McCulloch’s Wonder

A marvel of railway engineering: The Kettle Valley Line

The story of the Kettle Valley Railway is an amazing piece of Canadian history. The railway served the people of Southern British Columbia for 45 years (1916-1961) linking the mineral rich interior of the province to Pacific Coastal shipping. A marvel of engineering, the KVR owes its very existence to the genius & perseverance of one man: Andrew McCulloch.

Header image: Quintet Tunnels The Othello Tunnels are widely considered a marvel of railway engineering. Constructed in 1914 by the Kettle Valley Railway. 

*Image by Erik Prosser

Train on Canyon Creek Trestle (left) The Canyon Creek Trestle is just one of the many impressive trestle bridges along the Kettle Valley Railway’s route. In the Myra Canyon alone, McCulloch was faced with the task of building 18 wood trestle bridges in a space of only 5.5 miles of extremely tall and wide valleys. 

*Courtesy of City of Penticton  Museum and Archives

JJ Warren and Andrew McCulloch (left) 

Two key figures in the construction of Kettle Valley Railway, were JJ Warren, and Andrew McCulloch, pictured here. As Chief Engineer, McCulloch (on the right) was responsible for construction of the railway, while Warren, as president of the KVR, managed the project. (Date and photographer unknown.) 

*Courtesy of City of Penticton  Museum and Archives

Recorded live at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery in Steveston, BC on September 11th, 2004 for Tiller’s Folly - A Fine Kettle of Fish CD/DVD. 

Bruce Coughlan - guitar and lead vocals 
Laurence Knight - bass & vocals 
Nolan Murray - fiddle 
Eric Reed - slide guitar

Video Produced by Jan Vozenilek of Horizon Multimedia 
Recorded by Ron Cote in Roadrunner Mobile Studios 
Mixed by Ron Cote & Eric Reed at NAL Studios, North Vancouver, BC 
Produced by Laurence Knight

McCulloch's Wonder

Tiller's Folly

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The story of the Kettle Valley Railway is an amazing piece of Canadian history. The railway served the people and of southern British Columbia for 49 years (1916-1945) linking the mineral rich interior of the Province to Read more
The story of the Kettle Valley Railway is an amazing piece of Canadian history. The railway served the people and of southern British Columbia for 49 years (1916-1945) linking the mineral rich interior of the Province to the Pacific Coastal shipping. Recently, parts of the old KVR have been preserved as heritage sites. The old "Tin Whistle's” right-of-way is enjoying renewed popularity as hiking and mountain biking trails. A marvel of engineering, the KVR owes its existence to the genius and perseverance of one man: Andrew McCulloch.
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  1. McCulloch's Wonder

McCulloch’s Wonder

Back in1916 they laid the last rail down
On the Coast-to-Kootenay Railway
From Hope to Midway town
Over three mountain ranges lay the greatest challenge
Any engineer could find
Two ribbons of steel they called the Kettle Valley Railway Line

Andrew McCulloch, just look what you have done
You've built a railway, where they said a railway
Was never meant to run
Where other men would have said “die”
You'd take a second look, 'cause you never know until you try
Now it's called McCulloch's Wonder; the old "Tin Whistle" Line

What dreams inspired your trestled spans
Along the Myra Canyon?
Or drove Othello Tunnels through Hope's forbidding gate?

Copper, gold, cattle & coal from across the southern vales
Avalanches ice & snow, through driving wind and hail
Chief Engineer for twenty years
McCulloch oversaw the marvel he'd designed
It was called McCulloch's Wonder; The Kettle Valley Railway Line

Aboard a helper engine, up Carmi's steeper grades
The fireman's back was breaking
He shoveled eighteen tons a day

Now everything is still, no smoke no steam
No rumble in the rails
Water towers and stations gone
Few folks left to tell the tale
But buried in these silent hills
Along the roadside stands a lonely highway sign
Here lies McCulloch's Wonder; The Kettle Valley Railway Line
McCulloch's Wonder; The old "Tin Whistle" Line

 

Words & Music by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN)

Stirring Up Ghosts is an initiative begun in 1997 by songwriter Bruce Coughlan in an effort to preserve a measure of Pacific Canadian history, heritage and culture in story & song. His band Tiller's Folly have recorded and performed these songs far and wide, sharing our unique stories in the Bardic tradition which is a timeless part of our Celtic Culture.

 

Some images ©