Field - The Big Hill
Shortly after it's 14:20 departure, Train No.2 begins ascent of
the Big
Hill at the eastern end of town. In the 1850's tracks were originally
laid along part of the present location of the Trans-Canada Highway on a
4.5 percent grade. In 1909 this steep grade was reduced to a better 2.2 percent
through the construction of two spiral tunnels with two crossings of the Kicking Horse
River. The tracks pass over, or under themselves, inside the mountains to gain or
lose 45 and 48 feet in each turn of an elongated "figure eight".
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