This is the story about how I first learned about the Kettle Valley, but in particular the Coquihalla Subdivision.

   My very first assignment on CP was as relief telegraph operator very early in January 1973, very shortly after I had arrived in BC and had just hired on with CP.

   The operator’s name who hired me in Vancouver escapes me, but the Chief’s name was ED (Dolly) Brown. So anyway, my first assignment was as relief Agent/Operator at Agassiz. As I previously had complete station training and accounting on CN, I was picked for the job. Bit of background on why this position came open. If you remember there were only 2 things that you could get fired for on the railway, Rule “G” and stealing from the company. It seems the incumbent agent stole from the till to support his booze habit. An auditor from Montreal was sent up and sat in the station going over the books for about a week beside me.

   A couple of weeks went by, I was busy learning CP’s way of doing things, including sending in weather checks, yard checks and car requirements. As I was new to the company I was very studious and on my best behaviour.

   One morning as I arrived at the station to open the wicket, there was a person lying down on one of the benches in the waiting room. Since No 2 went through Agassiz after closing, and No 1 went through before opening the waiting room was always kept open. (Can you imagine doing that today?) Anyway, this disheveled person awoke, he was dressed in a fine gray suit, but had a mess all over the front of his suit jacket and shirt and reeked of alcohol as he came over to talk to me. Remember, I mentioned I was on my best behaviour.

   He started talking to me,  in the conversation mentioned that he was my boss, and was in fact the superintendent of this part of the railway. Whoa !

   Well, he told me stories of railroading, and in passing mentioned to me that at one time there were tracks from Hope up to Merritt, now abandoned and it was called the Coquihalla Sub.  Having been a rail-buff for a good part of my life (and still am) I listened most carefully and remember the conversation vividly to this day. It started my interest in the Kettle Valley Railway, which some of you know has become quite the thing with me. I was not actually able to follow up at that time, new arrival in BC, new marriage, new job and other issues. But it stuck in my mind and I started to actually pursue this interest in 1977. More in the next section.

   Back to the gentleman in the waiting room. I relayed this story to some fellow railroaders (section-men in the area), and they told me that, “Yes” this gentleman was well known, especial by his nickname of “Whisky Bill’. But everybody had extreme respect for him. He had forgotten more about railroading than most would ever know or learn. Urban legends by the dozens were told about him, but I can tell you one I was actually a part of.

   We had a wreck at Yale in an extremely difficult location, the Coquitlam Hook was there, the weather was horrible and on-site personnel were frustrated as to how get the line open in a hurry. Well, “Whisky Bill” arrived, they had to more or less carry him to the site as he was too wobbly to walk. He assessed the situation, gave instructions on how and what to do and the line was open about 8 hours later.

   He was indeed a living legend. Today there is a station named after him on the Shuswap Sub as well as a pub in East Kamloops.

   And I’m still following my interests on the Kettle Valley Railway, having written some stories as well as having produced a video on the Princeton Sub, the last remaining part of the KVR which was abandoned in 1989. But 13 bridges ex KVR are now located all over Canada including Quebec.

   This story in remembrance of Joe Smuin who contributed so hugely to the knowledge of the KVR and who passed away a few years ago.

   And not to forget Roger Burrows, Barrie Sanford, Hal Riegger, Doug Turner and others who also greatly contributed to this little known part of railroading on CP, which was so much part of the history of Canada. In particular Roger Burrows' "Railway Mileposts Vol2" was my bible to the KVR for years, as it was for many others.

    Included picture is one of very few I took at Agassiz in 1973. The station is now a museum, they flipped it 180 degrees. When I went to visit some time ago, they were quite taken aback when I told them that I had actually lived in this building at one time.