Kettle Valley RR Trestles Destroyed

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

This is a story that appeared in the Vancouver Province newspaper today:

Friday, September 05, 2003
Province Newspaper

KELOWNA – Ken Campbell compares his love affair with the Kettle Valley Railway trestles to marriage.

“It was love at first sight. It’s really a special place,” Campbell said yesterday.

Considering the blood and sweat the Kelowna resident poured into restoring the internationally recognized heritage structures, it’s no wonder his heart broke when he learned that all 18 mainly wooden trestle bridges would likely be destroyed in the Okanagan Mountain fire.

“It’s a pretty sad day around here,” he said. “It’s a huge loss, economically, psychologically and emotionally. They’re really irreplaceable because each of them is a heritage structure. That’s why I’m very, very upset today.”

On Wednesday night, the wind-fuelled fire spread into Myra Canyon, where the sporadic trestle bridges spanned 10 kilometres of scenic gaps over rivers and valleys. By last night the flames had devoured five of the bridges, despite fire guards dug around the structures and buckets of long-term fire retardant dumped on top of them.

Construction of the bridges began in 1914 and took two years to complete. They were part of a Canadian Pacific line linking the ore- and timber-rich Kootenays to the Lower Mainland.

“Every one of them is different in design and structure,” he said. “It was some of the most difficult railway-building terrain in Canada. It’s a very deep canyon and the railways hung on the side of the canyon walls.”

The rail line ceased service in 1972. In recent years, the bridges’ high elevation provided hikers and mountain bikers with an unmatched view of the Okanagan Valley.

Campbell moved to Kelowna from Ottawa in 1993. In his early search for a place to hike, he stumbled across the famed trail. That same year, Campbell joined hundreds of volunteers who for three years

2

It is indeed very sad. I’ve been to B.C. a few times and have always been a big fan of the KVR. Hopefully the other 10 bridges will be able to survive, even though they are at a serious risk. Canada has truly lost a piece of their history. Let’s hope this fire will be over soon. Also, we can’t forget all of the brave men and women who are helping to fight it.

3

As I write this 7 September, Sunday, 12 of the 18 bridges have now been destroyed.

4

Now 14 of 18 trestles destroyed, 8 September.

5

What makes me annoyed is that there is NOTHING about it in the Trains railroad news.

6

Sad, very sad. One of my best railroad books is from Pacific Fast Mail on the Kettle Valley, by Hal Riegger. I think a brand new book is out too but the PFM book has great old shots of the trestles. I have seen it for sale at swap meets for, unfortunately, rather inflated prices.
Dave Nelson

7

Teddy,
Unfortunately the reality is that Canada is a big black irrelevant hole above the USA. I went to the trains forum here and posted yesterday the first thread about it. I was agnry because it is THE rail story on the go right now. Almost no response. The biggest rail story happening right now - and no one cares because it is in Canada. Roger T is very active in the Layout Design Sig and was lamenting the same thing (he’s from Victoria British Columbia).

Can you image if three trestles went down in … lets say Oregon - it would be all over the net.

8

Damn, I hiked the ROW in Myra canyon as a kid in the Boy Scouts. It’s a crying shame what’s happened to those trestles.

9

Canada, where’s that? isn’t that in Europe somewhere?

Apologies from us stupid Americans who seam to forget our biggest trading partner is just a little north of us. Too many people down here seam to think the US is surrounded by oceans on all 4 sides.

Shame about the bridges, never seen them, will look for that book now. and your right about if it was on the US side. An old iron trestle got blown down in a windstorm somewhere back east and it was all over the place. Move it 5 feet north of the border and it drops behind the “Ignorant Curtain” (more apologies to Winston Churchhill and his “Iron Curtain”)

10

Finally some good news in the midst of this all! This morning on the news it said that Heritage Minister Sheila Kopps promised that the federal government would pay for the reconstruction of the trestles! It also said that there was the possibility of maybe having a benifit concert like the Rolling Stones SARS concert in Toronto. It’s good to know that Ottawa has some intelligent ideas for a change. I personally would love to see tracks built on the old KVR right of way again for tourist operation. I know there’s the KVR tourist railway that runs a Shay near Summerland. I’ve been to BC a few times but haven’t had a chance to ride on it because they tended to have weird operating days (Teusdays and Thursdays if I remember correctly). I’m not sure how much of this actually runs on the original KVR line. Of course, it would be extremely expensive for such a project, but I’m sure it would be very popular for railfans and tourists, escecially with all of the spectacular scenery and the trestles.

