Hello everyone!!! Welcome to the new location of Jeffrey's Diner in beautiful downtown Golden, British Columbia. We are in the middle of the majestic Rocky Mountains in a town that played a major role in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway across Canada.
The CPR was formed to build a national railway system from coast to coast to link the country together. One of the primary goals was to convince British Columbia to become part of the Canadian Confederation, and in 1871 a deal was reached that promised a rail connection to British Columbia in ten years. Construction of the railway reached the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains in 1883. In 1884 and 1885 the railroad was pushed through the Rockies. Keep in mind that the workers had little in the form of power equipment which makes the feat all that more amazing!
A decision had to be made at Golden, BC to determine whether the railway would use steam through the Rockies or three rail electric. Alas, because there was no power anywhere close to Golden, steam won out.
Here is a link to the history of the construction of the CPR across Canada:
https://cpconnectingcanada.ca/
Here is a map showing where Golden is located, and showing its proximity to other important rail sites in BC like the Division Point in Revelstoke and the Thompson River:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Golden,+BC/@51.0388957,-116.9420951,7.79z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x5379bf9c63b14e69:0x1a042ac933b64441!8m2!3d51.2961188!4d-116.9631367
Here is some information about the Golden area and what it has to offer:
https://www.tourismgolden.com/
I hope you enjoy the stay!!!
For those new to this place, Jeffrey´s Trackside Diner is the place for you to go to relax and talk off topic about most anything - as long as you stay within the forum rules, which means certain hot button topics are excluded. Please refer to Steven Otte´s post on Forum Policies. Everybody is welcome to participate in the Diner !
The staff - that´s Zoe, Chloe, Flo, Janie, and Brunhilda — is very friendly and will serve up plenty of virtual diner fare with a smile. Just don´t forget to leave a generous tip! Now and then, our host Steven Otte chips in and brings along some goodies for us to try - which is always heartily welcomed!
As always, in rememberance of our fallen but not forgotten comrades, here is the RIP Track:
At the beginning of each month, it is the time to pay our respect to friends no longer with us.
Barry Arnold aka BlownoutCylinderJerry Cox aka Cox47Wolfgang Dudler aka Westport TerminalBob Hartle aka cmrproductsEd MurphyBill NorthStein Rypern, Jr. aka SteinjrAndy SperandeoJeffrey "Running Bear" WimberleyAlan BTom MillsJames W. Rohde aka CapeJimMichael L. Myles aka Inch
Gone, but not forgotten!
Cheers!!
HOn30critter Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Getting a railway through the Canadian Rocky Mountains took some amazing feats of engineering. One of the most interesting features is the Spiral Tunnels in the Kicking Horse Pass. The tunnels were not part of the original construction, but were built 25 years after the fact in order to eliminate an incredible 4.5% grade on a section of track through the pass that was built in a hurry in order to meet the deadline for reaching British Columbia. The very first train to attempt the grade derailed, killing three crew members.
Here is a video of trains going through the tunnels. (Sorry, the first few minutes are a bit boring):
Here is more historical information about the tunnels:
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/yoho/culture/kickinghorse/visit/spirale-spiral
If you are looking for a truly incredible railfanning experience, may I suggest the Rocky Mountaineer. Magnificent scenery and top quality food and service:
https://www.rockymountaineer.com/
I'll add more information soon!
Dave
Here are more images of British Columbia:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrC3TTwDYRepA4AECMPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=british+columbia+tourism&fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb
More to our real interests, Here are some images of trains in BC:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrCwPMQD4RePWUAHQMPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMDgyYjJiBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=trains+in+british+columbia&fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb
If you scroll through these images you will see some photos that clearly show the challenges that the workers faced when building the railway through the mountains! The equipment, i.e. hand carts, hardly seems up to the task:
https://images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrEZ_yrEIReKn0AfAwPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMDgyYjJiBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMyBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=construction+of+the+cpr+railway+through+the+rocky+mountains&fr=yhs-symantec-ext_onb&hspart=symantec&hsimp=yhs-ext_onb#id=23&iurl=https%3A%2F%2Fchinesediscriminationheadtax.weebly.com%2Fuploads%2F1%2F1%2F0%2F2%2F11020844%2F656004701_orig.jpg&action=click
Dave,
Thanks for moving the diner.
herrinchoker
herrinchokerDave, Thanks for moving the diner.
