View source for Rogers Pass (British Columbia)

{{Short description|Mountain pass in Canada}}
{{About|the mountain pass in British Columbia|the mountain pass in Montana|Rogers Pass (Montana)}}
{{Lead too short|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox mountain pass
| name = Rogers Pass
| other_name = 
| photo = Construction of snow shed on the C.P.R., Glacier Park, BC, 1887, copied about1902 (5323499707).jpg 
| photo_caption = Snow shed construction, Rogers Pass, 1887.
| elevation_m = 1330
| elevation_ft = 4364
| elevation_ref = 
| traversed = {{jct|state=BC|BC|1|name1=[[Trans Canada Highway]]}}<br />CP (formerly)
| location = [[Revelstoke, British Columbia|Revelstoke]] / [[Donald, British Columbia|Donald]]
| range = [[Selkirk Mountains]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.3014|-117.4764|scale:600000|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| topo = [[National Topographic System|NTS]] {{Canada NTS Map Sheet}}
| map = Canada British Columbia
| map_caption = Location in British Columbia
| map_size = 220
}}
'''Rogers Pass''' is a high [[mountain pass]] through the [[Selkirk Mountains]] of [[British Columbia]], but the term also includes the approaches used by the [[Canadian Pacific Railway]] (CP) and the [[Trans-Canada Highway]]. In the heart of [[Glacier National Park (Canada)|Glacier National Park]], this [[National Historic Sites of Canada|National Historic Site]] has been a tourist destination since 1886.<ref>{{CRHP | 12562 |Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada|July 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{DFHD|72|Rogers Pass National Historic Site of Canada|July 5, 2025}}</ref>

==Topography==
Rogers Pass is the lowest route between the Sir Donald and Hermit ranges of the Selkirks, providing a shortcut along the southern perimeter of the [[Big Bend Country|Big Bend]] of the [[Columbia River]] from [[Revelstoke, British Columbia|Revelstoke]] on the west to [[Donald, British Columbia|Donald]], near [[Golden, British Columbia|Golden]], on the east.

The pass is formed by the headwaters of the [[Illecillewaet River]] to the west and by the [[Beaver River (Columbia River)|Beaver River]] to the east.{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=4}} These rivers are tributaries of the Columbia, which arcs to the north.

==Railway==
===Proposal & planning===
During the 1870s, when the transcontinental was being planned, the preferred route through the [[Canadian Rockies]] was the northerly [[Yellowhead Pass]]. After awarding the contract, the government allowed CP to amend the designated crossing to the [[Kicking Horse Pass]]. Although believing the change advantageous, hindsight indicates the Yellowhead and CP's 1898 [[Crowsnest Pass]] would have provided a more economical and strategic combination.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=42–44}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/dbc/items/1.0346171#p1z-2r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=2 |title=Daily British Columbian, 12 Mar 1887 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xnelsonecon/items/1.0183884#p10z-2r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=11 |title=Nelson Economist, 2 Feb 1898 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Poor judgement best describes this unfortunate decision<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1934-03-01-02 |page=2 |title=Prince George Citizen, 1 Mar 1934 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref> that created lasting impediments for both the railway and highway.<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=105}}</ref>

