The famous Spiral Tunnels on the CP Rail Line were opened on September 1st, 1909. The route called for two tunnels driven in three-quarter circles into the valley walls. The construction and extra track effectively doubled the length of the climb and reduced the gradient to 2.2%. The labor force to build these tunnels through sheer rock amounted to about a thousand, and the cost was about 1.5 million Canadian dollars. This is one of the steepest, most scenic railway lines in North America, crossing the kicking horse river, and running under Mount Ogden and Cathedral Mountain, towards the town of Field, BC. (Source: CBC.ca) These are the only tunnels of their kind in North America, and replaced what was originally a steep 4.5% grade known as the "Big Hill": 4.5% grade in railroading is virtually unheard of and was only permitted as this more southern pass to the safer, lower grade option further north would ensure that American-based railroad companies in the late-1800s would not be able to consider it as an option and encroach on Canadian railroad expansion plans.
York Region Geocachers Club, in association with Kortright Centre for Conservation, hosts the annual YRGC Weekend Geofest each Spring to introduce the general public to our game along with social and interactive opportunities for veteran geocachers. Included in those opportunities we teamed up to present the Geofest Express where all geocache varieties are available for the finding.
We have expanded out of the park to bring you a series of caches from Bolton to the northern edge of Kortright and on surrounding trails. Based on Canadian railways and passenger trains, the Geofest Express geocaches are made up of both `Park and Grabs` and an additional hiking section. No tickets are required on this historic journey. Get on the track to Geofest! ALL ABOARD!
More information on the Geofest Express and YRGC Weekend Geofest found at York Region Geocachers Club
Congratulations to teamtoronto on FTF!