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Have you cycled the abandoned
rail grade between Midway and Castlegar, or any part thereof? A popular
day ride in the Castlegar area is to exit highway # 3 at the detour road
about 2km east of the Paulson Bridge, turn right on the rail trail and
ride the 2% grade back to Keenleyside Dam. The last three kms. before Keenleyside
are a little rough because of the shale on the pathway and there is a big
slide near Coykendahl, but it is navigable by pushing the bikes across.
Pack a lunch, enjoy the scenic heritage. The trip is great and the obstacles
are surmountable.
This Historic line was originally built by Augustus Heinze, founder of the
Trail smelter. It was called the Columbia & Western, with the first
link between Trail and West Robson being completed in 1897. Heinze wanted
all the ore from the region's current mining boom to be shipped via Canadian
routes. In 1898 the Columbia and Western was pushed ahead through the harsh
winter to beat the Americans to the Boundary
Region, reaching Grand Forks in 1899 and Midway in 1900. The C&W
line from Castlegar to Grand Forks was a CPR owned line right from construction
in 1898. This line soon became part of the CPR's Boundary Subdivision,
part of the Kootenay Division. The C&W line was never part of the official
Kettle Valley Railway or the subsequent Kettle Valley Division of the CPR.
Historically, the Castlegar-Midway line was known as the "Boundary line" or "Boundary
section." It was finally abandoned in the eighties. The tracks were lifted
in 1991, but passenger passenger train patronage had declined during the
1950s and passenger train service ended in January 1964.
 In the fall of 1993 the BC Government
purchased a number of abandoned grades in the southern interior
including the Kettle Valley railroad and the Boundary Sub from
Midway to Grand Forks. The "Rails to Trails" concept was buoyant
at this time. Local societies sprang up with the purpose of connecting
abandoned grades as public access trails. The Trans-Canada Trail
organization was born with the vision of connecting trails across
Canada from coast to coast. The Boundary Rails to Trails Society
of Grand Forks lobbied strenuously for government purchase of the
Grand Forks to Castlegar section in the early nineties, to be joined
by a group in Castlegar called Friends of Parks and Trails. The "Friends" continue
to work for public ownership of this priceless asset. Some negotiations
amongst the Trans-Canada trail Foundation, the BC government ,
Trails BC, and CPR have been taking place over the past year. The
rail bed is greatly desired as part of the Trails Canada Trail
route through the Kootenays.
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The Boundary Subdivision has been inventoried as having very high
natural and cultural values. There are matchless scenic vistas of
the Granby Valley, Christina Lake, Arrow Lake and Dog Creek valley
between Farron and Bulldog tunnel. There are excellent opportunities
along the route for wildlife viewing and birding from the seat of
your mountain bike. |
This trail boasts incredible trestle engineering,
tunnel and rock retaining wall construction.
This route features a natural arch, a double
truss span trestle 65.5 meters long. The route
has many heritage features such as restored
stations at Castlegar, Grand Forks and Midway.
Just outside Farron, is a commemorative memorial where "Peter "The Lordly" Verigin, spiritual
leader of the Doukhobors, was assassinated (1924) when the train
he was riding in was bombed. Nine people were killed that day.
To this day (70 years) the RCMP and the Government of Canada have
not released the entire results of the investigation in spite of
numerous requests for the material from historic writers and researchers.
A number of theories surround the motive of the murder from government
conspiracy to assassination by a Russian agent.
 For
a detailed description of the whole Kettle Valley Line consult "Cycling the KVR" by Dan and Sandra Langford. The
newly released second edition contains an added chapter on the
Boundary Sub.
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