Kamloops Railway Station on the Rocky MountaineerRocky Mountaineer Departure City Kamloops, British ColumbiaKamloops Railway Station Kamloops railway station in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada is a railway station which acts as the overnight stopover point for the Rocky Mountaineer train service to Jasper, Banff and Calgary; from Vancouver. The station was originally built for Canadian National Railway.The Kamloops railway station was declared a Heritage Railway Station in 1992. Via Rail trains call at the Kamloops North railway station not this station. The station building was restored and houses The Keg restaurant. The keg no long uses the building as of summer 2016. The Kamloops Heritage Railway, offers special excursion steam trains at various times through the year, trains depart from the station with tickets sold from their ticket office at 5-510 Lorne St near the station. Address of the Kamloops Railway Station: Kamloops Railway Station 500 Lorne St, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada DMS Coordinates: 50°40′43.6″N 120°19′47″ WCoordinates: 50°40′43.6″N 120°19′47″W Decimal: 50.678778, -120.329722 Geo URI geo:50.678778,-120.329722 UTM 10U 688650 5617507 History of Kamloops Railway Station Kamloops Railway Station Opened: 1927 Station Structure Type: 2 storey heritage building Previous Names of Railway Companies using this Station: Canadian National Railway Via Rail Railway Services from Kamloops Railway Station Things to do in Kamloops, British Columbia when you get off the Rocky Mountineeer Welcome to Kamloops! About Kamloops, British Columbia Brilliant blue skies. With over 2,000 hours of sunshine each year, all of our seasons are perfect for escaping to the outdoors. Spring starts early, to the delight of golfers and boaters. Summer is hot and sunny with warm days extending well into autumn. And with our endless blue skies and famous dry powder, winter in Kamloops is a snowy, playtime paradise. Spectacular landscapes. Kamloops is home to an incredibly diverse landscape of sagebrush-covered hills, ravines, wide open grasslands, rugged mountains, forested valleys and pristine lakes. As a semi-arid ecosystem, our natural environment provides habitat for many unique plants and animals. Non-stop outdoor fun. Whether you prefer adrenaline-charged excitement or more laid-back pursuits, you'll find unsurpassed opportunities to pursue your outdoor passions. Nowhere else will you find championship golf courses, renowned mountain biking trails, world-class skiing, dozens of lakes for fishing and boating, and more - all within 45 minutes of downtown. Relaxed western hospitality. Although we have everything you'd want in an urban centre, we haven't forgotten our small town roots. You'll love our unhurried lifestyle and our warm and friendly people. A vibrant downtown. With its mix of unique shops, historic buildings, tree-lined streets and brick sidewalks, the downtown area is the heart and soul of our city. A convenient location. By road, by rail or by air, Kamloops is easy to get to. Four major highways come together in our city, providing convenient access from major centres such as Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton and Seattle. Kamloops is Canada's Tournament Capital With close to $50 million invested in new and renovated facilities to launch our Canada's Tournament Capital initiative, Kamloops is the premier host centre for tournaments, cultural events, high performance training camps, and national and international competitions. Click here for more information on the Tournament Capital Centre. As a warm and friendly city that supports sports and recreation to its fullest, there is always a solid support team involved in every event. This includes dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers, spirited ambassadors, and of course incredible support from local businesses and spectators. In 2009, Kamloops hosted 92 tournaments, held numerous cultural events, and welcomed thousands of participants and spectators to the city. For many years, Kamloops has been synonymous with first-class events, a knowledgeable and enthusiastic volunteer base, strong athletic showings, and a wide variety of outstanding venues. The City of Kamloops has long recognized Sport Tourism as an economic generator for the City and to that end has made Canada's Tournament Capital one of its top goals in City Council’s Strategic Plan. Sport tourism is now the fastest growing segment of the tourism industry in Canada. The History of Kamloops, British Columbia Kamloops - A Meeting Place The word Kamloops comes from the Secwepemc word “Tk’emlúps”, meaning "where the rivers meet" and in this case referring to the flowing together of the North and South Thompson rivers. In the early days, 30 bands of Secwepemc (or Shuswap people) lived along the rivers and lakes of BC’s south-central interior, moving constantly, thus being known as a semi-nomadic nation. A bounty of elk, deer, salmon, wild plant roots and berries dominated the Thompson Valley, as well as excellent farmland and water sources for growing crops. This made for a suitable place to settle and eventually set up trading posts to trade furs and contraptions with the white man. The earliest human remains date back to over 8,250 years ago, yet it is not known exactly how long the people have occupied the valley. Before the Shuswap, vast ice sheets covered the valley. From train robberies to stagecoach transport, to cattle ranching, Kamloops is home to the true wild west drama of the Kamloops region. Europeans arrived in Kamloops around 1811. From their technical advances came further trading, industry, the railroad, and ship transport. The Gold Rush brought wealth and a large influx of people searching for a better life. In 1893, Kamloops was incorporated with