===Discovery of the pass===
[[File:Rogers Pass Mount Carroll BC 1887.jpg|thumb|270px|left|Mt. Macdonald (formerly Mt. Carroll), eastern slope, northeast from summit, 1887.<br />{{small|Water tower and 2nd station in centre.}}]]
While the transcontinental advanced across the prairies, the railway sought a way over the unexplored Selkirks. In April 1881, CP offered Major [[Albert Bowman Rogers|A.B. Rogers]] naming rights and a $5,000 bonus to locate a pass.{{sfn|Woods|1985|p=3}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wilson |first=Thomas E. |title=Trail Blazer of the Canadian Rockies |publisher=Glenbow-Alberta Institute |year=1972 |isbn= |location=Calgary, Alberta |pages=17–18}}</ref> [[Walter Moberly (engineer)|Walter Moberly]] had discovered [[Eagle Pass, British Columbia|Eagle Pass]] just to the west,{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=6}} and based on suggestions in Moberly's reports, Rogers started out from what is now Revelstoke, up the Illecillewaet River. On May 28, 1881, the party followed a branch of the river past "Syndicate Peak" (now [[Mount Sir Donald]]), discovering a large level opening between the mountains where the waters flowed east and west.{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=12}} (Some secondary sources state that Rogers only saw the pass from a distance,<ref>{{Cite DCB |title=Rogers, Albert Bowman |first=Pierre |last=Berton |author-link=Pierre Berton |volume=XI |url=https://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/rogers_albert_bowman_11E.html |access-date=October 4, 2021}}</ref> but this is contradicted by first-hand reports.) To get a better view of the landscape, Rogers, his nephew A.L. Rogers and some of their [[Secwepemc|Shuswap]] guides then climbed to the crest of a nearby mountain ridge, later identified as the ridge between [[Mount Macdonald]] and [[Avalanche Mountain]]. From here they could see the Beaver River valley on the east side of the Selkirks.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wheeler|first=A.O.|url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcbooks/items/1.0348680|title=The Selkirk Range Vol. I|year=1905|pages=267, 417}}</ref> Running out of food, the party turned back west.{{sfn|Woods|1985|p=4}} Although they had found a pass, they had been unable to explore its eastern approach, a distance of {{Convert|18|mi|km}} from the junction of the Beaver and Columbia rivers. Returning in 1882 from the east, Rogers followed the Beaver River and Connaught Creek (formerly Bear Creek), and on July 24, 1882, he reached the same pass, confirming its existence and the feasibility of a railway route.{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=12}} Rogers refused to cash the $5,000 cheque, and instead framed it upon his wall until CP General Manager [[William Cornelius Van Horne]] offered him a gold watch as an incentive to cash it.<ref>{{Google books| sCdLAQAAMAAJ |The Railway Age and Northwestern Railroader, February 15, 1896 |page=89}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xgrandforks/items/1.0341108#p2z-3r0f:rogers |page=3 |title=Grand Forks Sun & Kettle Valley Orchardist, 23 Feb 1923 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Folklore has generated many later variations of this story.

[[File:Eastbound over SCB.jpg|thumb|right|200px|CP freight train, Stoney Creek Bridge, 1988.]]

The discovery was due in part to the efforts of Moberly, his assistant Albert Perry and their First Nations guides, who had explored the [[Illecillewaet River]] on the west side of the pass fifteen year earlier.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/smithd/477/2010/2010_05_paper.pdf#page=8 |page=8  |title=Connecting Canada: a History of the Railway through Rogers Pass from 1865 to 1916 |website=www.uvic.ca}}</ref> In later life Moberly stated that Perry reached the pass in 1866,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311399#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 16 Mar 1907 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Moberly|first=Walter|url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungpub/items/1.0355290|title=Early history of Canadian Pacific Railway|pages=5–6}}</ref> but there is no contemporaneous evidence for this.

===Planning and construction===
Rogers blindly believed the pass presented no special engineering difficulties.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=51}} By May 1883, the westward railhead had only reached [[Medicine Hat]], still leaving time to find an alternative to the equally problematic Kicking Horse Pass. Moberly advocated [[Howse Pass]]. During the time it took to determine a practicable Kicking Horse/Selkirks route, the railhead had advanced up the [[Bow Valley]] making it too late to use Howse, which required an access from the [[North Saskatchewan River]] Valley.<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=92}}</ref>

Since the immediate capital costs for the Selkirks and [[Big Bend Country#Railways|Big Bend]] options were similar, the additional operating costs expected from the increased mileage eliminated the latter.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=47–49, 59}} As a general rule, if the interest payable on a capital investment was less than the expected savings on operating costs, CP made the investment. Decisions were a trade-off between immediate costs and delayed costs. Later traffic revenue enabled upgrades.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=28–29}}

The acute capital shortage during 1885 meant months of unpaid payroll, and minor strikes. Captain [[Sam Steele]] and his small [[North-West Mounted Police]] force protected construction manager [[James Ross (Canadian businessman)|James Ross]] from confrontations with workers. When the [[North-West Rebellion]] drew Steele away, Ross formed his own 25-man armed police force.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=13}} To survive the capital crisis,{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=76}} infrastructure costs were reduced to a bare minimum. Not only did untreated wooden trestles provide all bridging, but cuttings were of minimum width, track was not [[Track ballast|ballast]]ed,{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=77}} and no [[snow shed]]s were built.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=79}} Ballasting occurred only three years later.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=243}} Although accurately predicting construction costs was difficult, especially in a mountainous region,{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=30–31}} total overruns were reasonable.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=77}}

The eastern approach up the Beaver River required some of the largest trestles on the line.

