Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway
Encyclopedia
The Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway(N&FS) is a historic Canadian
railway that operated in the southern interior of British Columbia
.
The N&FS connected the city of Nelson
with the International Boundary at Waneta, near Trail
. The line was acquired by the Great Northern Railway in 1898.
with his Spokane Falls and Northern Railway(SF&N) to Little Dalles (near modern Northport
) in the United States
by 1890.
The British Columbia government resisted granting him a charter to build across the border into Canada because of concerns the government was concerned that the railway would only be a feeder railway to the American interests in Spokane, especially the Great Northern Railway. With the Columbia and Kootenay Steam Navigation Company provider boat access along the Columbia River
to his railway he had indirect access to the rich mining areas of the Kootenays
. Concerned with this development, the Canadian Pacific Railway
reacted by building the Columbia and Kootenay Railway
(C&K) between Robson (near Castlegar
) and Nelson in 1891 along the unnavigable section of the Kootenay River
between Kootenay Lake
and the Arrow Lakes
.
In 1891, Corbin received a charter from the Canadian government for the Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway by promising to connect the railway to the coast and by using a group of Canadian businessmen as a front for the railway. The connection to the coast was never built but the railway did reach Nelson in 1893. The railway's name comes from the former Hudson's Bay Company
fort, Fort Shepherd, on bank of the Columbia River on the United States border, even though the spelling is different. With an all rail route to the United States and direct access to the Great Northern, the N&FS could provide more direct access to markets than the CPR could with its C&K.
(BN) in 1970. The creation of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) in 1996 saw the N&FS receive its third change in ownership.
The track was gradually abandoned south from Nelson to Salmo
during the 1990s. The only significant traffic source on the line is related to the forestry industry in the form of wood products.
The abandoned section from Salmo to Nelson has been acquired by the provincial government and converted to a rail trail
- see Salmo-Troup Rail Trail
.
From south to north, the railway started at the United States border on the Columbia River at Waneta, and crossed a 500-foot bridge over the Pend d'Oreille River that still stands. The railway climbed out of the Columbia Valley past the community of Fruitvale
to Salmo. From Salmo, the railway went north up the Salmo River
valley to Ymir
and then began the descent to Kootenay Lake
. The line passed Nelson to the east as it descends along the hillside. It reaches lake level at Troup Junction (also known as File Mile Point), about 6 km east of Nelson and returned at lake level to the city. When the Canadian Pacific Railway
built along Kootenay Lake in 1900, the section between Nelson and Troup Junction was sold to the CPR and GN was given trackage rights.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
railway that operated in the southern interior of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
.
The N&FS connected the city of Nelson
Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is a city located in the Selkirk Mountains on the extreme West Arm of Kootenay Lake in the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Known as "The Queen City", and acknowledged for its impressive collection of restored heritage buildings from its glory days in a regional silver rush,...
with the International Boundary at Waneta, near Trail
Trail, British Columbia
Trail is a city in the West Kootenay region of the Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:Trail has an area of . The city is located on both banks of the Columbia River, approximately 10 km north of the United States border. This section of the Columbia River valley is located between the...
. The line was acquired by the Great Northern Railway in 1898.
History
The railway was built by Daniel Chase Corbin, an American financier. In 1888, he built north from Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
with his Spokane Falls and Northern Railway(SF&N) to Little Dalles (near modern Northport
Northport, Washington
Northport is a town in Stevens County, Washington, United States. The population was 295 at the 2010 census.-History:Northport was given its name since it was once the northernmost town on the Spokane Falls and Northern Railway...
) in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by 1890.
The British Columbia government resisted granting him a charter to build across the border into Canada because of concerns the government was concerned that the railway would only be a feeder railway to the American interests in Spokane, especially the Great Northern Railway. With the Columbia and Kootenay Steam Navigation Company provider boat access along the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to his railway he had indirect access to the rich mining areas of the Kootenays
Kootenays
The Kootenay Region comprises the southeastern portion of British Columbia. It takes its name from the Kootenay River, which in turn was named for the Ktunaxa First Nation first encountered by explorer David Thompson.-Boundaries:The Kootenays are more or less defined by the Kootenay Land...
