The Historical Lines forming the Vancouver and Nicola Valley Railway

The routes are discussed by original railway; New Westminster Southern, Victoria Terminal Railway, Vancouver, Westminster & Yukon, Vancouver, Victoria & Eastern, Kettle Valley Railway (CPR) and Canadian Northern Railway.

Historical Lines:

• New Westminster Southern Railway
• Victoria Terminal Railway
• Vancouver, Westminster and Yukon
• John Hendry
• Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern
• Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Railway
• Kettle Valley Railway
• Canadian Northern Railway

New Westminster Southern Railway

MP zero is the Canada/USA Border. The line heads north-north-west until it bisects what is now the intersection of 8th Avenue and 176th Street. The line starts a gentle spiral curve east to what is now 184 street. It crosses 184 street at McMillan Avenue and swings sharply north to cross 20th street. The line starts a gentle S' curve to the west until it ends up heading north on a grade just east of 176th. It passes north through Cloverdale on the same grade. At Yale Road the line swings north east and follows (is) Harvie Road. At 87 Avenue Harvie Road curves north around Port Kells until it is running north west. It continues north west then turns to follow the river bank west to Brownsville. The line terminates at a station at old Yale Road. (Historical)

Construction History
1890 23.51 miles of track.
1891 00.59 miles of track.
Total Mileage: 24.1 Miles.

Abandonment History
1916 Brownsville to Port Kells (to CNoR) 8.55 Miles
1918 Blaine to Hazelmere 2.69 Miles.
1919 Hazelmere to Port Kells 11.3 Miles
1.56 Miles unaccounted for, possible trackage around Cloverdale.

Notes: There is no mention of the BC Electric Railway as that company was built after the NWSR.
Where there is industrial spur you can assume that there is also a Flag Stop.

Victoria Terminal Railway

The line starts at the edge of the river and runs along 44 Avenue to Kelly Drive. The Guichon Wye runs up Savoy Street. It follows Kelly avenue until it reaches 44 Avenue again. The line continues east along the course of 44 Avenue (usually to the south of it, but at times to the north. The railway is straight but the road changes from one side of the track to the other a few times.). It heads east until it reaches Colebrook Road, then it follows the course of Colebrook road until it reaches Cloverdale. At Cloverdale there is a wye junction with the NWSR. (Historical)

Construction History
1903 Ladner to Cloverdale 17.49 Miles

Abandonment History
1931 Colebrook to Cloverdale 6.25 Miles
1935 Colebrook to Ladner 10.00 Miles
1.24 Miles of track left as part of the GNR Mud Bay line to Vancouver.

Mile posts are from 1918 and 1931 time tables.

Notes:
Mile Posts, Car Capacities, and Siding Capacities from 1918 Time Table.
Spur Opens refers to end(s) connected to main line.
Where there is industrial spur you can assume that there is also a Flag Stop.

Vancouver, Westminster and Yukon

This railway built a line from New Westminster to Vancouver. The route overland route is not well enough known to determine mile posts. It is known that it followed the current line to False Creek to the vicinity of Still Creek then crossed over the height of land around Trout Lake. The grade down into False Creek was steep. It followed the south shore of False Creek (which at this time extended to Clark Avenue) to just past Main Street. Then it crossed False Creek at about Quebec Street (the bridge supports were at the east end of False Creek, now buried under Science World). The original VW&Y station was in China Town at Pender and Keefer. This became the Marco Polo restaurant (now torn down). After the VW&Y was purchased by the VV&E a new line was built (the cut) and the fill from the cut was used to fill end the east end of False Creek to make land for railway yards. A new station erected beside the CNoR station. (Historical)

John Hendry

John Hendry was involved with many local railways and much wheeling and dealing in early Vancouver Railway history. A good account of his actions can be found in "BC Studies No. 59 Autumn 1983". The account is mainly concerned with the Vancouver, Westminster and Yukon Railway, but other lines he owned or controlled are covered as well. (Historical)

Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway

The VV&E built the line from Cloverdale through Abbotsford to Sumas and the line to Cannor on the CNoR mainline. (Historical)

Construction History
1907 Cloverdale to 1.38 Miles. E. of Cloverdale 1.38 Miles
1908 1.38 miles. E of Cloverdale to boundary at Sumas 27.88 Miles
1912 Abbotsford to 7.82 Miles. E. (Kilgard) 7.82 Miles
1913 7.82 Miles. E. of Abbotsford to 12.86 Miles. E. (Sumas River) 5.04 Miles
1916 12.86 Miles. E. of Abbotsford to Cannor 1.04 Miles

Abandonment History
1920 Cannor to Bridge 176 1.04 Miles
1924 Kilgard to Cannor (Bridge 176) 5.04 Miles
1929 Abbotsford to Kilgard 4.73 Miles
1929 Cloverdale to Sumas 29.15 Miles

From the 1918 Time Table: Fifth District - Sumas to Guichon

From the 1918 Time Table: Seventh District - Hope to Abbotsford

Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen

The Merritt Lines are the lines built by the Nicola, Kamloops and Similkameen Railway. For a description of the lines see Nicola Branch and Brodie Branch on the Nicola Valley Route page. (Historical)

Kettle Valley Railway

Mile Posts are for the CPR Coquihalla Subdivision. CPR mile posts are measured from Brookmere. (Historical)

Canadian Northern Railway

Mile Posts are current Canadian National Mile Posts. This route was surveyed by the GNR (VV&E) and built by the Canadian Northern Railway. The VV&E leased running rights from Hope to Cannor. (Historical)

Notes