CPR Barge 15 Railcars (1901)

Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Barge No. 15 was built at CPR’s shipyards located at Nelson on Kootenay Lake’s west arm. It was all wood construction, weighed about 1000 tons and could carry 15 railcars.

Barge No. 15 was fully loaded, carrying 15 railcars loaded with coke and coal headed for Nelson on April 9, 1901. Conditions were calm when for some reason the barge suddenly lurched to one side and then the other causing 8 cars to fall into the lake. Six more cars were lost as the captain tried to beach the barge near Procter, BC.

CPR Barge No.15 was salvaged but no railcars were recovered. The last six cars to be lost are located on the bottom of the lake near Procter, BC. Four of the cars are in good shape and still holding their cargo of coal in 6 to 24 meters of water. Car 5 lies on a steep slope in 17-24 meters of water and car 6 in 290 meters northwest of the main site.

The wreck site is the finest train wreck site known to date in the province. Very few examples of rail cars of this vintage exist on land. The wheels on site are rusted, but still exhibit their manufacture dates.

Note: British Columbia’s Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.