Ottertail Diversion
This loaded rail train was suppose to climb Kicking Horse with a a Cowl on the head-end, but due to power problems the train was sent back towards Golden with a Sd40-2 on the point. The train is seen turning off the Ottertail Diversion, this was built in the early 1900s when it was decided the Mount Stephen Route was not going to be built. The original route built for Mount Stephan followed a steady grade to Muskeg Summit, this was a helper grade in both directions. This line was partially meant to be temporary. At Muskeg the eastward grade would diverge for the cliff hanging 2.2% grade along the face of Mount Stephen. The westward grade from Field to Muskeg would e be redundant and likely abandoned, with the mainline soaring high above Field by the the time it had climbed to that point. Field would have ceased as a railroad town other than perhaps local mining spurs. To eliminate the un-needed summit between Leanchoil and Field, a 1.5% maximum grade, bypass was created into Field along the Kicking Horse River. This cut marked the beginning of the heavy rock work for the new line to Field and the Spirall Tunnel Route.
