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Caption: Typically, two big engines were all that was needed to get a loaded train from Jasper to the west coast. If this came in from the Foothills Sub (south of Hinton and Edson), it likely had a third engine or it was doubled over that particularly steep Spur line. (I can't be certain, but if this train originated at Obed, it may have only needed the two engines for the full loop.)
The continuation of the Thompson River spills out of Lake Kamloops here at Savona. At the other end of Lake Kamloops, where the namesake city is located, the North and South Thompson rivers combine to feed the lake.
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Beautiful
Foothills coal trains typically split in 2 at Bickerdike with 2 units taking 55 cars at a time up for loading. Mountain Park trains had 5 units out of Jasper. 3 took the first set of empties to Cadomin, and the other 2 brought the second half later. Power was swapped at the bottom of the hill at Cadomin for the 3%+ grade up to the load out. ( says the pretty lean memory of the operations there)
I have no idea why I did not venture into the Foothills Sub. Certainly a lack of intell had something to do with it. I do regret not going in there.
When I worked out there (12 glorious weeks in Nov 1982) I wish I’d spent a little time up at Cadomin. That grade was fabulous.