Railfanning in Kamloops and Surrounding Area

[DanielRailfan]

Hello! This will be my first post on this forum, and hopefully first of many. I have just bought a good Panasonic Lumix FZ70 camera and accessories, and I am ready to do some Railfanning! I will be in Kamloops for a while, and I was wondering if anyone knows of good places to film trains around there. I have already been to the station on the south part of the city, and it was very nice. If anyone knows places, rural and urban, to photograph, film and watch trains in and near Kamloops, it would be much appreciated. Thank you!

[NorthWest]

The Fraser River Canyon is busy, and absolutely fantastic. Since CN and CP split in Kamloops, you will see the most trains west of there. Cisco and just south of Ashcroft are favorite locations, but anywhere you can see both mains is good. To the east, the lines through Banf and Jasper National Parks are gorgeous. Rodgers Pass also has much to commend it. Explore a bit on satellite maps, as the locations are almost endless.

[DanielRailfan]

Very nice, next time I drive through there I will surely stop and photograph some trains! I have been to Ashcroft, and this is nearby so I will most likely go there, and yes, it is nice to see both of the mains! That is what I like about Kamloops. I have been to Jasper National Park and Rodgers Pass and the scenery is breathtaking, and if I pass through there I will also stop and do some railfanning! I will explore it on sat maps, and I would like to say thank you for responding to both of my topics, I am very grateful that you are helping me, a beginner railfan, get the most out of everything!

[NorthWest]

No problem; I'm happy to provide spotting information. You live in a wonderful place.
The popular spot near Ashcroft is actually about 5 miles south, where both CN and CP tunnel into the bluff. See 50°39'55.27"N,
121°18'45.13"W.
Have fun!

[DanielRailfan]

I am very grateful for your help, and I think you are right! Today I made it to the station again, and I took pictures of a multitude of different trains! Do you think I should post them on here? And that is very nice, I was wondering where the nicest spot as I was looking on Google Maps, and I would like to say thank you for this tip on this location. Soon I will travel to Vancouver via HWY 1, thus I will pass through Ashcroft and the Fraser River Valley, so I will be able to go to the Ashcroft spot and the canyon too. Thank you!

[NorthWest]

The easiest way to post photos here is to acquire a Flickr or rrpicturearchives account and then link the pictures here.

[DanielRailfan]

I will make a Flickr account, as I know that site.

[DanielRailfan]

By the way, the spot you told me about seems to be a little ways off the road. How do I access it?

[NorthWest]

Some drive in on the gravel roads that are close, but since I believe these are private, you may want to hike in from the road. It is a bit over two miles (IIRC) from a rest stop south of there. The view is worth it.

[DanielRailfan]

Which side should I hike in from? The West (Trans-Canada Hwy) or the East? (Highland Valley Road)

[NorthWest]

The west side (TCH). The rest area is on the left if you are travelling west.
Here are three pictures (none of them mine) that show the view:
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 547&nseq=8
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 126&nseq=2
http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 683&nseq=1

[DanielRailfan]

Okay, many thanks! Very nice! Wow, what a superb view. I have to make it there..

[MikeCDN]

Honestly,

You're in for a treat. I was there three years ago and saw enough action just sitting at the VIA station.

M.

[DanielRailfan]

Good to hear! I have not been there yet, but I will surely go there as soon as I can; to the station.

[cnr1949]

When I visit Kamloops I take my bike. I usually stay at one of the motels along the main drag bordering downtown. There's a fine bike trail along the North Thompson River - from downtown cross the CPR mainline tracks beside the CPR station, then head west through Riverside Park, over the Overlander Bridge, then angle right until you come to the river trail. The trail will take you north and underneath the CNR mainline bridge.

Alternatively, you can cross CPR tracks downtown, head east, cross the Thompson River on the old wooden bridge, and heading north on quieter paved roads, reach CNR station on the east side of the North Thompson river. You can sit at the station and watch the action in CN Yards.

Another nice bike trip is to head west on the road alongside the CNR mainline - you can ride for several miles until the paved road crosses the CNR mainline. Right there is a good place to catch trains at speed.

From the north end of the Overlander bridge you can loop beneath the bridge and head west on the bike trail which takes you along the north bank of the Thompson River from which you can see CPR trains across the river.