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Plaque at CPR Tower, circa 1930, in Fields
For decades CPR's 21 meter water tower has been a dominant feature of Fields. During the steam era, this structure provided water that helped drive railway locomotives on their transcontinental journeys. The tower was retired in 1952 with the introduction of diesel-electric engines. |
Field, BC
Nestled just west of the continental divide within Yoho National Park, Field is a scenic 2 ½ hour drive from Calgary, Alberta. The Trans-Canada Highway takes you from the prairies to the peaks as you travel through Banff National Park, passing Lake Louise on your way to Field.
An 1871 agreement to bring the province of British Columbia into the Confederation of Canada set the wheels in motion for the creation of the Field townsite. Crucial to the agreement was a commitment to expand railway access across the continent. The townsite received its name in honour of Cyrus Field, an American being wooed by the CPR for investment capital; he never did invest. CPR greatly influenced development in the area by building many of the hiking trails surrounding Field and erecting a variety of mountain hotels, chalets, and guide houses to attract the wealthy tourists who helped fund construction of the railway, which was completed in 1885.
The spiral railroad tunnels near Fields
The completion of the railway was not without its problems. In a push to finish work quickly, the descent from the Kicking Horse Pass to the river valley was built on a slope with a steep grade of 4.5%, more than twice the maximum allowed according the CPR directives. Numerous runaway lines failed to prevent numerous derailments on the Big Hill, leading to many proposals to rework the line. Construction on the Spiral Tunnels began in earnest in 1907, driving the trains through two loops deep inside the mountains and reducing the slope of the descent to 2.2%. The Spiral Tunnels are in use to this day, and easily accessible viewpoints are a popular destination for visitors to Yoho National Park. Village of Field
NOTE: I did visit the spiral tunnels during my 2014 roadtrip. It was awe inspiring! I stayed long enough to see a train entering the lower tunnel, watched the lead engine emerging from the middle tunnel and disappearing again at the
highest tunnel entrance while the tail end of the train still had to enter the lowest tunnel. Meaning that you can watch the same train at the same time on three different elevations. |
Other sites you may be interested in:
Thumbnail Collection of USA Water Towers
USA Water Towers and Standpipes
Magnetic Hills: CA, USA, Worldwide
The History of the Christian Fish Symbol |
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