Future Event - Skeena Pacific Railway

[DaveB]

Next year, or perhaps the year after, here's an idea for another Mackenzie Trail style run in the north of our province. Lets call it the Skeena Pacific Railway run.

Seems, if you can discern the truth from the fiction, that there was a plan, and rails in place, or at least the rail bed, to provide service from Fort Saint James, north of Vanderhoof, to Alaska. The BC Rail tracks currently go through the Fort, but as far as I can tell, no tracks extend north at this time.

So, instead, find Dease Lake on a map, and if you head down about 80 KM you come across a rail bed that connects up to the highway. This is also shown on BC mineral maps as a recognized right of way.

The photo below is a link to the Motorcycle Explorer website that talks about doing this trip for the first 175 KM, after which it got too rough for them. I think this could be where the fun starts. I was able to follow the trail southwards for another 200 KM or so, with the entire distance to Fort Saint James being around 500 KM. As the railbed gets closer to Fort Saint James, two things happen. First the mineral maps no longer link correctly to their index page, so it gets real tough to find the correct PDF map, and second, thre are numberous other roads, cutlines and markings so it becomes possible to track the railway right of way itself. I think at this point at least one could find their way out to civilization, however it would almost be impossible to find the origin of the railbed from the Fort Saint James end, unless someone has a godd idea.

http://www.motorcycleexplorer.com/n_bc/sdlebag.jpg

It would be a good idea to find someone more knowledgable with the area, or perhaps hook up with a bush pilot to do an overfly, but I think this could be a great full week adventure in the future.

Anyone game?

Dave

[ANDYD]

Hi Dave,

That's a great story about the Skeena railway, typical Canadian pioneering spirit!
I've always wanted to explore up north, sounds like a great idea!

Andy

[DaveB]

Google Earth tracks the entire route, and the Railway line/grade/right of way of the unfinished line can be seen if you turn on the railroad layer and zoom in to about 25000 feet. It appears, because it is a legitimate right of way, it has been mapped and registered somewhere where Google was able to pick it up on ther maps.

Start by a "Fly To" Fort St James, BC, then turn on the rail layer. The coordinates for this are: 54°28'24.83"N, 124°11'28.99"W. You can see the rail line in the screenshot below as a tiny purple line.

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... tjames.jpg

The tracks appear to end heading northward, after about 200 km, but some nearby logging raods appear to still continue: 55°12'19.36"N, 125°40'52.37"W

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... ailend.jpg


End of the line to the north, where it intersects Highway 37 is 58°11'20.56"N, 129°50'55.97"W

http://roverlanders.bc.ca/gallery-photo ... ineend.jpg

If you haven't downloaded Google Earth yet, its very cool, works on Windows, and even on my Mac!

Dave

[PaulC]

Interesting stuff Dave.

I download Google Earth & followed the route. Defiantly something that interests me & no doubt many other members….oh yea Google Earth is pretty cool 8) …I wonder if it’s worth subscribing to the $20. enhanced version. :?: :idea:

[Colin]

The tracks go up to Minerat. I am reviewing a project that did consider finishing the line to and bringing it up to near Iskut. They mentioned that 3 bridges at least had to be built.

Look up Mt Klappan at the BC Gov EAO website which might give you some more detail. From the Mt Klappan to Iskut the railbed is in use during the summer.