11

Before you get to excited about political promises, actually listen to the promises; if the cheque hasn’t cleared the bank, forget it. Our premiere Campbell also was supportive until some one actually asked how much he was going to kick in; then it was vague answers. This is one of those pictures when the politician kisses the baby then moves on.

The last estimate I heard here was around 15 million and climbing. I can’t imagine politicians kicking in that kind of money to rebuild trestles which aren’t technically necessary. As some one has predicted, I’m guessing the paths will be re-routed around many of the trestles - much cheaper and will happen faster.

12

The fires throughout Okanagan and Shuswap (all summer) kept us away from the K.V.R. this year… living 2 hrs away, it would have been a nice day trip with the kids. But with fires 5 kms and 15 kms (roughly 3, and 10 miles) away, we had other priorities. Last week however, I managed to find a used copy of the 1995 booklet “Kettle Valley Railway (Railways of Western Canada)” - 2nd edition, vol 1, by Gerry Doeksen. Great keepsake now - and the recent rain has been terrific.

Prov 22:6

13

This is a story that appeared in the Vancouver Province newspaper today:

Friday, September 05, 2003
Province Newspaper

KELOWNA – Ken Campbell compares his love affair with the Kettle Valley Railway trestles to marriage.

“It was love at first sight. It’s really a special place,” Campbell said yesterday.

Considering the blood and sweat the Kelowna resident poured into restoring the internationally recognized heritage structures, it’s no wonder his heart broke when he learned that all 18 mainly wooden trestle bridges would likely be destroyed in the Okanagan Mountain fire.

“It’s a pretty sad day around here,” he said. “It’s a huge loss, economically, psychologically and emotionally. They’re really irreplaceable because each of them is a heritage structure. That’s why I’m very, very upset today.”

On Wednesday night, the wind-fuelled fire spread into Myra Canyon, where the sporadic trestle bridges spanned 10 kilometres of scenic gaps over rivers and valleys. By last night the flames had devoured five of the bridges, despite fire guards dug around the structures and buckets of long-term fire retardant dumped on top of them.

Construction of the bridges began in 1914 and took two years to complete. They were part of a Canadian Pacific line linking the ore- and timber-rich Kootenays to the Lower Mainland.

“Every one of them is different in design and structure,” he said. “It was some of the most difficult railway-building terrain in Canada. It’s a very deep canyon and the railways hung on the side of the canyon walls.”

The rail line ceased service in 1972. In recent years, the bridges’ high elevation provided hikers and mountain bikers with an unmatched view of the Okanagan Valley.

Campbell moved to Kelowna from Ottawa in 1993. In his early search for a place to hike, he stumbled across the famed trail. That same year, Campbell joined hundreds of volunteers who for three years

14

It is indeed very sad. I’ve been to B.C. a few times and have always been a big fan of the KVR. Hopefully the other 10 bridges will be able to survive, even though they are at a serious risk. Canada has truly lost a piece of their history. Let’s hope this fire will be over soon. Also, we can’t forget all of the brave men and women who are helping to fight it.

15

As I write this 7 September, Sunday, 12 of the 18 bridges have now been destroyed.

16

Now 14 of 18 trestles destroyed, 8 September.

17

What makes me annoyed is that there is NOTHING about it in the Trains railroad news.

18

Sad, very sad. One of my best railroad books is from Pacific Fast Mail on the Kettle Valley, by Hal Riegger. I think a brand new book is out too but the PFM book has great old shots of the trestles. I have seen it for sale at swap meets for, unfortunately, rather inflated prices.
Dave Nelson

19

Teddy,
Unfortunately the reality is that Canada is a big black irrelevant hole above the USA. I went to the trains forum here and posted yesterday the first thread about it. I was agnry because it is THE rail story on the go right now. Almost no response. The biggest rail story happening right now - and no one cares because it is in Canada. Roger T is very active in the Layout Design Sig and was lamenting the same thing (he’s from Victoria British Columbia).

Can you image if three trestles went down in … lets say Oregon - it would be all over the net.

20

Damn, I hiked the ROW in Myra canyon as a kid in the Boy Scouts. It’s a crying shame what’s happened to those trestles.