Michael Q wrote: Trying to remember where the spectacular train location is where the route carries the train in a big circle under a mountain and it turns under itself making it possible to see both ends of the train overlapping itself. Can someone give me directions to that spot. We were there years ago but forgot how to get there. Thanks,Michael QuinnLake Havasu City, Arizona, USATheQuinns@MqPq.com
Michael:
I suspect the area you are referencing is in the area of the Canadian Rockies between Banff and Calgary [Alberta ??] The Canadian Pacific Rwy goes over Rogers Pass, and I think, Kicking Horse Pass, there are snow sheds, and the famous Spiral Tunnels on that line. The Spiral Tunnels are what you might be thinking of; This was on the route of the CP's 'Canadian' across Canada.
More than likely some of the Canadian form members can fill in the rest of the details.
I sent Michael Quinn an e-mail in answer to his question. The Spiral Tunnels of the Canadian Pacific Railway are located in the Canadian province of British Columbia. I know that the portal of the lower tunnel is located at or just outside of Field, B.C., but I lack a good road map of that area, so I would not know for sure how to reach that location by highway. There is some pretty good information about the CPR's Spiral Tunnels on the web site of Wikpedia.
CANADIANPACIFIC2816
You cant miss it.
You can see it right off Trans Canada highway #1. ( Calgary to Field )
Vey well marked.
I live just near it.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
tatans wrote:I stand corrected, the C.P.R. leaves Lake Louise (Alberta) westward descends a large hill into Field (B.C.) -- a short distance, then west towards Kicking Horse Pass where you will stop for the spiral tunnel (tunnels), there is a small parking lot, interpretive centre and view lookout to the tunnels. have fun.
Not quite! West of Lake Louise, it climbs a ten-mile hill with a WB grade of 1.0% to Stephen siding, at the top of Kicking Horse Pass. After this, the highway takes the original 4.5% railway alignment while the current mainline goes through two spiral tunnels. About halfway down the grade, there is the parking lot and lookout - Not good for photographs anymore, as the trees are constantly growing! The interpretive centre isn't one as such, just a bunch of signs. Of interest there is also a semaphore signal and the dome of a 2-8-0 that had a boiler explosion on the hill. (No. 314, IIRC)
BATMAN wrote:If you are going to be camping/Rving there is a great campsite called Canyon Hot Springs near there.The C.P. main runs right around the campsite and there are lots of trains everyday. Sitting there in the lounger with a can of Moosehead beer watching those big loco's heading east, grinding up that hill to the continental divide, well what could be better? Sometimes the universe does unfold as it should. Oh and when your exhausted from all that you can go sit in the hot pools.
It's only somewhat near there, it's on the other side of Roger's Pass, but still only a couple hour's drive - near the Spiral Tunnels is the Kicking Horse Campground, which doesn't have the CPR line running through it like the Canyon Hot Springs campground, but has an interpretive trail to the Big Hill (Old 4.5% grade) as well as being a short jaunt from the upper spiral tunnel viewpoint (Which is not the one on the highway)
The interpretive trail also crosses the railway, and it's a nice place to sit and wait also, but it isn't quite as good as the CHS!
JSGreen wrote:If you continue West into Revelstoke, BC, there is a great rail road museum to visit! They even had a diesel cab simulator set up, a control stand tied into a first generation laser disk player. Dont know if they have upgraded that simulator yet...A little farther west is the Canadian equilivent of Promotory Point, where east building RR crews met west building crews...
As a matter of fact, my signature pic was taken right beside that museum - Quite reccomended. They have a P-2 2-8-2 Mikado, #5468, and she's a beauty! CP SD40 #5500 has also recently arrived in Revelstoke, although she hasn't made it to the museum yet. The simulator is in the actual cut-up cab of GP7u #1500, and the simulation is of the Spiral Tunnels! It's taken from a series of frames taken on the hill, so it's basically a movie with variable speed depending on your throttle position. It isn't the most realistic, but it's definitely worth a try. They also have a fairly well stocked gift shop and a lot of equiptment outside. (While you're in Revelstoke, you might want to go up the road to Mount Revestoke - Good view!)
The Canadian equivilent of Promontory Point is just that - It's called Craigellachie (Craig - ell - ah - key) and it's where the eastbound crews under A. Onderdonk met up with the westbound crews. It's near Eagle Pass and Three Valley Gap, which is full of scenic RR photo opprotunities and has another museum, not devoted entirely to railroads, but still has some old RR equiptment there.
It's a VERY interesting region between Calgary and Chase, and I highly reccomend you take several days and explore all the sights (Something I've never quite managed to do when I've passed through) The Trans-Canada Highway follows the railway line basically the entire way.
One last place to see west of Revelstoke is Notch Hill, where the railway has constructed a large loop, where the train doesn't cross over itself, but it's close enough for me!
Go here for my rail shots! http://www.railpictures.net/showphotos.php?userid=9296
Building the CPR Kootenay division in N scale, blog here: http://kootenaymodelrailway.wordpress.com/
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