All Aboard!

May 11- On the train heading for Kamloops, BC

 

Lake Louise: Temp 2° , brisk

 

Starting out from Lake Louise the bus took us to the train station in Lake Louise, a small depot where we met the train coming from Banff.  This train has 17 cars and three locomotives to manage all the inclines between Banff and Revelstoke.   Tomorrow there will only be two as we make our way to the coast. 

 

We crossed the continental divide which separates the Pacific and Atlantic watersheds at an elevation of 1626 m ( just over 1 mile) We had to move our clocks back one hour as we entered BC.

 

The first highlight of this route was the Spiral Tunnels.  The route originally had a grade of 4.5% which cost a lot in repairs and operational expenses.  In 1907 it was decided to build these tunnels modelled after a tunnel system in Switzerland; this allowed the grade to be reduced to 2.2%. The upper tunnel turns about 290°, and emerges 16 m higher than its entrance. The lower spiral turns approximately 230° and emerges about 17 m higher than its entrance.

 

The railway actually doubles back on itself twice, although you don’t have a sense that the train is turning inside the dark tunnels. But it is an amazing feat to cut down the grade passing through these mountains!

 

Farther along our route, near Notch Hill, we came to Horseshoe Curve where the train turned about 210° so we could see how much we actually turned back at the Spiral Tunnels!  In the photo, the front of the train can be seen already around the Horseshoe Curve!

 

We were able to see Rogers Pass off in the distance; this is a structure built to protect the roadway from avalanches.

 

Stonemason Bridge, another bridge built to avoid avalanches.

 

As we travelled west it was remarkable to see how the conditions had changed from yesterday.  In Banff National Park it was cold, snowing and windy in places!  In early afternoon today we passed green fields, dandelions, and trees already leafed out!  It’s spring in BC!!

 

The rest of the trip was uneventful - except, I guess, for the meals!!  We had second seating.  The meals are beautifully presented, generous, and delicious!

 

Breakfast…

 

                                                 Lunch…

                                                                                               Snacks! 

 

We arrived in Kamloops and by the time we got to our hotel,  the Sandman Signature Hotel it was 8:00 PM  There are two bus loads of people arriving at the same time, and the luggage had just arrived at the same time, so it may take a while to get that all sorted out! We have an early start tomorrow, so we need to get to sleep soon!!

 

On to Vancouver tomorrow!:

 

Stay tuned!

 

The Train Travellers