Hi herrinchoker,
You are most welcome! It's actually kind of a fun thing to do.
Thank you, Dave!
I barely felt a "bump-in-the-night" as the crew tied the diner on to the B.C. Night Express with direct service from Texas to Golden!
Good Job, Old Boy!
CNR_St_Catharines by Edmund, on Flickr
CP_Montreal-1965 by Edmund, on Flickr
BRENT! We're in your neighborhood, just over that ridge to the east. Hellooo...
Cheers, Ed
Enjoy the mosaic of photos, appreciate being able to click on * page * and getting full detail surrounding the photo, the one of the freight loosing it's brakes during a crew change was a good read. Also the accident at Lac Megantic when all the tank cars immolated the center of town.
Dave: Thank you for moving the diner and creating the posts to welcome us to British Columbia!
Great job.
It is April Fools Day, so here is something just a little foolish.
Have fun everyone. Be safe.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190It is April Fools Day, so here is something just a little foolish.
It is indeed April Fool's Day! Perhaps a more careful reading of my first post is in order!
I unboxed my order from MB Klein today after a three-day quarantine to make sure I did not bring any virus into the house.
Much to my surprise, it was well packed with styrofoam packers! My last few orders from MB Klein were not packed nearly this well. Nothing was damaged, and the order was filled with no errors.
Nothing much to get excited about. Tortoise switch machines, Walthers backdrops, and a few tools.
These were the only real nifty items in the box. I ordered the two new 1954 Pontiacs from Oxford Models. These are simply gorgeous models.
Those are nice cars Kevin.
hon30critterPerhaps a more careful reading of my first post is in order!
I read it several times. If there is an April Fools joke in there, it is not obvious enough for this dimwit to pick it out.
SeeYou190I unboxed my order from MB Klein today
I notice that dozens of the most recent additions to the MBK site are "Out of Stock" even though they have just been listed. I'd like to order some of their recent Bowser cars but they are unobtanium!
Perhaps the staff needs to get it sorted and inventoried in the warehouse?
SeeYou190I read it several times. If there is an April Fools joke in there, it is not obvious enough for this dimwit to pick it out.
Oh come on Kevin! Do you believe everything you read???
I'll wait a few days to see if anyone catches it. If nobody does I will be sorely disappointed by your collective lack of knowledge of railroading in the Rockies in 1884!
More cool images of railroading in BC:
https://ca.images.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=AwrC_DNoS4RewyYAkQ0XFwx.;_ylu=X3oDMTByMjB0aG5zBGNvbG8DYmYxBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzYw--?p=Railroading+in+the+Canadian+Rocky+Mountains&fr=yhs-rogers-rogers_001&hspart=rogers&hsimp=yhs-rogers_001
Sorry, I can't get enough of this stuff!
Here is another look at the Rocky Mountaineer:
https://www.canadianrockiesbyrail.org/
The Thompson River canyon:
So you guys like to run long trains eh?!?
An eastbound CN at Spence's Bridge, BC. It must be almost all empty cars. I didn't see any helpers. Interesting none the less (that is unless you were stopped at a railway crossing waiting for the infernal thing to go by!).
Here are some interesting basic facts about the Canadian Rockies. Please ignor the fact that this is intended for a younger audience. We are all young at heart!
https://kids.kiddle.co/Canadian_Rockies
Thank You.
Hi NDG!
Thanks for the great old photos! The log station at Lake Windemere is beautiful!
So far we have had 337 views and apparently nobody has caught on to the April Fools joke in my first post!
I'll give you a hint. Read the third paragraph.
You are welcome!
Tied Up here from the South 50+ Years ago. Lived in Caboose.