In early February 1885, three [[avalanche]]s struck. At MacKenzie camp, {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} west of the summit, a worker was buried. At McDermot camp, {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} away, three buried men were never found. At the summit, three occupants escaped through a camp store window. Later that month avalanches totally destroyed the store, and buried six men in the vicinity.{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=18}} These slides, followed by heavy summer rainfall, delayed the work.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=79}} Abandoning the damaged right-of-way on the western slope, north of the river, CP built the switchback loops well clear of avalanche paths.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=70–72}}{{sfn|Finch|1987|pp=29–33}}

The railhead crossed the summit that August.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=103}} After the [[Last Spike (Canadian Pacific Railway)|last spike]] ceremony that November, the line was shut down for the winter. After slide damages were repaired, the line opened to through traffic the following June.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=79}}

[[File:Rogers Pass Historic Site,.jpg |thumb|right|170px| Piers for lower loop viaduct (south of highway), Rogers Pass, 2007.]]

===Route===
{{Graph:Chart
 | width=500 
 | height=150 
 | xAxisTitle=Miles from Field
 | xAxisAngle = -40 
 | yAxisTitle=Elevation (feet)
 | legend=Legend 
 | type=line
 | x=Illecillewaet  (103),(102),(101),Laurie (100),(99),Flat Creek (98),(97),(96),(95),Ross Peak (94),(93),(92),Loop Spur (91),Cambie (90),(89),(88),Glacier House (87),(86),Summit/First station (85),Rogers Pass (84),Second station (83),(82),(81),Hermit (80),(79),Bear Creek (78),Stoney Creek/Bridge (77),(76),Cutbank/Surprise Ck. Br. (75),(74), Sturdee (73),(72), Mountain Creek Bridge (71), Griffith (70),(69),Six-Mile Creek (68) 
 |
y1=2650,2735,2815,2900,2950,3000,3050,3165,3285,3400,3465,3535,3600,3610,3610,3610,3610,3700,3750,3700,3650,3600,3550,3500,3450,3450,3450,3450
|
y2=2650,2735,2815,2900,2950,3000,3050,3165,3285,3400,3465,3535,3600,3750,3850,3950,4050,4175,4298,4250,4155,4060,3965,3875,3750,3625,3540,3450,3250,3125,3025,2925,2825,2740,2660,2575  
 | y1Title=Tunnel route
 | y2Title=Summit route
 | yGrid= |xGrid= 
 | colors=#bcbd22,#2ca02c
}}

{{color|red|'''Route details.'''}} Only the crest and eastern slope of the Connaught Tunnel route is underground.
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|-
! Pre-1916<br /> Miles !! Post-1916<br />Miles<ref name=CRJun73>{{cite web| url=http://www.exporail.org/can_rail/Canadian%20Rail_no257_1973.pdf#page=7 | page=171 | title=Canadian Rail, June 1973 |website=www.exporail.org}}</ref> !! {{small|.<br />.}} !! 1891<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0356755#p79z-4r0f:%22bear%20creek%22 |pages=40–44 |title=1891 Timetable |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref><br />{{small|Ttable}} !! 1898<ref>{{Google books| ZvQcCWkpNkQC |Canadian Pacific Railway, Timetable, 1898 |page=RA2-PA46}}</ref><br />{{small|Ttable}} !! 1899<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0356782#p44z-3r0f:%22six%20mile%22 |page=41 |title=1899 CP station list |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref><br />{{small|Stns}} !! 1907<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.traingeek.ca/files/19070410-cp-public-timetable.pdf#page=9| page=11a |title=1907 Timetable |website=www.traingeek.ca}}</ref><br />{{small|Ttable}} !! 1910<ref>1910 Timetable. p. 10.</ref><br />{{small|Ttable}} !! 1916<ref>{{cite book | page=29 |title=Waghorn's Guide |year=1916 |publisher=The Guide Co. Ltd.}}</ref><br />{{small|Ttable Miles}} !! !! Comments
|-
! colspan=2 |{{small|from Field (approximately)}} !! !! colspan=5|{{small|Miles from Montreal}} !! colspan=2|{{small|from Winnipeg}} !! 
|- 
| colspan=11|
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 102.6 || style="text-align:right" | 98.2 || colspan=7|Illecillewaet || || rowspan=2|   
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,499 || 2,499 || 2,497.9 || 2,497 || 2,490.7 || 1,075   
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 99.9 ||  || colspan=7|Laurie || || rowspan=2|   
|- style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || ||  || 2,495.0 || ||  ||    
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 97.7 || style="text-align:right" | 93.2 || colspan=7|Flat Creek || || rowspan=2|Appears in 1922? timetable.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/chung/chungtext/items/1.0372856#p4z-1r0f:%22Flat%20Creek%22 |page=27 |title=1922 Timetable |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop
|-
| colspan=11| Forming part of the Loops, on the lowest crossing of Loop Creek (south of the Illecillewaet River and north of today's highway) a deck plate girder resting on concrete abutments replaced the wooden trestle in 1906.{{sfn|Finch|1987|pp=225–226}} Toronto Foundry Co. installed ironwork on one or more of the Loops crossings at this time.<ref name=9Sep05>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181960#p0z-1r0f:%22toronto%20foundry%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Mail, 9 Sep 1905 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

