Western Railroad Discussion > CP Rogers Pass Railfanning

Any suggestions, tips to accessibility, favorite spots, traffic patterns on CP's Rogers Pass. Any input appreciated

Rodgers pass itself is very difficult to access most of the way between Golden and Revelstoke. There is limited access to the east of Revelstoke for the first 30 miles or so, after that forget it to Golden. East of Golden is Kicking Horse pass which is very much better with far better access. Its also single track which means you are very much more in control.

John

Get a copy of the By-Town Railway Society's Canadian Rail Guide if you don't have one. Mileposts, detectors, etc. I'd combine Rogers and Glacier as two sides of one adventure.

The area thru Glacier Pass is exciting and photogenic, the west end of the McDonald tunnel is adjacent to the highway. Bring a small airhorn, like the kind found it boat stores, to frighten off the bears. If you're packing unlicnsed heat, don't. The Canadians are very touchy about armed Americans who lack Canadian permits, which are almost impossible for hand guns.

The area around Field is adjacent to the highway, and you can get a line up there. Most (all?) trains change crews there. The Lower Spiral is accessible via a service road thru a campground just east of Field. I found CP people there to be friendly and helpful.

Morant's Curve is on the old Bow Parkway(access from Lake Louise, just past the National highway). Other than a few "hit and run" guard-rail-fans, it's a very pleasant place in the afternoon.

First off;

Rogers Pass is between Donald BC,
and Revelstoke. The summit of the
pass is on the TCH, with a Parks
Canada enterpretive centre and a
hotel. The mountains are the
Selkirk range of the Columbia
Mountains.

The Columbia River at Golden marks
the western edge of the Rockies.

Morants Curve, Field and the Spiral
tunnels are in the Kicking Horse Pass.

It's true that the CP Mountain Sub.
(Radio freq. 161.475) is hard of
access even in the summer, and Parks
Canada of late has gated the railroad
access road to Stoney Creek bridge.

Rogers Pass is a high snow area in
winter, and the Trans Canada Highway
is not plowed wide enough to allow
roadside parking in many area.


With the advent of hi-rail MOW trucks,
some RR service roads are no longer
maintained, such as the access road
to the old pusher (helper) terminal
at Rogers. Although it is outside
Glacier Park, it is now officially
closed to vehicle traffic.

Locations accesible by car; Moberly,
Forde, Donald , Redgrave (summer only),
west of Beavermouth (Big Lake Resort,
summer only), Bear Creek (walk in from
Parks Canada gate), Ross Peak, Flat Creek,
Albert Canyon (behind Hot Springs Resort),
Greeley, Box Canyon east of White.

If you are parked within Glacier National
Park, purchase a Parks use permit.
The NPC Rangers do the policing in the
Parks, and can ticket you for not having
a day pass.

Generally, Banff,Yoho and Glacier Park
rangers don't bother you , Jasper rangers
are more officious.

Having said all that, there are lots of
locations for the adventurous photographer,
and it is a generally friendly place.

Good railfanning.

e.grise


in the Rockies.

eminence_grise wrote:
>
> First off;
>
> Rogers Pass is between Donald BC,
> and Revelstoke. The summit of the
> pass is on the TCH, with a Parks
> Canada enterpretive centre and a
> hotel.

In May of 1986, we stayed in the Best Western at the top of the pass. During a visit to the bar, I struck up a conversation with three RR men - one of whom was the superintendent on the "short tunnel" (2000 meters??) they abuilding. We were invited for a tour the next morning. Great time!!


>
> With the advent of hi-rail MOW trucks,
> some RR service roads are no longer
> maintained, such as the access road
> to the old pusher (helper) terminal
> at Rogers. Although it is outside
> Glacier Park, it is now officially
> closed to vehicle traffic.
>
>

A great road to use to get down to the Pusher Station. Hopefully, someone retained the yellow and red sign at the top of the road and adjacent to the Trans-Canada hiway - the sign alerted folks to the presence of the "Rogers Pusher Station." Rode the pushers on all three trips - great hospitality including eating in the local beanery normally used only by rails.


> Having said all that, there are lots of
> locations for the adventurous photographer,
> and it is a generally friendly place.

Yes, friendly place - great. Let's hope a bunch of we crazy railfans do not ruin it!!