Bulldog Tunnel

The first appearance in print of the Bulldog Tunnel name was 1899, and of the mountain, from which it derived, occurred the previous year. The post office at Brooklyn, which closed in 1900, was to have relocated to the tunnel vicinity, but no evidence suggests this happened.{{Cite web | url=https://www.castlegarnews.com/opinion/place-names-tunnel-vallican-and-velvet | title=Castlegar News, 19 Oct 2017 | website=www.castlegarnews.com| date=19 October 2017 }} The location is sometimes called the Coykendahl Tunnel.

In May 1898, CP awarded the West Robson–Midway extension of the Columbia and Western Railway (C&W) to Daniel Mann, Foley Bros., and Peter Larson. The Bulldog Tunnel, the largest subcontract, was given to McLean Bros.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=37}} This drilling and blasting bore would link the valley of Pup Creek with the Dog Creek drainage. The specified tunnel height of {{convert|21|ft|10|in|m|1|order=flip}}, and width of {{convert|16|ft|m|order=flip}}, required the removal of {{convert|28000|cuyd|0|order=flip}} of rock. During construction, a temporary route with switchbacks carried the line over the mountain.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=38}}

==Construction==

In July 1898, McLean Bros commenced work on the longest tunnel in BC at the time. Three 80-hp steam boilers were shipped in to power the two air compressors supplying 14 drills. A full complement of employees did not arrive until October. However, a limited water supply allowed only one boiler to operate, restricting operations to four rock drills.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=38}} By January 1899, only {{convert|400|ft|m|order=flip}} of the {{convert|3004|ft|m|order=flip}} tunnel had been completed. By April, the rail head was nearing the eastern portal of the tunnel.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=39}} In June, when a brush fire reached the gunpowder magazine, workers fled to the safety of the tunnel. The explosion damaged several buildings, twisted the railway track, and felt like an earthquake at Brooklyn, {{convert|4|mi|km|0|order=flip}} away.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/cascade/items/1.0067403#p0z-4r0f:%22Brooklyn%22 |page=1 |title=Cascade Record, 24 Jun 1899 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} That same month, McLeans abandoned the project, while the tunnel was less than a third advanced. Replaced by Olaf Olsen, progress improved. By mid-summer, tracklayers had upgraded the temporary narrow gauge Bulldog switchback track with temporary standard gauge switchbacks.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=40}}

With Brooklyn largely deserted, the tunnel location provided the only viable commercial opportunities in the area. In August, a store was established.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/cascade/items/1.0067461#p0z-4r0f:%22Brooklyn%22 |page=1 |title=Cascade Record, 5 Aug 1899 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} In September, two tunnellers were asphyxiated by toxic gases on entering too soon after blasting. That month, the hotel at the switchback summit closed,{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/cascade/items/1.0067557#p0z-4r0f:%22Brooklyn%22 |page=1 |title=Cascade Record, 16 Sep 1899 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} and mail carrier Frank Corte opened a hotel a half mile below the tunnel.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/cascade/items/1.0067568#p2z-4r0f:%22Brooklyn%22 |page=3 |title=Cascade Record, 23 Sep 1899 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} Also, the Grand Forks–West Robson passenger service commenced. Immediate stations were Summit (renamed Farron){{Cite web | url=https://www.nelsonstar.com/community/farron-site-of-mysterious-explosion-has-mysterious-name/ | title=Nelson Star, 6 Apr 2014 | website=www.nelsonstar.com| date=6 April 2014 }} (Mile 36.8), Tunnel (West End) (Mile 44.3), Tunnel Summit (Mile 47.1), Tunnel (East End) (Mile 50.0), and Shields (Mile 60.2).{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=46}}

The switchbacks took an hour to negotiate.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=44}} In November, a westbound passenger train derailment on the switchback caused a three-hour delay. By that time, the tunnel had progressed {{convert|1280|ft|m|order=flip}} from the west portal, and {{convert|1200|ft|m|order=flip}} from the east portal.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=46}} In December, an eastbound freight train wrecked, killing a freight hopper.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170318#p1z-1r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=2 |title=Boundary Creek Times, 9 Dec 1899 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} At month end, the approaching tunnels met. In February 1900, the first train cleared the tunnel, passing {{convert|500|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip}} below the former switchback summit. No longer needing to split the cars, the time saving for freight trains was far greater than the one hour gained by passenger trains.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=47}} The next month, the Corte hotel closed.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/greemine/items/1.0081951#p0z-3r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Greenwood Miner, 2 Mar 1900 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}

Tunnel station was {{convert|6.8|mi|km|1|order=flip}} west of Coykendahl, and {{convert|4.7|mi|km|1|order=flip}} east of Porcupine, and {{convert|7.6|mi|km|1|order=flip}} east of Farron. The locals designated the passenger service on the southern main line as the Bulldog Express.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/locla/items/1.0082373#p3z-4r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=4 |title=Lowery's Claim, 1 Dec 1905 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0181502#p0z-2r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Ledge, 7 May 1908 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} Snowslides{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/nelsondaily/items/1.0381047#p3z-2r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=4 |title=Daily News, 28 Mar 1903 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} and rockslides{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/nelsondaily/items/1.0381725#p4z-2r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=5 |title=Daily News, 13 Apr 1904 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0181470#p0z-1r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Ledge, 23 Mar 1911 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} were common in the tunnel vicinity.

