Showing 9 results

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-30 SUMMARY: Andy Gray recalls in detail his career on the CPR. Born in Scotland, he came to Canada in 1890 and then to Vancouver 1892. He began work on the CPR in 1906 as a "wiper", then a fireman, and by 1911 as an engineer. He discusses his experience working with the trains in Revelstoke from 1909 to 1915; the Rogers Pass Slide of 1910 with the only survivor, Bill LaChance; train recollections throughout the province; Kootenay Central; and "Cranbrook Ed," who was one of the escaped elephants from a visiting circus at Cranbrook.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-03-09 SUMMARY: Mr. E.W. (Bill) LaChance recalls his experiences working as an locomotive fireman and engineer for the CPR, based in Revelstoke. This interview mainly relates his story as the sole survivor of the Rogers Pass Snow slide of 1910, in which fifty-eight railroad workers were killed.

Amateur film footage. The beginning and middle of this film reel contain shots taken from trains leaving or arriving in Vancouver on the CPR main line. The balance of the reel includes: views along the Kettle Valley Railway; activities at the rail station of Coquihalla and nearby Lil-Joe Lodge; CPR steam locomotives 3628 and 3652; Sperry Rail Services rail detector car SRS 130; clearing of land, horse logging, and construction of log buildings for the lodge; a pack train; and row boats and trout fishing on the Coquihalla Lakes.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-10 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. G.H. Williamson recalls his 40 year career with the CPR. Born in Toronto, he moved to Donald, B.C., in 1892 and started with the railways. By 1900 he was working as an engineer. He discusses the community of Donald, the town, and the CPR facilities. He provides descriptions of railway equipment, engines, train mechanics, rails and grades. This portion of the tape concludes with descriptions of the Rogers Pass rail service and snow slides.

TRACK 2: Mr. Williamson continues with recollections of his railway career, the Rogers Pass area, the destruction of the original Roger's Pass Station and facilities in an 1898 slide, the Rogers Pass Slide of 1910, the construction of the railway tunnels in the Field area, railway accidents and the dismantling of the Donald CPR shop which was moved to Revelstoke.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : John Davies RECORDED: [location unknown], 1980-09-17 SUMMARY: John Davies, a former CPR shop foreman, discusses: railroad shop practices; machinist apprentices; all components of steam locomotives required attention at specific intervals; describes different roundhouses in B.C.; class two repairs were much more extensive than class three ones; job was to keep the traffic moving through the roundhouse; foreman was very connected to floor of shop but also to office demands; Revelstoke shop maintained a large number of locomotives. (Rest of interview is not transcribed).

Footage. Various shots of commercial activity and social life in and around Kamloops, including: high-angle views of the main street and store fronts; high school classroom and office interiors; students outside school and enroute to Kamloops Athletic Association, where they take part in gymnastics; sandwich shop storefront and window display; Kamloops Motor Co. Limited (car dealership and service station); farming scenes; cattle; a dairy operation (including milking machines, milk processing and bottling); Silver Tip Bottlers soda pop bottling plant and delivery truck; more storefronts; Palm Dairies Limited; pool hall interiors (game in progress); White Way Laundry & Dry Cleaners (lots of interior shots -- washing, drying, pressing, etc.); panoramic views; bus depot and departing bus; beer parlour interiors (with card game); the Kamloops Indian Residential School (showing children at play on the school grounds); fire engines; arrival of CPR train at railway station (with large steam locomotive #2707); warehouse; log boom; camping and trail riding scenes (mostly b&w), ending at a dude ranch (?); panoramic view of Kamloops and surroundings (b&w); CPR engine #2703 and train departing (b&w); fishing on lake (b&w).

The item is an audio recording of railroad sounds recorded along the CPR main line on the B.C. section of the cross-Canada bicentennial trip of the B.C. Museum display train, between Vancouver and Calgary. The recording begins on March 30, 1978 with the departure of the Museum Train from Vancouver's CP Rail station, pulled by the Royal Hudson 2860 steam locomotive. About 1/3 of the way through this track, the train approaches Mission City and passes through. The last sequence is the approach to North Bend in the Fraser Canyon. The second track begins with the train leaving Golden and labouring through Kicking Horse Canyon. Sound of 2860 and train departing from Banff. Near Cochrane, Alberta, a westbound CP Rail freight passes, and 2860 continues towards Calgary.

Amateur film. "1939 - The famous Mr. Charles Jones in Burnaby with his birds and family. (Mr. Jones had an uncanny relationship with local birds which did not fear either him or his family. Many amateur film buffs took their cameras to his backyard to watch him feeding birds from his mouth and letting them perch on his arms.) Jericho Beach Golf Course. Theodore Phipps. T.G.S. Chambers. Pattullo Bridge. Kamloops, looking up South Thompson. Kamloops, looking up North Thompson. Wild sheep. Seven Sisters and lake near Lake Louise. Emerald Lake near Field. July and August 1939 - Sir Theodore Chambers KBE. Emerald Lake. CPR [train] coming up from Field, drawn by Hudson locomotive. Kicking Horse Falls. Mount MacDonald. Looking down onto Field. Silver Falls near Winnipeg. T.G.S. Chambers fishing. Perch, pickerel and catfish. LaVerendrye monument. Fort Garry Gate, Winnipeg. Tame chipmunk. Golf course outside Winnipeg. Royal Train arriving. King standing behind Queen. Leaving Winnipeg at 20 mph into the sunset." (Colin Browne)

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0001 RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: In an interview with Robert Turner, retired CPR locomotive engineer and fireman W.F. Huffman discusses: wiping and firing out of Grand Forks; learning the trade and operating during the Depression years. TRACK 2: W.F. Huffman discusses: coal firing a locomotive; move to Revelstoke to operate oil burners; operations out of Revelstoke; company pensioners; bidding for jobs; engineering exams and requirements.

CALL NUMBER: T3809:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Railroading in B.C. : W.F. Huffman RECORDED: North Vancouver (B.C.), 1980-01-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: W.F. Huffman discusses: operations on Arrowhead branch; helpers out of Beavermouth; comments on 5900s, 2800s, and other power differences with the coming of diesels. (End of interview)