1

The Hope Princeton Highway follows the 100 year old route of the Dewdney Trail
2 November 1949
The Dewdney Trail, BC

Credits:
Penticton Museum & Archives

2

The Kettle Valley Railway era began to decline as highway travel grew. It was the sound of the automobile that was causing all the excitement now. However, the KVR struggled on and it wasn't until 1973 that most of the line fell silent.

3

"Here now stands entangled brush, where once steel wheels did roar and rush..."
1978
Rock Creek, BC

Credits:
Joe Smuin collection
Le Palmer photo

4

The railway was no longer economically viable
1985
Kettle Valley Line

Credits:
From "A Brief History of the Railways in the Boundary Area" by Alice Evans and Glenda Keller, Boundary Historical Society 10th Report, 1985
Read by Alice's daughter Daphne Sherbinin

5

Cruising Highway 3 between Grand Forks and Greenwood
1953
The Boundary

Credits:
BC Archives I-28276

6

Automobile travel offered the freedom to go when you please and to travel with whom you please, and the new Hope Princeton highway through southern British Columbia opened up the Boundary like never before.

Passenger rail travel declined as highway bus service grew, and when the Coquihalla Subdivision was closed by a series of washouts in November 1959, it never re-opened. Trains were routed through Brookmere to the CPR mainline at Spence's Bridge instead.

Efficient Budd Car dayliners replaced the passenger trains but traffic continued to decline, and in 1964 passenger service on the Kettle Valley Railway was discontinued altogether.

7

The last Kettle Valley Railway passenger train
17 January 1964
Rock Creek, BC

Credits:
Penticton Museum & Archives

8

"When the Canadian Pacific Railway Company announced that passenger service on the Kettle Valley Division of the CPR would be discontinued in January 17, 1964, the Penticton Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society decided to take a farewell trip. Seventy-two members of the Branch travelled in two diesel Budd Cars to Rock Creek, a distance of 122 rail miles.

Many passengers remember the construction of the Kettle Valley line from Midway to Hope during 1910-1916, and had enjoyed frequent trips over it. I remember the arrival of the CPR (Columbia & Western) train in Midway in 1899, and I made frequent trips to Vancouver by way of Castlegar, the Arrow Lakes and the CPR main line. Then after completion of the Kettle Valley line, I had used the shorter route.

The Kettle Valley Railway had served this district for almost 50 years. Now passenger service is no more, but freight will still be carried. Loss of revenue because of a lack of patronage was the main reason for the discontinuance. The advent of better roads, better cars and buses helped sound the death-knell. Now motor vehicles are the major form of transportation across southern British Columbia.

At stations, schools and farms along the route adults and children turned out and waved their farewell message to the train."

- from "A Farewell Trip on the KVR" by Kathleen S. Dewdney, Boundary Historical Society 5th Report, 1967

9

Kathleen Dewdney in the early days with her students at Ingram Mountain School
Circa 1905
The Boundary

Credits:
Kettle River Museum

10

Last KVR passenger train at Rock Creek Station
17 January 1964
Rock Creek, BC

Credits:
Penticton Museum & Archives

11

Diesel electric improved the power and efficiency of railway freight but even that began to decline with the advent of highway trucking. The last freight through Myra Canyon from Penticton to Midway was on May 19, 1973.

12

CP Rail - a new corporate identity for the Canadian Pacific Railway
26 September 1974
Midway, BC

Credits:
Courtesy of Joe Smuin
Ken Perry photo

13

As steam locomotives were replaced by diesel, fuel tanks were installed along the line
1953
Midway, BC

Credits:
Kettle River Museum

14

A work train runs along the Kettle River
1974
Carmi Subdivision, Kettle Valley Railway

Credits:
Courtesy of Joe Smuin
Ken Perry photo