Canadian Railroads > CP Golden/Cranbrook Wayfreight

Where does the way freight that switches the customers between Golden and Cranbrook originate and terminate. How does the S/B traffic get to Kingsgate? How does the S/B traffic off the Kootenay Valley RY get to Kingsgate?

Mike Root
Madras, OR

The crews are from Cranbrook and stay at either the Best Western or Ramada when in Golden. That's all I can positively answer. Not sure about the other questions.

The train off the KVR goes to Cranbrook yard. Southbound cars would be marshalled at Cranbrook into a train that would head south through Kingsgate. And a good chance the power will be Union Pacific.
611

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The present Windermere Sub. wayfreights (more than 1 to provide daily service in each direction) replaced a long established
Vancouver-Cranbrook through freight called the "Kootenay Central South" (and "North"). The Kootenay Central Railway was the charter name of this north-south line from Golden to Colvalli.

The KCN's and KCS's dealt with tonnage destined for shippers on CP's southern route and along the KC, and was started as a main line replacement for freight service from Vancouver which went over the CP Kettle Valley route.

The KCN's and KCS's were extensively switched at Golden,Fort Steele and Cranbrook, usually by setting off/picking up blocks of cars, and the Windermere Sub. wayfreights were made up from these setoffs .

The on-line shippers were, a large pulp and paper mill at Skookumchuck, a large sawmill at Canal Flats, a gypsum plant at Lake Winderemere, several sawmills between Radium and Golden.

Today, the KCN's and S's are no more, and the Windermere way freights handle the through general merchandise traffic from Golden to Fort Steele and Cranbrook.