Long trip on Through Freight, just under 200 Miles. 5 Small Units good for 10000 Tons = 200 40 ft. cars on occasion in warm weather re Air.
Longest train I worked had 156 Cars ex Colvalli. Not all Brakes released way back. Mostly OP Power on the Road. GP9s on Wyft as had better steps.
Lovely Trip, before Tourism changed it all.
When Youth and Hope still prevailed.
Look at it, now.
Time for bed.
Had 8 Inches Snow before midnight.
hon30critteror three rail electric.
3rd Rail? Well, I guess it would depend on how heavy the catenary would be.
PRR chose three-rail initially to run electrics through the tunnels into Pennsylvania Station. These were converted to overhead catenary in 1935.
NYC chose third rail for trackage into Grand Central from the north and is still used today.
PRR_DD1 by Edmund, on Flickr
Am I close?
Regards, Ed
gmpullmanAm I close?
Ed,
You know that you always have the right answers. This is no exception. You deserve a great big prize for being the first to figure the joke out, except I can't afford any big prizes right now. Have a shot of (your) rum on me!
I hope that everyone who glibly accepted my stating that three rail electric was even remotely possible in 1885 in the middle of the Rocky Mountains is truly embarrassed! If you still haven't figured it out then I have some swamp land in Florida that I would be willing to sell to you at the same price that crude oil is headed for, i.e. you will owe me money!
Please don't feel offended. I love you all!
hon30critterHave a shot of (your) rum on me!
Thanks, Dave Chances are it will be either a Rum & Coke or a Mojito tonight
I'd really like to study the electrification of CPR neighbors, Milwaukee Road and Great Northern. I know their wire was a little lighter than that in the east but those locomotives were sure brutes.
That Bi-Polar was quite the machine!
Cheers! Ed
Great job Dave! I know nothing about the building of the railroad through the Rockies, except the spiral tunnels, so thanks for all the interesting info.
Brrr....it's still cold up here! I think I'll slide down the other side, and see if Brent is home, according to him, it's always warm there.
Mike.
My You Tube
Good Morning All,
33F this morning but the cloud cover is starting to break. I'll just have my regular to go please Zoe. We are starting to see the effect of all this modern plague now with one person out on quarantine (two people removed from the actual exposure but one needs to be extra cautious these days). There is much more to say but we don't want another thread deleted so I won't go further.
Thanks for moving the diner Dave. What a beautiful area! I didn't pick up on the third rail thing because I live in third rail territory. The New Haven uses both overhead catenary like GN used to and third rail with a shoe to connect for Metro North territory like Grand Central. the New Haven also had a short branch line out east where they actually used a center third rail ala Lionel for a time. So no I didn't think it odd you mentioned it. The 1870's are just a little early for all that though. Consider me a bit thick this morning.
Did some more with the power station last night. I am working on the transformer set just outside the building. I narrowed a Faller transformer substation kit up to fit the space and so far so good. I mixed up some Smooth It with powdered black poster paint and laid that in around the perimeter of the building and will add some more around the edges of the transformer base when I get that "good enough". I may use the magnet wire I bought to string the electric lines as I don't like the way the thread they give you drapes.
All for now. Back to the shop. Hope you are all doing well. Ciao, J.R.
Good morning.
I'd like to thank you Dave for doing such a thoughtful job opening the Diner in beautiful British Columbia. "The host with the most" as the saying goes is appreciated.
So much to choose from and limited on time this morning l chose Canadian Canyons due to my lifelong admiration of the wilderness.
Your a lucky man to live in such beautiful surroundings.
I enjoyed watching the Canadian Frieght passing through going over the red bridge thinking it was going over the black bridge next. I was wrong, My first April Fools today.
The long Trains looked like toys passing through the vastness of the canyon. They definitely don't look like that everywhere.
I will be watching the rest of the videos and gaining more knowledge on the Canadia Railroads soon.
Thanks
TF
P.S. That Dr. Seuss stuff was funny last night Rich.