. Concerned with this development, the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
reacted by building the Columbia and Kootenay Railway
Columbia and Kootenay Railway
The Columbia and Kootenay Railway was a historic railway in the Interior of British Columbia between Nelson on Kootenay Lake and Robson at the confluence of the Kootenay River and the Columbia River near Castlegar operated as part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.-History pre-1900:The railway was...
(C&K) between Robson (near Castlegar
Castlegar, British Columbia
Castlegar is the second largest city in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. It is located within the Selkirk Mountains at the confluence of the Kootenay and Columbia Rivers. It is a regional trade and transportation centre, with a local economy fueled by forestry, mining and tourism...
) and Nelson in 1891 along the unnavigable section of the Kootenay River
Kootenay River
The Kootenay is a major river in southeastern British Columbia, Canada and the northern part of the U.S. states of Montana and Idaho. It is one of the uppermost major tributaries of the Columbia River, which is the largest North American river that empties into the Pacific Ocean...
between Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
and the Arrow Lakes
Arrow Lakes
The Arrow Lakes in British Columbia, Canada, divided into Upper Arrow Lake and Lower Arrow Lake, are widenings of the Columbia River. The lakes are situated between the Selkirk Mountains to the east and the Monashee Mountains to the west. Beachland is fairly rare, and is interspersed with rocky...
.
In 1891, Corbin received a charter from the Canadian government for the Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway by promising to connect the railway to the coast and by using a group of Canadian businessmen as a front for the railway. The connection to the coast was never built but the railway did reach Nelson in 1893. The railway's name comes from the former Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
fort, Fort Shepherd, on bank of the Columbia River on the United States border, even though the spelling is different. With an all rail route to the United States and direct access to the Great Northern, the N&FS could provide more direct access to markets than the CPR could with its C&K.
Legacy
The railway line was operated by a variety of corporate owners following the GN acquisition in 1898. The GN was merged into the Burlington Northern RailroadBurlington Northern Railroad
The Burlington Northern Railroad was a United States-based railroad company formed from a merger of four major U.S. railroads. Burlington Northern operated between 1970 and 1996....
(BN) in 1970. The creation of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) in 1996 saw the N&FS receive its third change in ownership.
The track was gradually abandoned south from Nelson to Salmo
Fruitvale, British Columbia
Fruitvale is a village located in south-eastern British Columbia in the West Kootenay region.It is located 16 km east of the city of Trail along Highway 3B.-Geography:...
during the 1990s. The only significant traffic source on the line is related to the forestry industry in the form of wood products.
The abandoned section from Salmo to Nelson has been acquired by the provincial government and converted to a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
- see Salmo-Troup Rail Trail
Salmo-Troup Rail Trail
The Salmo-Troup Rail Trail is a multi-use recreational rail trail located in southeastern British Columbia's West Kootenay region.It uses a rail corridor that was originally built by the Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway...
.
Route
Fruitvale, British Columbia
Fruitvale is a village located in south-eastern British Columbia in the West Kootenay region.It is located 16 km east of the city of Trail along Highway 3B.-Geography:...
to Salmo. From Salmo, the railway went north up the Salmo River
Salmo River
The Salmo River is a tributary of the Pend d'Oreille River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The Salmo River is part of the Columbia River drainage basin, being a tributary of the Pend d'Oreille River, which flows into the Columbia River....
valley to Ymir
Ymir, British Columbia
Ymir is a small town in the West Kootenay district of British Columbia, Canada. It is located between Nelson and Salmo on Highway 6. Ymir was originally known as Quartz Creek. The townsite was laid out in 1897 by railway magnate D.C. Corbin. Today Ymir consists of a store and two hotels, plus an...
and then began the descent to Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake
Kootenay Lake is a lake located in British Columbia, Canada and is part of theKootenay River. The lake has been raised by the Corra Linn Dam and has a dike system at the southern end, which, along with industry in the 1950s-70s, has changed the ecosystem in and around the water...
. The line passed Nelson to the east as it descends along the hillside. It reaches lake level at Troup Junction (also known as File Mile Point), about 6 km east of Nelson and returned at lake level to the city. When the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
built along Kootenay Lake in 1900, the section between Nelson and Troup Junction was sold to the CPR and GN was given trackage rights.