The Kicking Horse Pass
James Hector was a surveyor. In 1858, his job was to seek safe passage
through the Canadian Rockies for the upcoming Canadian Pacific Railroad.
While mapping the Kicking Horse Pass, he ran out of food, was kicked by his
horse (thus the name, "Kicking Horse Pass") and nearly died of exhaustion while
struggling to climb the final steep pitch of that "Big Hill" as the locals
called it. Needless to say, he recommended that this particular pass was far too
dangerous for a railroad. Instead, he suggested the Yellowhead Pass, two hundred
kilometers to the north, which had a much gentler slope.
Despite his warnings, the railway decided in favor of the Kicking Horse Pass.
Their reasons were simple:
- The Kicking Horse Pass was more adequately located in the South, enough to
block any American competition (we had to be careful of those Yankees!)
- The Kicking Horse Pass was shorter than the Yellowhead Pass and would require
122 km less rail line.
Once build, it was discovered that in order for a fifteen-car train to climb the
"Big Hill" (which was FAR from being a hill, believe me!), four extra pusher
engines were needed. Even with those four extra engines, the ascent was slow and
tedious. Once at the summit, the worst was not yet behind them. The train then
had to descend a very steep slope. The first train to try this derailed, plunged
into a nearby river, and killed three men.
Being aware that tourism would plunge (literally!) When they heard the news, the
railway authorities quickly convened. They decided to build three spur lines to
catch any runaway trains. The spur switches were left open, and the switchmen
were instructed to not close them unless they were certain the train was not a
"runaway".
This system was used for the next twenty-five years. I'm sure that if I had
lived in that day and age, my kids would have seen this particular ride as a
roller coaster and would have begged to take the train to British Columbia. I,
on the other hand, would have avoided it at all costs! I can only hope that most
of the people of that time were wise enough to ignore their kids and choose
safety! But even when there weren't passengers on the trains, the train
conductors hauling cargo to British Columbia were still putting their lives at
risk.
Desiring to keep their passengers and train machinery safe, the Canadian Pacific
Railway addressed this problem in 1909 by building the "Spiral Tunnels". Trains
would now pass through a series of tunnels, with each tunnel making a complete
spiraling turn under the original pass as the railway gradually ascended and
descended the "Big Hill" of Kicking Horse Pass. As the tunnels spiraled upward,
trains actually crossed over and under themselves!
Though the addition of the tunnels doubled the length of the pass, the grade was
cut in half. Now only two engines were needed to haul the cargo of 15 wagons,
and they were able to make the ascent at five times the speed. Traveling from
the Canadian east coast to the west was finally safe.
This reminds me that we as humans are far from always (if ever!) Making good and
wise decisions. I could cry out with David: "You know my folly, O God; my guilt
is not hidden from you." (Ps 69:5 NIV)
So often I make foolish decisions that negatively affect myself and those around
me. Only by depending completely on God for all of my decisions can I be assured
of wisdom beyond my abilities. Remember God's words: "'For my thoughts are not
your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the
heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my
thoughts than your thoughts.'" (Isa 55:8-9 NIV). Therefore "Let the wicked
forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he
will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isa 55:7
NIV)
Oops, gotta run! I have a train to catch! Would you like to join me?
Rob Chaffart
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