The "Big Hill" Canadian Pacific Railway
The name originally given the "Big Hill" was the original 4.5% eastbound grade out of Field, BC, that directly assaulted the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, as a better solution could be engineered. Canada Highway 1 mostly follows this original line. The grade was realigned in 1909 with the Spriral Tunnels. This lowered most of the grade to 2.2%. However this section from Field to the Cathedral Tunnel is still 2.4% making it one of the steepest sections of mainline grade in North America. Railroaders still often refer to this mountain as "The Big Hill"....
The "Big Hill" Canadian Pacific Railway
The name originally given the "Big Hill" was the original 4.5% eastbound grade out of Field, BC, that directly assaulted the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, as a better solution could be engineered. Canada Highway 1 mostly follows this original line. The grade was realigned in 1909 with the Spriral Tunnels. This lowered most of the grade to 2.2%. However this section from Field to the Cathedral Tunnel is still 2.4% making it one of the steepest sections of mainline grade in North America. Railroaders still often refer to this mountain as "The Big Hill"....