The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives recently released some historic video footage depicting the Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Railway just prior to removal of the rails in 1980.
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January 22, 2021 - 6:30 AM
The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives posted a video featuring Myra Canyon near Kelowna that takes you back in time to a transitional period on the Kettle Valley Railway.
The video centres around a 1980 rail car trip on the former railroad.
It’s a time of transition for that section of the railway, as the video reveals an unused rail line rapidly falling into disrepair. Grass, weeds and rocks can be seen lining the right of way and a path running parallel to the tracks at certain vantage points is an indication of growing pedestrian use of the right of way by hikers.
Interesting historical shots include footage of the Myra Canyon trestles prior to being burned in the Okanagan Mountain wildfire of 2003, views of the right of way from an on the rails perspective, and shots of Myra station house.
According to the Myra Canyon Restoration Society, the Myra Canyon section of the Kettle Valley Railway carried its last train in 1972 and the rails were removed by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1980.
The right of way was subsequently turned over to the provincial government and in the years since has been turned into a recreational trail.
Twelve of the 16 wooden trestles in the canyon destroyed by the fire of 2003, have since been rebuilt.
1980 film of the KVR railway line through Myra Canyon.
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