Palliser, British Columbia

Palliser is a railway point which straddles the shores of the Kicking Horse River in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. This ghost town, off BC Highway 1, is by road about southwest of Field and southeast of Golden.

Name origin

Although named after John Palliser, leader of the Palliser expedition, he never visited this area. Sir James Hector, another member of the party, explored this valley.

Railway

The westward advance of the Canadian Pacific Railway rail head passed through Palliser around September 1884.
In 1906, the completion of the Palliser Tunnel about west of Palliser eliminated a 23-degree curve. At this location in 1884, a tunnel was completed, but collapsed in 1887. A diversion created the sharp curve and three smaller curves. For safety, passenger cars were clamped together to prevent uncoupling. The new tunnel was in length.
In 1905, another tunnel was completed about east of Palliser. In 1921, an eastbound freight train struck a cave-in along the curve. Seven crew were killed, and three hours later, the wreck burst into flames. Traffic was diverted over the Kootenay Central and the Crowsnest Pass until three trestle bridges and of new track were built around the tunnel.
The present passing track is long.

Early community

By 1889, Wilmer Cleveland Wells operated a sawmill. By 1890, a general store and hotel were also present. A post office existed 1894–1914. The store was short-lived, but a hotel accommodated visitors into the early 1900s.
In 1901, a Pinkerton Detective agent tracked a bank robber to the community. That year, the population peaked at about 100. The sawmill closed about 1908 but a watchman remained until the completion of clearing the site around 1915. The 1911 Census lists eight residents. By 1918, the place was deserted.