In 1900, a brakeman fell under the wheels of a freight car at Farron, resulting in the later hospital amputation of his leg.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/cascade/items/1.0190853#p0z-4r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Cascade Record, 20 Oct 1900 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} In 1902, the {{convert|100|ft|m|adj=on|order=flip}} high Porcupine bridge burned down. During the 10-day rebuild, passenger trains terminated at either end, and passengers transferred.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xgrandforks/items/1.0341590#p0z-4r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Evening Sun, 1 Sep 1902 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} In 1909, a passenger train stalled in the tunnel.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xgrandforks/items/1.0341752#p0z-3r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Evening Sun, 2 Oct 1909 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}} In 1918, a snowslide near Coykendahl derailed a train.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/nelsondaily/items/1.0389308#p1z-2r0f:%22Coykendahl%22 |page=2 |title=Daily News, 16 Dec 1918 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}

A 1931 forest fire destroyed the CP section house and bunkhouse.{{Cite web | url=https://is.wikiloc.com/hjolaferdir-slodir/trans-british-columbia-bike-route-40089857/photo-25992188 |title=Tunnel interpretive signboard | website=www.wikiloc.com}} In 1935, 64 relief camp strikers, who were freight hopping westward, were arrested on a train at Coykendahl and jailed in Nelson.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Coykendahl%22&ymd=1935-04-10&t=11761 |page=1 |title=Star-Phoenix, 10 Apr 1935 | website=www.newspapers.com}} In 1938, a Renata trapper froze to death after leaving the train and becoming lost.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22missing+trapper+dead%22&ymd=1938-03-15&t=11420 |page=2 |title=Vancouver Sun, 15 Mar 1938 |quote=The body of Cornelius Friesen, Renata trapper, missing about three weeks, was found Monday about 500 yards from a railway track which would have led him to safety. Friesen left a train intending to hike seven miles to his cabin. | website=www.newspapers.com}} Renata residents accessed the Tunnel flag stop along a {{convert|7.5|mi|km|adj=on|order=flip}} trail.

In 1952, eight cars of an eastbound freight train derailed at Coykendahl.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Coykendahl%22&ymd=1952-05-01&t=12630 |page=1 |title=Gazette, 1 May 1952 |quote=Eight cars of the east-bound CPR freight train went off the tracks at Coykendahl, 45 miles east of Grand Forks about 8 a.m. Tuesday. The Auxiliary wrecking train came out from Nelson to assist in the re-railing of the trains. The railroad crews had the work completed about 5 o'clock on Wednesday night, and the freight service was once again resumed. | website=www.newspapers.com}}

Passenger services on the southern mainline ended in January 1964.{{Cite web | url=http://www.crowsnest-highway.ca/cgi-bin/citypage.pl?city=SPARWOOD#10 | title=Up to the Pass and Crowsnest | website=www.crowsnest-highway.ca}}

In 1912, a section crew standing on a handcar was removing icicles at the tunnel mouth. An approaching train fatally injured a member who was attempting to remove the handcar from the track.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0181285#p0z-2r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Ledge, 11 Jan 1912 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}

In 1918, shortly after a freight train exited the tunnel, water seepage in the roof caused about {{convert|70|ft|m|order=flip}} to cave in at the east end. During a five-day closure, two passenger trains diverted onto the Great Northern Railway (GN) track, and travelled via Marcus, Washington. Later trains served intermediate points in BC.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xgrandforks/items/1.0179333#p0z-2r0f:%22Bulldog%22 |page=1 |title=Grand Forks Sun and Kettle Valley Orchardist, 5 Apr 1918 |website=www.library.ubc.ca}}

In 2016, to address tunnel roof instability caused by rotting heavy timbers, shotcrete was applied, and rock bolts and overhead rock mesh installed.{{Cite web | url=https://norpacconstruction.com/project/bulldog-tunnel-repair/ | title=Bulldog Tunnel Repair | website=www.norpacconstruction.com}}

In 1991, the CP track was abandoned westward in its entirety, and eastward almost to Castlegar.{{sfn|Turner|Wilkie|2007|p=202}} The section from Castlegar to Grand Forks is now a rail trail that includes vehicular access.{{cite web| url=https://trailsbc.ca/tct/west-kootenay/paulson | title=Columbia & Western Railway/Trans Canada Trail: Farron to Castlegar | website=www.trailsbc.ca}} The tunnel interior is pitch black, especially noticeable when travelling westward, because of a curve at the western end.{{Cite web | url=https://www.brmbmaps.com/explore/canada/british-columbia/central-kootenay/bulldog-tunnel | title=Bulldog Tunnel | website=www.brmbmaps.com}}

• {{Cite web | url=http://www.lotsberg.net/data/canada/rail.html | title=Railway Tunnels in Canada > 500 m | website=www.lotsberg.net}}
• {{Cite web | url=https://anoutsidechance.com/2016/11/14/columbia-western-rail-trail | title=Columbia & Western Rail Trail map | website=www.anoutsidechance.com| date=14 November 2016 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|last1=Turner |first1=Robert D. | last2=Wilkie |first2=J.S. David |title=Steam Along the Boundary |publisher=Sono Nis Press |year=2007|isbn=978 1-55039-158-9}}

{{Coord|49|22|07|N|118|05|40|W|type:landmark_region:CA-BC|display=title}}

Category:Canadian Pacific Railway tunnels

Category:Railway tunnels in British Columbia