|-
| style="text-align:right" | 94.1 || style="text-align:right" | 89.7 || colspan=7|Ross Peak/Ross Peak Siding || || rowspan=2|Not to be confused with much later MacDonald tunnel station.
|- style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,490 || 2,490 || 2,489.0|| 2,489 || 2,482.2 || 1,067
|-
| colspan=11|Part of the Loops, the wooden trestles over the Illecillewaet River were replaced. On the lower crossing, stone piers supported the deck plate girders installed in 1898 and 1906.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=225}} On the upper crossing, concrete abutments supported the deck plate girders installed in 1906.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=224}} 
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 91.2 ||  || colspan=7|Loop Spur || || rowspan=2|   
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || ||  || 2,486.5 || ||  ||    
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 90.4{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=7|Cambie || || rowspan=2|North end of the lower trestle per photo.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.webpraxis.ab.ca/vrr/_Remarks/Cambie_Station.shtml |title=CPR, Cambie station |website=www.webpraxis.ab.ca}}</ref>
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop 
|-
| colspan=11|Part of the Loops, the wooden trestles across Loop Creek (south of today's road) were replaced. Stone pillars, erected within the framework of the lower trestle, supported the deck plate girders installed in 1904 and 1906. The same replacement process occurred on the upper trestle in 1906.{{sfn|Finch|1987|pp=222–223}} 
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 87.2{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=4|[[Glacier, British Columbia#Glacier House|Glacier House]] || colspan=3|Glacier  || || rowspan=2|Not to be confused with later station near west portal.     
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,483 || 2,483 || 2,482.5|| 2,482 || 2475.3 || 1,060
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 84.9 ||  || colspan=7|Rogers Pass (first) || || rowspan=2|Initially called Summit (near the Memorial monument), then<br /> Rogers Pass.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=27}}   
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 84.0{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=7|Rogers Pass (84.2 third) & (84.0 fourth) || || rowspan=2|Immediately north of the Discovery Centre.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=27}} Small move<br />after 1910 avalanche.     
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || {{N/A}} || {{N/A}} || || 2,479 || 2,472.1 || 1,056
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 83.0 ||  || colspan=7|Rogers Pass (second) || || rowspan=2|About {{convert|1.1|km|mi|1|abbr=on}} west of the nearest highway<br />showshed on the eastern slope.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=27}} Moved one mile west<br />after 1899 avalanche.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181642#p3z-1r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Kootenay Mail, 31 Jul 1900 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref><ref name=27Apr01>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xrevherald/items/1.0187606#p1z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=2 |title=Revelstoke Herald, 27 Apr 1901 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,479 || 2,479 || || {{N/A}} || {{N/A}} || {{N/A}}
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 80.0{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=7|Hermit || || rowspan=2| Flag stop.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist56y134uvic#page/n27/mode/1up/search/hermit |page=supplement |title=The Daily Colonist, 17 May 1914 |website=www.archive.org|year=1914 }}</ref> 
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 77.9{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=7|Bear Creek || || rowspan=2|     
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,474 || 2,474 || 2,473.2 || 2,473 || 2,466.0 || 1,050
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 77.1 || style="text-align:right" | 77.1 || colspan=7|Stoney Creek || || rowspan=2|  
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop
|-
| colspan=11|Two construction workers died{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=23}} on the Stoney Creek trestle at Mile 76.7.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=22}} In 1894, the Hamilton Bridge Co. replaced the record {{convert|286|ft|m|adj=on}} high trestle with the often-photographed [[Stoney Creek Bridge]],<ref name=20May93>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/kootstar/items/1.0310226#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Star, 20 May 1893 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/kootstar/items/1.0310241#p0z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Star, 7 Oct 1893 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> which was strengthened in 1905.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181895#p1z-1r0f:%22loops%22%20AND%20%22glacier%22 |page=2 |title=Kootenay Mail, 7 Oct 1905 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 74.7{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} || style="text-align:right" | 74.7 || colspan=4|Surprise Creek|| colspan=3|Cutbank  || || rowspan=2|  
|-
| colspan=3| || ||  || 2,470.0 || colspan=3|Not a listed stop
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 73.5{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} || style="text-align:right" | 73.4 || ||  || colspan=3|Cedar Creek || Cedar || Sturdee || || rowspan=2|     
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || {{N/A}} || 2,470 || 2,468.9 ||  || 2,461.6 || 1,046
|- 
| colspan=11|Mountain Creek bridge at Mile 71.3{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=19}} contained the most lumber at over two million board feet.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=13}} During 1897–1902, fills and a {{convert|585|ft|m|adj=on}} long bridge replaced the {{convert|1086|ft|m|adj=on}} long trestle.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=244–245}} Strengthened in 1929, the bridge was replaced in 1978.{{sfn|Finch|1987|p=18}}
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 70.4{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} || style="text-align:right" | 70.4 || colspan=7|Griffith || || rowspan=2|  
|-
| colspan=3| || colspan=6|Not a listed stop
|-
| style="text-align:right" | 67.8{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=305}} ||  || colspan=6|Six-Mile Creek || Anzac || || rowspan=2| Later called Rogers.<ref name="CRJun73" />    
|-  style="text-align:right"
| colspan=3| || 2,465 || 2,465 || 2,463.9 || 2,462 || 2,455.9 || 1,040 ||     
|}

