Near Keremeos in Okanagan-Similkameen, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

An American Railroad

Brittney Crump, B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0), November 15, 2016

1. An American Railroad Marker

Inscription. This old covered bridge and parts of the abandoned right-of-way are mute reminders of the Vancouver, Victoria und Eastern Railway (VVAE), a subsidiary of the American-based Great Northern Railway. Between 1907 and 1914, the VVAE pushed northward, following the Similkameen River. James J. Hill, the famous 'Empire Builder' of the GNR, had plans to link the mineral-rich southern Interior with the coast but he was locked in a struggle with the mighty Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), pursuing the same idea. The intense rivalry ended when Hill died in 1916, his grandiose scheme dying with him and leaving the field open to his old rival, the CPRE, who finally completed the southern route to tidewater.

Caption: The first passenger train into Hedley, westbound through Keremeos, Dec. 23, 1899.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.

Location. 49° 12.535′ N, 119° 53.549′ W. Marker is near Keremeos, British Columbia, in Okanagan-Similkameen. Marker is on Crowsnest Highway (Provincial Highway 3) 1.1 kilometers west of Ashnola Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in American Railway Rest Area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3380 BC-3, Keremeos BC V0X 1N1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

23 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Eagle Valley (approx. 13.1 kilometers away); Gold in Nickel Plate (approx. 21.2 kilometers away).

Also see . . . Vancouver, Victoria und Eastern Railway. Overview of the legendary rivalry between James J. Hill, William Van Horne, and their railroads. (Note: Website is in German, but can be converted to English using Google Translate) (Submitted on December 14, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

James Jonah Hill (1838-1919) image. Click for full size.

Unknown via www.gngoat.org/Public domain, circa 1873

2. James Jonah Hill (1838-1919)

William Cornelius Van Horne (1843-1915) image. Click for full size.

Unknown via Library and Archives Canada/Public domain, circa 1890

3. William Cornelius Van Horne (1843-1915)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 52 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on February 11, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Wide shot of marker and surrounding area in context. • Can you help?