CPR Cranbrook Subdivision

The Cranbrook Subdivision is a 107.7 mile railway line of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) running from Crowsnest on the British Columbia–Canada border, where it connects with the Crowsnest Subdivision Lethbridge, Alberta, to Cranbrook on the Nelson Subdivision. It connects to numerous other lines: at Fabro to the Corbin Subdivision, at Natal to the Elk Prairie Branch, at Sparwood to the Fording River Subdivision, at Elko to the North Western Pacific Railroad's Crowsnest Southern Line, at Caithness to the CPR Waldo Subdivision, at Fort Steele to the Kootenay Central Subdivision, at North Star to the Kimberley Subdivision, at Wardner Junction to the CPR Wardner Subdivision.

The Cranbrook Subdivision is part of the Kootenay Division of the CPR's British Columbia District.

Cranbrook has a large yard and an engine shop with an operational turntable.

= History = Seeking access to the resource-rich Kootenay region of British Columbia, the Canadian Pacific Railway opened a line from Lethbridge to Cranbrook in 1899 to connect there with the British Columbia Southern Railway, which had reached Cranbrook from Kootenay Landing in the same year.

The line connected to the Morrissey, Fernie & Michel Railway at two places: until 1908 at the original Morrissey Station, and until 1957 at Fernie; at Fernie and at Michel there were connections to the Crows Nest Southern Railway and its successor the Milwaukee Road until 1929, when the Milwaukee closed its own line between Elko and Michel after securing running rights from Elko to Michel; this lasted until 1948.

Originally, the route ran on a different route between Colvalli and Wardner Junction, which was originally called North Star. The construction of a dam forced the abandonment of part of the line between Colvalli and Wardner in 1966. The remaining section of the original line became the Wardner Subdivision, and a new route was built for the mainline. The original North Star Station was renamed Wardner Junction, and a new North Star Station was opened at the same time.

Elk Prairie Branch
This is a 2.9 mile freight-only branch to Westar Mining's coal preparation plant at Elk Prairie.

= Services =

Freight
Freight traffic on this line is extensive, much being coal moving from the Fording River and Corbin Subdivisions.

Passenger
The various categories of passenger service are defined by the Ministry of Labour, Industry & Railways in conjunction with the Ministry of Transport & Communications; these categories are applicable to and used by all railways providing passenger service in British Columbia. Like all other railways in BC, ticket prices for BC Rail passenger trains are based on the Ministry's Schedule of Railway Fares.

Limited Express
Limited Express trains are the fastest and most prestigious passenger trains in BC, making very few or no intermediate stops. Two international Limited Express trains run over the Cranbrook Subdivision, one operated jointly by BC Rail and VIA Rail, the Canadian passenger train operator, and one a joint operation of VIA Rail, the Washington & British Columbia Railway, and Amtrak, the American passenger rail operator.


 * 107 Smoke Eater/108 Stampeder (BCR/VIA Rail): Trail, BC – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end using one VIA consist and one BCR consist, with VIA locomotives and crews working the VIA consists and BCR locomotives and crews working the BCR consists over the entire route; the westbound train is called Smoke Eater, and the eastbound is the Stampeder. This train runs over the trackage of the BCR between Trail and Nelson, and of the CPR between Nelson and Calgary. Intermediate stops:
 * BC: Castlegar, Nelson, Creston, Cranbrook, Fernie, Crowsnest (BC and Canadian customs checks)
 * Alberta: Lethbridge


 * 911/912 Columbia Limited (W&BC/VIA Rail/Amtrak): Calgary, Alberta, Canada – Portland, Oregon, USA
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end. Two consists are used: in one, chair cars (first and second class) are supplied by CP, baggage cars, the dining car, sleepers (first class), sleeperettes (second class), and staff are supplied by VIA; in the other, staff and all stock other than second class chair cars (supplied by Amtrak) are supplied by the W&BC. This train runs over the trackage of the Canadian Pacific between Calgary and Nelson, of the W&BC between Nelson and Spokane, and of the Burlington Northern & Gulf between Spokane and Portland. Between Calgary and Creston, VIA Rail locomotives work the trains; the W&BC has running rights for this train between Creston and Nelson, its locomotives being used for the bulk of the trip, between Creston and Spokane. Between Spokane and Portland, Amtrak provides the locomotive. Intermediate stops:
 * Alberta: Lethbridge
 * BC: Crowsnest (BC and Canadian customs checks), Fernie, Cranbrook, Creston, Nelson, Salmo, Fort Sheppard (BC customs checks)
 * Washington: Boundary (US customs checks), Kettle Falls, Deer Park, Spokane, Pasco, Wishram

Rapid
Rapid (also known as "semi-express") trains are similar to regular Express trains, making a limited number of scheduled stops, but stops can be booked up to three hours in advance at any station on the route that has passenger service. There is one international (operated jointly by the CPR and the North Western Pacific Railroad and one domestic Rapid service on the Cranbrook Subdivision.


 * 681/682 (NWP/CP): Cranbrook – Coeur d'Alene
 * Daily service with a morning departure from each end, the trip takes about seven hours using one CP consist and one NWP consist; locomotive and crew changes take place at Elko. These trains feature first and second class chair cars and a cafeteria car; baggage handling is free of charge for first class passengers, and available with a surcharge for second class passengers. For travel between three or fewer domestic stops on the Cranbrook–Fort Steele section a surcharge is applied. BC customs checks take place at McDonald, US checks at Roosville, Montana. Scheduled intermediate stops:
 * BC: Fort Steele City, Elko, Grasmere, McDonald
 * Montana: Roosville, Eureka, Jennings, Libby, Bull Lake, Heron
 * Idaho: Clark Fork, Belmont, Hayden Lake


 * 629/630, 631/632, 633/634 (CP): Blaenau – Cranbrook
 * Three daily trains in each direction with first and second class chair cars and a cafeteria car; baggage handling is free of charge for first class passengers, and available with a surcharge for second class passengers. For travel between Blaenau and Golden a surcharge is applied. Scheduled intermediate stops: Llangefni, Golden, Spillimacheen, Radium Hot Springs, Fairmont Hot Springs, Fort Steele City

Local
Local trains are passenger trains that make scheduled stops at all stations and halts along the route they serve. The CPR's Local trains are second-class only with seat-side drink and snack service; none have baggage service. Four Local services operate on the Cranbrook Subdivision.


 * 701/702, 703/704, 705/706, 707/708 (CP): Cranbrook – Nelson
 * Four round trips daily, second class only with seat-side drink and snack service.


 * 711/712, 713/714 (CP): Cranbrook – Fort Steele – Elko – Sparwood
 * Two daily return trips, second class only with seat-side drink and snack service.


 * 721/722, 723/724 (CP): Fernie – Sparwood – Line Creek
 * Two daily return trips, second class only, no drink/snack service.


 * 731/732, 733/734 (CP): Fernie – Kragmont: 2x daily
 * Two daily return trips, second class only, no drink/snack service.

= Route = Italic text indicates a closed station or connection.

● - Scheduled Limited Express, Rapid, and Local stop ♦ - Scheduled Rapid and Local stop • - Local stop | - No passenger service