===Early operation===
[[File:Rogers Pass Summit Memorial Monument.jpg |thumb|right|220px| Memorial monument, near summit, Rogers Pass, 2015.]]

CP's traffic predictions proved largely correct. Contrary claims that early traffic would be mainly eastbound were unfounded,{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=55–56, 85}} but became a reality within 20 years.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=185}} Two [[bank engine|pusher locomotive]]s, each needing crews, were adequate for each side.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=84}} However, pusher gradients were expensive to operate. Most loaded freight trains required a single pusher, because they were longer than 9 cars.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=83–84}} [[Wye (rail)|Wye]]s were at the Selkirk pushing extremities of Beavermouth (east) and [[Albert Canyon]] (west). At the summit, a [[railway roundhouse|roundhouse]]{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=81}} and rail yard existed.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=54}} Some days no freight trains passed, but on the arrival of a steamer in Vancouver, there could be a quick succession eastward for several days.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=82}} [[Double heading]] replaced rear pushing from 1907.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=104}} Local traffic was negligible.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=206}}

Usually, passenger trains did not need pushers,{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=55}} and until 1902, the 5–  to 9–car service was daily.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=82}}<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/search/nine%20heavy%20cars?type=edismax&cp=uofm%3A2485562 |page=3 |title=Daily Nor'Wester, 6 Oct 1894 |website=www.umanitoba.ca}}</ref>  On rare occasions, trains were as long as 12 cars.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181935#p2z-1r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=3 |title=Kootenay Mail, 1 Sep 1894 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> The 1886 average mountain speed of {{convert|12|mph|km/h|abbr=on|0}} had increased to {{convert|18|mph|km/h|abbr=on|0}} by 1902.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=84}} By 1913, to maintain this speed, the 9-car trains required a pusher.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=193}} Scheduled stops for breakfast, lunch, and dinner existed at [[Field, British Columbia|Field]], [[Glacier, British Columbia#Glacier House|Glacier House]], and [[North Bend, British Columbia|North Bend]]. Albert Canyon was a scenic stop.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=85}} The twice daily summer service from 1908 continued into the winter, instead of reducing to one train,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldentimes/items/1.0081615#p1z-3r0f:train |page=2 |title=Golden Times, 16 Sep 1908 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> and increased to three trains the following summer.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldentimes/items/1.0081705#p3z-3r0f:train |page=40 |title=Golden Times, 24 Feb 1909 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

