Before there was a Highway Thru Hell (a.k.a. the Yellowhead-Coquihalla Highway 5), there was a Railway Thru Hell – the Kettle Valley Railway. What these two transportation links have in common was their routing over the challenging Coquihalla Pass and the constant battles waged with Mother Nature as a result of that terrain.
On May 7 , Joe Smuin, author of Canadian Pacific’s Kettle Valley Railway and Kettle Valley Railway Mileboards: An Historical Field Guide to the KVR, will present a fascinating photo-essay highlighting the difficulties the KVR and CPR encountered in keeping the Coquihalla Subdivision of the Kettle Valley Railway operational through the Coquihalla Pass from 1916 to 1959.
It will give a very graphic look at the mayhem Mother Nature wreaked on the line. Many of these photos have not been published.
Smuin is back by popular demand as he gave a presentation last fall about the construction of the Fraser Hope Bridge over the Fraser River in Hope.
Since over 70 people attended that presentation in the Hope Library, this Railway Thru Hell presentation will be in the conference room of the recreation centre (1005 Sixth Avenue) in order to accommodate a larger audience.
The one hour program begins at 7 p.m.
This free program is co-sponsored by Destination Hope & Beyond Services (Hope Museum), the Hope Library, and Hope Recreation, Culture & Airpark Services.