Big Hill

The Big Hill on the Canadian Pacific Railway main line in British Columbia, Canada, was the most difficult piece of track in all of Canada. It was situated in the rugged Rocky Mountains west of the Continental Divide and Kicking Horse Pass. The area has long been a challenge to the operation of trains and remains so to this day. It cannot be said that the railway ever conquered the mountains, only that the railway copes with the challenge and the mountains tolerate the railway.

To complete the Pacific railway as quickly as possible, a decision was made to delay blasting a lengthy 1400 foot tunnel through Mount Stephen and instead build a temporary eight mile line over it. Instead of the desired 2.2% grade (116 feet to the mile) a steep 4.5% (237 1/2 feet) grade Note: Some sources say 4.4% 232 feet; was built in 1884. This was one of the steepest railway lines anywhere. It descended from Wapta Lake to the base of Mount Stephen, along the Kicking Horse River to a point just west of Field, then rising again to meet the original route.

Three safety switches were built to protect against runaway trains. These switches led to short spurs with a sharp reverse upgrade. Yet, some met disaster anyways. Speed was restricted to eight miles per hour for passenger trains and six for freight.

Field was created solely to accommodate the CPR’s need for additional locomotives to be added to trains about to tackle the Big Hill. Here a stone roundhouse with turntable was built at what was first known simply as Third Siding. In December 1884 the CPR renamed it Field after Cyrus W. Field, a Chicago businessman who had visited recently on a special train.

Standard steam locomotives were 4-4-0’s, capable enough for the prairies and elsewhere but, of little use on the Big Hill. Baldwin Locomotive Works was called upon to build (10-1884) two 2-8-0’s for use as Field Hill pushers (bank engines). At the time they were the most powerful locomotives built. Two more followed in June 1886. The CPR began building its own 2-8-0’s in August 1887 and over the years hundreds more were built or bought.

This “temporary” line was to remain the main line until the famous Spiral Tunnels of John Edward Schwitzer (Senior Engineer CPR Western Lines), were opened on September 1, 1909. Field Hill remained a significant challenge.

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