Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad
Encyclopedia
Bellingham Bay and British Columbia Railroad was a railroad that was built in northwestern part of Washington State, between the town of Whatcom, now Bellingham
, Washington, then to the town of Sumas, Washington to connect with the Canadian Pacific Railway for a continental connection.
The company was incorporated in California on June 21, 1883. After the Northern Pacific Railroad chose Tacoma over Whatcom on Bellingham Bay
, local railroad boosters along with P.B. Cornwall at their head started the B.B. and B.C. Railroad in 1883.
The company was capitalized for $10,000,000, with its aim to build a line from Bellingham (then known as Whatcom) to Burrard Inlet
now located in Vancouver
, British Columbia Canada, a distance of about 56 miles. The company owned a town site and about 4000 additional acres in the Bellingham area.
Construction began in 1884 with a lot of activity, then soon slowed. After reaching Whatcom Creek it headed towards Sumas Washington, to a connection, also being slowly built in Canada.
It was during this time that, as the story is told, "every time a boat or ship entered the bay, the engine would be fired up and ran up and down the short track with lot's of whistling and blowing off steam to impress the visitors".
By 1889 the line was still slowly pushing forward towards the Canadian border, while another road, the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad
was pushing south from Fairhaven towards Skagit County and planned a connection with the north bound Northern Pacific Railroad.
But construction soon continued and the road was graded further north with materials en route by ship, and reached the Canadian border in 1891 and several weeks later the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the border.
When the final continental connection was made it was time for a celebration. Much preparation was made for a visit of the northern neighbors. When the first Canadian Pacific Railway
train arrived at the town of Whatcom there was an arch of welcome, and 2 local bands in full uniform, playing the national Anthem and God Save the King. Someone decided there should also be an arch of water over the arrival of the first train that crossed the international border. The new city had two powerful fire engine companies assemble, however disaster ensued when right as the train with the dignitaries was arriving, the rival companies decide to have a water fight, which drenched many important people. After the offended where cleaned up and dried, there was another incident that offended the northern visitors when a drunken American was scene stomping the British flag from the welcome arch, which upset many of the northern visitors.
More lines were completed and by 1902, lines to Glacier, Washington
and Lynden Washington had been built as were other short lines to numerous logging camps. Signs of these old roads can be found throughout the county.
The B.B. and B.C. was taken over by the Bellingham and Northern Railway in 1912, which in turn was taken over by Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1918.
Bellingham
- Places :Australia:* Bellingham, Tasmania, coastal hamlet in Northern TasmaniaEngland:* Bellingham, London, neighbourhood and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham* Bellingham, Northumberland, villageUnited States:* Bellingham, Washington...
, Washington, then to the town of Sumas, Washington to connect with the Canadian Pacific Railway for a continental connection.
The company was incorporated in California on June 21, 1883. After the Northern Pacific Railroad chose Tacoma over Whatcom on Bellingham Bay
Bellingham Bay
Bellingham Bay is a bay located on the northern Pacific coast of Washington state in the United States. It is separated from the Strait of Georgia on the west by the Lummi Peninsula, Portage Island, and Lummi Island. It is bordered on the east by Bellingham, Washington, to the south-east by the...
, local railroad boosters along with P.B. Cornwall at their head started the B.B. and B.C. Railroad in 1883.
The company was capitalized for $10,000,000, with its aim to build a line from Bellingham (then known as Whatcom) to Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet
Burrard Inlet is a relatively shallow-sided coastal fjord in southwestern British Columbia, Canada. Formed during the last Ice Age, it separates the City of Vancouver and the rest of the low-lying Burrard Peninsula from the slopes of the North Shore Mountains, home to the communities of West...
now located in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia Canada, a distance of about 56 miles. The company owned a town site and about 4000 additional acres in the Bellingham area.
Construction began in 1884 with a lot of activity, then soon slowed. After reaching Whatcom Creek it headed towards Sumas Washington, to a connection, also being slowly built in Canada.
It was during this time that, as the story is told, "every time a boat or ship entered the bay, the engine would be fired up and ran up and down the short track with lot's of whistling and blowing off steam to impress the visitors".
By 1889 the line was still slowly pushing forward towards the Canadian border, while another road, the Fairhaven and Southern Railroad
Fairhaven and Southern Railroad
The Fairhaven and Southern Railroad was a railroad located in the northwest part of Washington State built by the Fairhaven Land Co. founded by E. M. Wilson, E. L. Cowgill, Nelson Bennett, C. X. Larrabee, and Samuel E...
was pushing south from Fairhaven towards Skagit County and planned a connection with the north bound Northern Pacific Railroad.
But construction soon continued and the road was graded further north with materials en route by ship, and reached the Canadian border in 1891 and several weeks later the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the border.
When the final continental connection was made it was time for a celebration. Much preparation was made for a visit of the northern neighbors. When the first Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
train arrived at the town of Whatcom there was an arch of welcome, and 2 local bands in full uniform, playing the national Anthem and God Save the King. Someone decided there should also be an arch of water over the arrival of the first train that crossed the international border. The new city had two powerful fire engine companies assemble, however disaster ensued when right as the train with the dignitaries was arriving, the rival companies decide to have a water fight, which drenched many important people. After the offended where cleaned up and dried, there was another incident that offended the northern visitors when a drunken American was scene stomping the British flag from the welcome arch, which upset many of the northern visitors.
More lines were completed and by 1902, lines to Glacier, Washington
Glacier, Washington
Glacier is a census-designated place in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The population was 211 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Glacier ranks 522nd of 522 areas in the state of Washington to be ranked. Glacier is hoping to change this with the opening of the Glacier...
and Lynden Washington had been built as were other short lines to numerous logging camps. Signs of these old roads can be found throughout the county.
The B.B. and B.C. was taken over by the Bellingham and Northern Railway in 1912, which in turn was taken over by Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1918.