Oh, what an adventure it was to ride on the Kettle Valley Railway, or the KVR as it was called. Completed in 1916, it carried freight and passengers in comfort and safety for over 40 years. It took six years of backbreaking and sometimes dangerous work to build the 330-mile line (530 kilometres). Labourers tunnelled through high mountain passes, skirted around deep canyons, and crossed churning rivers. The rail line was always being repaired or being rescued from natural disasters like snowdrifts, avalanches, landslides, and forest fires. The KVR has been described as the most difficult and expensive of all railway projects in Canada. But for the passenger, riding the train provided spectacular scenery, classy surroundings, and relaxed travel.

A Ride on the Kettle Valley Railway

Imagine you are sitting in the dining car as the passenger train chugs and glides its way from Vancouver to Nelson. It is a hot summer day in 1927. You’re glad to have the cold drink that the waiter places in front of you. As your fine dinner is served, you notice the sparkle of the silver platter. Suddenly, the train begins to swing around a long curve, and you glance through the window. The scenery slides past. You feel like you are watching a film. Far below, water foams in the canyon. In the distance, trembling aspen trees cover the slopes. You have already passed golden farmland, sparkling lakes, and jutting mountains. Soon the train slows down and stops briefly at a station. The sign reads “Romeo.” You wonder if “Juliet” station can be far behind. While the train has stopped, two young men have quickly heaved themselves to the top of the train. They are fruit pickers going to the Okanagan, and they want a free ride.