Ottertail

Ottertail was likely established as a typical

construction camp and likely lasted only a

short time. As railway construction

advanced, the camps were periodically

moved closer to the end of track. Tents,

commissary, work equipment, horses and

wagons, personal gear, engineering

supplies and equipment, were all

relocated.

On my 1887 route I have tried to portray the camps (“towns”) as they might have

looked and have maintained their presence along the line. Construction

advanced quickly. The section between the Kicking Horse Pass and Donald on the

Columbia River south of Golden was built in one year, 1884. Donald to

Craigellachie, west of Revelstoke, was completed the following year 1885.

Today the siding still exists extended to accommodate unit trains. A small siding

may be used to drop off a bad ordered car or tuck away snow cleaning

equipment when it is out on the line, so through traffic can pass. The only

structure present is a communications tower similar to the one at Field and at

other locations along the line.

The bridge south of Ottertail over the Kicking Horse River was likely a Howe

Through-Truss bridge similar to other through-truss bridges further down the

valley. Some of these had wooden cribbing in the riverbed, which probably didn't

stand up long against the spring ice jams.

In the #177 cab ride (Highball Productions) the bridge is now a steel Warren

through-truss bridge.