off. At this time there is only 4 trestles left. Fire-fighters have set up sprinkler systems and fire retardant and the fire is now 100% contained but the restoration work is still a long way off.
Fire advances on Myra Canyon Trestle #18 - September 20, 2003. See the Homepage for the most recent info and more pictures.
Myra Canyon high above Kelowna
New railings on a Myra Canyon trestle--Photo courtesy of Dean & Mary Miller Spectacular Myra Canyon in the mountains above Kelowna, soon to be made a Provincial Park, is famous with hikers and cyclists for good reason. The thrill you get walking across the tall trestle bridges looking out onto the view of the Okanagan Valley is not soon to be forgotten. In only a distance of 5 1/2 miles the railway was forced to build 16 wood frame trestles, 2 steel plate girder trestle bridges and 2 tunnels. Today they remain to be explored by the adventurous traveller with walkways and railings installed by the efforts of the Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society. Directions on how to get to Myra Canyon can be had from the Kelowna Infocentre, 544 Harvey Ave.(Hwy 97) 604-861-1515. One should note, however, that the roads leading up to the canyon are active logging roads, so it would be advisable to go on the weekend(if you were to meet one of the logging trucks there is nowhere to go but down!). The roads are also VERY rough and not suitable for travel unless you have a truck, a 4-wheel drive or rental car! Hopefully if the canyon becomes a Provincial Park the access roads will be improved somewhat. |
| THE CARMI SUBDIVISION: |
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--Above photos courtesy of Steven Kostur
From the start of the line in Midway much of the railbed can still be followed with several access points as it climbs up the Kettle River valley to the high point of the line at Myra Canyon. There are many interesting sights along the way including the bridge pictured above at the Provincial Park, the almost ghost town of Carmi, the remains of several stations and railway buildings and many scenic views of the surrounding countryside. Be sure to make a stop in Midway at the museum as they have many displays on the history of the KVR. The Kettle River Provincial Park is off of Hwy. 33 and offers overnight camping and picnicking.
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