In 1905, CP installed a water-powered bucket system to fill the coal hopper.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181779#p2z-1r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=3 |title=Kootenay Mail, 25 Mar 1905 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> The next year, the four-locomotive engine house was enlarged to accommodate six locomotives.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=247}} In 1907, a track deviation created more yard space to handle increased freight. Housing key staff and extensive equipment, the pass functioned as if it were a [[divisional point]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311224#p2z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=3 |title=Mail Herald, 29 Jun 1907 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Assigning the most powerful locomotives, the Selkirk section had 12 in 1898 and 18 in 1908.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=235}} Pushers increased from 5 in 1908 to 11 in 1914.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=236}} Oil storage facilities were built for the 1912 conversion to oil-fired locomotives in the mountains, eliminating firemen and fire patrols.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=238}} Additionally, the constant steam pressure increased the tonnage capacity.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=239}}

In 1915, seven employees received 25-month sentences for creating [[No-show job#Corporate fraud|ghost employee]]s.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311329#p0z-5r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 12 May 1915 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

One year after the tunnel opening, the right-of-way over the pass was handed over to [[Parks Canada|the Parks Department]]  for a wagon road, and the snow sheds were removed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkelownarec/items/1.0180749#p1z-2r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=2 |title=Kelowna Record, 9 Aug 1917 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Some sections of the abandoned railway eventually became walking [[rail trail]]s in Glacier National Park.

===Avalanches===
[[File:Hermit Range from Glacier Hotel, BC, 1887 (5324105412).jpg |thumb|right|250px| Northwestward, Glacier House Station & Hermit Range, 1887.]]

The extent and cost of snow sheds had been grossly underestimated.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=88–89}} Snow shed construction continued until 1890,{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=80}} but only in places displaying consistent problems, and only where diversions were not a cheaper option. Sheds were patrolled in winter for avalanche damage, and in summer for fires started by [[Chimney (locomotive)|smokestack]]s. An increased [[platelayer|section]] gang shovelled out both slides and drifts. Wing plows could not disperse the really deep snow. A [[rotary snowplow]] was shared with [[Eagle Pass (British Columbia)|Eagle Pass]] until a dedicated one arrived in February 1890. However, rotaries cannot handle avalanches containing rocks or timber. These combined measures ensured that blockages from 1889/90 onward were nearly always cleared within hours.{{sfn|Backler|1981|pp=89–94, 108}}

The 31 sheds built had a combined length of {{convert|6.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}. During the first 25 years of the line, 200 people died in avalanches.{{sfn|Finch|1987| p=61}} Single avalanches killed 6 employees in 1887,{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=107}} 7 or 8 in 1899,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldenera/items/1.0227023#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Golden Era, 3 Feb 1899 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=12}} and about 60 in the [[1910 Rogers Pass avalanche|1910 catastrophe]]. The failure to rebuild snow sheds after the prior track deviation,{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=13}} and the inadequate design strength of an existing shed, proved devastating.{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=14}} On at least four occasions, avalanches struck passenger trains in the pass, seemingly causing no passenger injuries.{{sfn|Backler|1981|p=135}}

During summer months, trains ran on separate tracks outside the sheds.<ref name="27Apr01" /> Although the tunnel removed the avalanche danger for that section, the problem persisted along neighbouring segments.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0308575#p0z-4r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Ledge, 13 Feb 1919 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1936-03-05-01 |page=1 |title=Prince George Citizen, 5 Mar 1936 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1954-02-01-08 |page=8 |title=Prince George Citizen, 1 Feb 1954 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/cp-rail-train-hit-by-an-avalanche-east-of-revelstoke/ |title=Victoria News, 22 Dec 2019 |website=www.vicnews.com|date=December 22, 2019 }}</ref>{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=11}}

