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 ~ ~ Shuswap Okanagan Railway
 ~ ~ Construction of Railway
 ~ ~ Railway Station
 ~ ~ 1st Rolling Stock
 ~ ~ Growth from Railway
 ~ ~ Memories of the trains

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In 1884, a bill was introduced into the Provincial Legislature of B.C., proposing the construction of a railway from Sicamous to a point on Okanagan Lake. The bill was defeated due to claimed impractability and a projected cost of $1,870,180.

The C.P.R. was completed in 1885, and was soon to be followed by the incorporation of the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway Company on June 2, 1886. Then, with a puch from the federal government, on April 27, 1887 the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway Subsidy Act was passed by the Legislative Assembly of B.C. This act specified that the railway company was to be granted a subsidy of $4,000 per mile not to exceed $200,000 in total, stating the company would use the standard gauge of track used by the C.P.R.. The railway was to be completed and be in running order within 3 years of the act being enforced. The act was proclaimed to be in force on November 15, 1887.

On the second of May 1889, the Dominion Government passed an act granting a subsidy of $3200 per mile to each of the 35 railways in Canada. The distance was computed to be 51 miles from Sicamous to Okanagan Landing.

Shortly after this, the Provincial Government passed an act superceding all previous acts and brought into force a tri-party agreement. The act stated that the Railroad Company was to secure title to right of way and all necessary lands, and would lease the railroad to the C.P.R. for a period of 25 years, and to assign the $3200 Federal Subsidy and 40% of the gross income of the railway to the Provincial Government.

The C.P.R. was instructed to equip the railroad with trains rolling stock, operate, and maintain it for 25 years, and pay the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway Company 40% of the gross income from the railroad. The B.C. government, for its part, guaranteed payment of 4% interest on the bonds of the railroad for 25 years. This act was passed on July 10, 1891.

Back in April, 1890, a survey was begun to prepare for the construction of the railway, and work was begun in May of the same year in Sicamous. Clearing and grading the land was done simultaneously to save time. The track followed the surveyed route from Sicamous, along the west shore of Mara Lake, throughout Pleasant Valley to Vernon, and then to Okanagan Landing.

Except for some blasting required along the edge of Mara Lake, preparing the track was quick and easy and the crews began laying the rails in Sicamous on April 14.

The first train made it to Enderby one month later. The Railway Station at Enderby, built and operated as a hotel by the Lambly Brothers, was purchased by the company during the construction of the railroad and was used as their headquarters. By August, 1891, the rails were laid as far as "The Island", about 15 miles from Vernon. At this point in time, a warehouse was erected on "The Island", the town site to be called Armstrong. In a week and a half, on September 12, the track layers, a crew of about 50 men under Mr. Murdock, reached Vernon at 4:00 p.m.

The train laying the rails consisted of the rail-laying machine, seven cars and a locomotive. The first three cars carried the ties; the last four cars were for the rails, T.W. Paterson, the managing contractor, and was one of the most advanced labor saving devices on the continent. They used a series of conveyors to move the rails and materials forward to the front of the train, and using this system, the rails were layed, bolted and spiked as fast as the ties could be laid. This system cut the required work force by 20 men, and still allowed the crew to lay two miles of track per day.

The terminus of the Shuswap and Okanagan Railroad at Okanagan Lake was officially named Okanagan Landing by the C.P.R., and a two-stall roundhouse was installed, a freight warehouse (23 x 100 feet) was constructed, and substantial wharf was built.

By October 1, 1891, a final inspection had been made of the track, and on October 15, the first passenger train arrived.

Jim Screen
ALF School 1989