less than 1,000 people; yet today it is a population of nearly 85,000 and growing. Kamloops is still a central hub with its south central geographic location in the province connecting to Calgary, Vancouver, and the northern Cariboo-Chilcotin regions. The people of Kamloops are what truly make the heart of Kamloops beat. Kamloopsians care about keeping the city beautiful and keeping our heritage alive: encouraging the western heritage of genuine leather, giving a wholesome friendly smile, and incorporating a cosmopolitan flair with exquisite, high-end urban amenities. Western Heritage of Kamloops, BC Kamloops has a rich history of wild west lore that still shines through today. After all, the city has been a ranching community since the nineteenth century, and even today, ranching is an integral part of the lifestyle of many residents. It’s easy to immerse yourself in Kamloops' western heritage. Check out the annual Kamloops Cowboy Festival or take in our scenery by horseback. Rodeos, Festivals and Fairs Amateur rodeos are held almost every weekend in the summer, and the world renowned Kamloops Cowboy Festival is an annual event occuring every spring with 3 full days of cowboy poetry, music and other events. Fairs, such as the Provincial Winter Fair, offer a chance to mingle with local ranchers and farmers and horsemanship clinics are popular for those looking to learn to ride or to sharpen up on their skills. Remember British Columbia has a Big Rodeo Schedule Kamloops Ranchlands During a visit to Kamloops, drive through the ranchlands to see, visit and tour working ranches, hop on a horse-drawn wagon for a hayride in the summer and sleighride in winter, or saddle up and explore the landscape on horseback. More History of Kamloops The first Canadians of the Kamloops district were the 3000 or so members of the widespread Shuswap tribe of the Interior Salish Nation. During most of the year, they were nomadic, traveling wherever the hunting, berry picking, or - most particularly - fishing, was good, but in winter they settled in pit - house villages. There was a large one at Tranquille, named for their chief, another on the present Reserve site, and a series of smaller ones on both sides of the South Thompson River. A party of three fur traders came up the Columbia and Okanagan valley to Thompson's River in 1811, finding friendly Indians eager to trade plentiful beaver pelts. Consequently, they returned the next year to set up the first small post for the Astorians, promptly followed by the Nor'westers, who came across the Rockies, and who, in 1813, bought out the American company. In 1821, the North West Company amalgamated with the Hudson's Bay Company, using the latter name. Trade continued to be active at Thompson's River Post, then situated northeast of the river junction. In 1843, they moved to a site near the point in North Kamloops - very convenient for fine horse range and hay meadows, but subject to frequent flooding. This was the era of large fur brigades from New Caledonia in the north, and the climate and bunch grass of our district provided excellent breeding and wintering ground for the horses. The discovery of gold brought many adventurers into the country in the late 1850's; the majority came from the United States and China. Some miners worked Tranquille Creek, others explored the North Thompson and Shuswap districts, while many more passed through Kamloops on their way to Cariboo riches. The first farms were established in response to the demand for beef, pork, vegetables and grain, and soon became very productive. This was the beginning of ranching, still a vital facet of our economy. When British Columbia became part of Canada in 1871, a trans continental railroad was promised. Surveys started promptly, and this provided employment for local settlers, and a market for their produce. There were many political problems and delays, but construction reached this area in 1883, and a small village grew on the south shore of the Thompson. When the C.P.R. was completed three years later, the community mushroomed, with hotels, stores, churches, schools and a hospital. In 1893, the population of about 500 decided to incorporate as a City, complete with fire department, telephone, water works and electrical light systems, bought from previous private enterprises. The first South Thompson bridge was built in 1887, to be followed by one to North Kamloops in 1901. The first lumber was cut in 1865 to build the first of many paddlewheel steamers, and this was soon followed by lumber mills at Tranquille and what is now Riverside Park. In later years, the lumber industry became of prime importance. From 1886, C.P.R. men constituted much of the work force, and in 1915 the Canadian Northern Railway was completed, adding its quota. The modern Trans Canada Highway was opened in 1962, and the Yellowhead Highway in 1970. Kamloops, at the junction of these four transportation systems, has been justifiably called the "Hub City". In the 1920's, after recovery from war losses and vicious influenza epidemics, growth was rapid until slowed by the Depression and World War II. Since then, the pace has accelerated, and the old orchard, farming and market gardening center has been engulfed by suburban developments and industry. The Royalite Refinery, now Gulf Oil, opened in 1955, and the Natural Gas pipeline soon afterwards, Kamloops Pulp and Paper Mill, now Domtar, was established in 1964, with a massive expansion in 1971. In 1977, Afton Mines and Smelter commenced operations. In June, 1967, North Kamloops was amalgamated with the older south shore Kamloops, and in May, 1973, the municipalities of Valleyview, Brocklehurst, Rayleigh, Barnhartvale and Dufferin, as well as a large unincorporated area, were also added. | |||||
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