In the 1880s, the CPR acquired the rights to run the Northwest Coal and Navigation Co. a narrow gauge railway line that ran from Dunmore, Alberta, the first station east of Medicine Hat, to Lethbridge, Alberta, a community in South Central Alberta. The original CPR mainline ran through country that was rich in agriculture, but on the West side of the Continental divide in British Columbia asides from lumber there were a few rich resources. Southern British Columbia was another story there was lots of coal, and other minerals. The geography of this territory were mountain passes, running north and south, the CPR and its president, W.C. Van Horne were getting nervous as James Jerome Hill who had left the CPR consortium to build the Great Northern Railway started building lines from Washington state in to the mineral rich communities in southern British Columbia. They say in these towns that they were more likely to celebrate the Fourth of July then July 1st Canada's Confederation Day. West of Lethbridge the Crowsnest Pass went over the Continental divide at an elevation of 4455 feet. The CPR obtained funding from the Federal Government to build the line from Lethbridge Alberta to Nelson, British Columbia. This line was completed in 1897, and Nelson became a big railway community with railway shops.

The communities west of Nelson were isolated and wanted a railway and Provincial and Federal officials were in favor of a second railway line to the coast, they proposed a railway line be built connecting the CPR's Colombia and Western Railway at Vernon many attempts were made but in the end, the railway was built between Hope British Columbia a community on the mainline of the CPR located on the south end of the Fraser Canyon to Nelson. The name of this railway between Midway and Hope was the Kettle Valley Railway built by Engineer Andrew McCulloch through some rugged mountain territory that included the Coquihalla Pass, an avid Shakespeare reader he named all the stations after Shakespeare's characters, including Iago, Juliet, Othello, Lear, Jessica, Shylock, and Portia. It started operation in 1915 and for the first 10 years of operation Andrew McCulloch was the General Superintendent. The railway was taken over by the CPR in 1931 and abandoned in 1961. A good book on this railroad builder and the building of the Kettle Valley Railway is McCulloch's Wonder by Barry Sanford. Photo attached from Wikipedia.

Time to look at some watches, starting from Vancouver we have one to stations east of Vancouver at New Westminster it is from W.C. Chamberlain a Hamilton 936 it has a single sunk 24-hour dial marked; W. C. Chamberlain New Westminster, B.C. Jeweler.

A photo of New Westminster station in the steam era.

W. C. Chamberlain, movement.

Photo of New Westminster Station taken by me in October 1999.

This private labels dial is marked J.B. Knowles Kelowna B.C. Regina it is double sunk bold Arabic, 24-hour dial. JB must have had a shop in Regina Saskatchewan, and expanded to British Columbia, where he had this store in Kelowna.

Crescent Street, 21 Jewel movement.

Here is a private label, marked Regina F.B. Jacques Vernon, B.C. it is a single sunk Roman numeral 24 hour dial, the marking Regina on this dial has nothing to do with the city in Saskatchewan it was a name used by Omega as you can see on the movement.

Omega movement REGINA PRECISION Watch (in script) 17 Jewels

We have here, a private label marked, W. H. Wilson, Cranbrook, B.C., on a double sunk bold Arabic, 24-hour dial in a nickel case. Cranbrook is a Divisional Point crews work out of going east to Crownest and west to Nelson. They also work, north to Golden B.C. to connect with the CPR*s mainline. When the Kettle Valley Railway was abandoned in 1961, There was still lots of coal being mined in the Sparwood Valley. That became a big part of the CPR's business the coal was shipped to Japan for their steelmaking industry. At times, there were over 20 trains in continuous service delivering 112 cars to the docks at Roberts Bank near Vancouver.

The movement is a 16 size 23 jewel Elgin Veritas Grade #350 a fairly scarce model from what I understand.

Cranbrook's railway station, the station was originally a two-story building but with business increasing it was decided to add another floor. The second floor was jacked up, and the new floor was framed underneath unfortunately the framing did not support the weight of the upper floor and the station collapsed on to the first floor. It was fortunate that nobody was injured.

Here is another private label from Cranbrook its dial is marked W. F. Tate Cranbrook B.C. The dial is double sunk with 24-hour numerals.

The movement is a 16 size 17 jewel Longines movement marked Safety Pinion Adjusted in 5 Positions 17 Jewels. W. F. Tate, Cranbrook, B.C.

Fernie's railway station.

Here is a private label marked in script C.C. Wright Fernie B.C. on the single sunk 24-hour dial on a 18 size Rockford.

Here is the Rockford movement 17 jewels.

Fernie's railway station in the diesel era.

Well that's about it for now until I find some more private labels from the Crowsnest and Kettle Valley Railway. Since I am showing some Rockford Watches I thought I would share you one. I acquired with a private label from Moose Jaw N.W.T.(North West Territories) which became Saskatchewan In 1905. The single sunk bold Arabic, 24-hour dial is marked R.E. Plaxton Watchmaker & Jeweler Moose Jaw N.W.T.

Postcard of Moose Jaw Station, and Yards

Rockford movement #935 marked: Plaxton's Special