THE CPR SPIRAL TUNNELS

The Canadian Pacific Spiral Tunnels are located a short drive west of Lake Louise AB and east of Field BC, in the Kicking Horse Pass of Yoho National Park at 5,390 feet (1,643 metres).

As a result of several derailments on The Big Hill (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Hill) over 25 years by downhill runaway trains and extra locomotives necessary to push trains up the hill, an engineer came up with the idea of running trains in a similar way as in Switzerland through a series of loops that would gently rise them or lower them in elevation gradually through spirals. September 5th 2009, marked the 100th anniversary of their completion.

There are 2 tunnels, one through Mount Ogden on the north side of the Trans-Canada Highway (Number Two Tunnel), the other one through Cathedral Mountain on the south side (Number One Tunnel). Our train will pass under the Trans-Canada (#1 Highway) twice, some of which was constructed over the path of the original line. The train also passes twice over the Kicking Horse River on short bridges.

The vertical rise between the 2 tunnels is very roughly 500 feet (155 meters). Each tunnel is about some 1000 yards (891m) in length and 1.62 to 2% in grade, through a three quarter circle (around 240 degrees.

While in the Spirals no passenger may be present, in a vestibule (or the rear gallery), due to diesel exhaust fumes, so the sequences don't actually show the inside of the tunnels. as they should.

We will be entering Number Two tunnel first, turning left through a three quarter circle while rising about 50 feet (some 15 meters) higher, before and exiting the portal.

We then run through the forest on a 2% grade steadily rising in elevation, as we reach the Number One Tunnel. Inside, we turn right and emerge about 50 feet higher. Shortly after exiting the portal, we encounter a westbound CP intermodal consist, waiting to go into the tunnels
Going through the Spirals by regular passenger train is no longer possible except by the Rocky Mountaineer train from May to October, as VIA Rail abandoned Calgary-Vancouver service on the line and all their passenger trains now originate in Edmonton, about 2 hours north, passing through Jasper.

Our journey starts at the Mount Stephen Tunnel, after climbing part of The Big Hill in May 2009.

Видео THE CPR SPIRAL TUNNELS канала MASSEY JONES