===Community===
In 1886, the features of a transient construction community remained. Drinking and gambling characterized the 15 hotels. A single provincial police officer maintained the peace.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18860912uvic/18860912#page/n2/mode/1up/search/rogers+pass |page=3 |title=The Daily Colonist, 12 Sep 1886 |website=www.archive.org|year=1886 }}</ref> Transitioning to respectability, formal dances were held.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/kootstar/items/1.0310167#p0z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Star, 15 Apr 1893 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181126#p5z-1r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=6 |title=Kootenay Mail, 23 Apr 1904 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> The hamlet of about 50, included two general stores, two hotels, a butcher, a barber, and CP boarding house.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1889/Williams'_BC_Directory |title=1889 Williams BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1889/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1889 Henderson BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref>

Storekeeper James M. Carroll was postmaster 1890–1892,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1890/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1890 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}<br />to {{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1892/Williams'_Illustrated_Official_BC_Directory_Part_2 |title=1892 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref> his store appearing to have barely outlasted his competitor.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/kootstar/items/1.0310214#p0z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Star, 11 Jun 1892 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> In 1893, the Queens Hotel, the only one remaining, was renamed the Dewdrop Inn.<ref name="20May93" /> William Cator, CP agent, was postmaster 1893–1899. In 1899, the population was 25–30,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcbooks/items/1.0305644#p273z-4r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |title=1893 BC Directory |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />to {{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcbooks/items/1.0355305#p263z-3r0f:%22Roger%20Pass%22  |title=1899 BC Directory |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> a community newspaper operated,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldenera/items/1.0227016#p3z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Golden Era, 22 Dec 1899 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> and a school existed. John Taylor, CP agent, was postmaster 1899–1901.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1899-1900/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1899–1900 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}<br />to {{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1900-1901/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1900–1901 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref>

When the station relocated, the community buildings followed suit.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181813#p3z-5r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Kootenay Mail, 22 May 1900 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Public functions were initially held in the CP boarding house.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xrevherald/items/1.0187555#p3z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=4 |title=Revelstoke Herald, 28 Dec 1900 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Residents built a new boarding house for the manager, after she was terminated for not housing [[strikebreaker|scab]]s during a strike.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181206#p0z-5r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Mail, 23 Aug 1901 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

C.D. Morris,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6d5a5038-31c4-4599-85be-aa6af82e4cb9 |title =Death Certificate (Curtis Dexter MORRIS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}</ref> who opened a store within a tent in 1901, erected a permanent store, boarding house and hall. Lodge, church, and public gatherings used this hall. In 1904, he added 15 or 16 bedrooms and a bathroom to the boarding house<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xrevherald/items/1.0187364#p7z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=8 |title=Revelstoke Herald, 24 Dec 1903 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181709#p4z-1r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=5 |title=Kootenay Mail, 18 Jun 1904 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181304#p1z-5r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=2 |title=Kootenay Mail, 11 Feb 1905 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> to cater for the big summer demand from workers and tourists.<ref name="9Sep05" /> He was postmaster 1901–1903.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1901/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1901 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}<br />to {{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1903/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1903 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref>
His store clerk, John O. Forbes,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1904/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory |title=1904 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref> and brother,<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/47e7edae-c160-4372-9e40-4bb1ae957a39 |title =Death Certificate (William Bernard MORRIS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}</ref> William B. Morris,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1910/Henderson's_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory_Part_1 |title=1910 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}</ref> later filled the role. A 1910 fire destroyed this hotel/boarding house. The store was saved, but badly scorched.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0310511#p5z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=6 |title=Mail Herald, 14 Dec 1910 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> The 1916 fire that destroyed the Morris store and residence<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311244#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 8 Apr 1916 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> preceded the move to the new community of [[Glacier, British Columbia#West portal|Glacier near the west portal]]. The school<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0310892#p7z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=8 |title=Mail Herald, 20 Aug 1913 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311431#p3z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=4 |title=Mail Herald, 7 Jul 1915 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> similarly relocated.

