The Kamloops Line

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Home Pagethe Kamloops Line

Kamloops LakeKamloops, British Columbia

Layout PlanWhere the tracks go

SceneryMountains, lake, backgrounds

Structures and DetailsHouses, crossings, bridges

LocomotivesCanadian Locomotives

Rolling StockFreight and passenger cars

DCC and Controlsthe Electronics of my Layout

Original LayoutWhen I started N scale

Märklin RailroadOriginal trains from Germany

Lionel LinesLike when We were kids

Site MapList of all the Pages

ContactE-mail Larry

Canadian National

Mixed freight across Kamloops Lake with a pair of F7 Locos

Click image for a closer view of the train.

Canadian National

Very long freight across Kamloops Lake

      When I first saw the CN coal trains headed west on the line at the north side of Kamloops Lake, near Savona, BC, I knew this would be the subject of for a model railroad I would someday build. I was transfixed by this amazing scene across the lake. Where is my camera, where are my binoculars? I thought. Well, they were in the car with our suitcases.

We had just arrived in Savona to stay at the Lakeside Country Inn, a charming B&B, for a few days before moving on to Kamloops for a family wedding and then to Roche Lake Resort for a family gathering.

      Soon afterward, we felt the rumble and the deep down vibrations of a passing train. It was one of the CP freights hauling up-grade only a hundred feet away from where we stood - just through the trees on the other side of the road.
      We met with our hosts and registered for our stay. Margaret and Donn are the owners of this charming Inn with its beautifully landscaped grounds and a lush lawn that slopes gently to the lake. "I hope you don't mind trains," Margaret said. "They do make the rooms shake a little at night."

      Margaret gave us a room at the back where she said we would not hear the trains as much. As it turns out we could not have had a better room. The balcony not only gave us a wonderful view of the lawn, the garden and the lake, but from there we could see the CN trains hauling up and down the line on the north side of Kamloops lake. We certainly did hear the CP trains as they rumbled through several times each night. Somehow it was quite enjoyable though, and we didn't lose much sleep.

     The next day I took a walk through the trees and sat on a rock near the railroad track with my camera in hand. I had no expectations but was hopeful that I might just get a picture of a train. I waited, but not for very long. In the distance and up-grade came the familiar sound of a diesel horn. I knew it was blowing for the grade crossing near the lumber mill just where Savona Access road connects with Highway 1.
      Soon, the ground began to shake, my heart raced and a big, red AC44CW diesel locomotive No. 8564, with Canadian Pacific markings came rolling through. It was hauling a long, heavy freight train and was heading west. I did not get good pictures that day as the sun backlit the train making the images little more than silhouettes.
      We spent the next few days in "paradise" — swimming, canoeing, observing wildlife, lounging in the beautiful gardens, enjoying our gracious hosts and, watching trains.
     This is when I decided I would build a model railroad called "The Kamloops Line".