===Superseding tunnels===
Beneath Rogers Pass are the {{convert|8.0|km|mi|abbr=on|1}} [[Connaught Tunnel]] (1916) and the {{convert|14.7|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[Mount Macdonald Tunnel]] (1988). The former once held, and the latter still holds, the title of longest railway tunnel in North America. Connaught handles eastbound traffic, and Mount Macdonald westbound.
[[Image:Rogers_pass.jpg |thumb|right|240px|Summit, Rogers Pass, 2005]]

==Trans-Canada Highway==
===Proposal===
In 1908, a new wagon road was built from [[Lake Louise (Alberta)|Laggan]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0181376#p0z0r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Ledge, 4 Jun 1908 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Two decades later, a proper highway linked Lake Louise and Golden.<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=86}}</ref> The selection of a Golden–Revelstoke link via the {{convert|108|mi|km|order=flip|adj=mid|-longer}} [[Big Bend Country#Trails & roads|Big Bend]], rather than over the Selkirks, was the snowplowing difficulty.<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=87}}</ref> This road finally opened in 1940. A proposal to upgrade to [[Trans-Canada Highway]] standards a decade later, determined that the Selkirks route would be cheaper,<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=101}}</ref> and not conflict with the Columbia River hydro-electric potential.<ref>{{Google books| i56330w4-hEC |Carving the Western Path |page=103}}</ref>

===Construction & opening===
Constructed 1956–1962, headquarters of the four camps was {{convert|1/4|mi|m|spell=in}} from the Glacier station. The former schoolhouse was the dining hall, a former railway house the office, and prefabricated cabins housed the employees. Radio reception was poor. Entertainment, such as movies, or a haircut, required train travel to the nearest towns. Similarly, all supplies came in by train for the workforce of about 500 who built the {{convert|28|mi|km|adj=on}} highway.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1957-10-17-11 |page=11 |title=Prince George Citizen, 17 Oct 1957 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

West of the summit, much of the original route was used. To the east, excavations uncovered the remnants of the roundhouse destroyed by the 1899 slide.{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=34}} The provincial government held an official opening ceremony in July 1962, whereas the federal one was the following September.{{sfn|Downs|1968|p=35}} This scenic route reduced bus travel time by five hours.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1962-09-05-16 |page=16 |title=Prince George Citizen, 5 Sep 1962 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

[[Image:RogersPassTransCanada.png |thumb|right|240px|Western approach, Rogers Pass, 2011]]

===Avalanche control===
Prior to 1962, snow sheds provided the only control measure.{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=11}} Three concrete sheds exist on the eastern slope. To keep the highway and railway open during the winter, the [[Royal Canadian Artillery]] has since used {{convert|105|mm|in|adj=on}} howitzers to knock down unstable snow under controlled circumstances to reduce avalanche hazards. Stopping is prohibited in high-risk locations.{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|pp=19–20}}

===Facilities===
Camping, cabins, and an information centre make up the [[Glacier National Park (Canada)#Facilities|Glacier park facilities]]. The Northlander Motor Hotel, opened in 1964,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Construction+is+expected%22&ymd=1963-05-17&t=11420 |page=29 |title=Vancouver Sun, 17 May 1963 |quote=Northlander Motor Lodges….clearing has begun for the $700,000 lodge. Construction is expected to begin next month and completion is set for the spring of 1964. | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> was renamed Glacier Park Lodge. The teal-roofed lodge, restaurant and gas station were the only services for {{convert|150|km|mi}}. After expiring in 2010, the lease continued on a month to month basis. The new owners, who acquired the property in 2008, failed to meet their legal obligations to the previous owners, [[Parks Canada]], and others. Parks Canada terminated the lease in 2012. The gas station and lodge, closed in 2009 and 2012 respectively, were both demolished in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/iconic+aging+glacier+park+lodge+rogers+pass+forced+into+receivership/7412840/story.html  |title=Calgary Herald, 19 Oct 2012 |website=www.calgaryherald.com}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://www.bclocalnews.com/news/parks-canada-takes-control-of-glacier-park-lodge |title=BC Local News, 19 Oct 2016 |website=www.bclocal news.com|date=October 19, 2016 }}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/parks-canada-to-tear-down-iconic-but-derelict-glacier-park-lodge |title=Vancouver Sun, 21 Oct 2016 |website=www.vancouversun.com}}</ref>

==Non-avalanche accidents & emergencies==
{{hidden|list|

===Railway===
1886: When a man walking the tracks stepped from the path of an approaching train, another train to his rear cut him in two.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18861109uvic/18861109#page/n2/mode/1up/search/roger+pass+rogers |page=3 |title=The Daily Colonist, 9 Nov 1886 |website=www.archive.org|year=1886 }}</ref> That week, three rear cars, plus the caboose, from an ascending freight train, broke away and rolled back down the slope, smashing into a following freight train. The latter engineer died instantly, and the several occupants of the caboose sustained fatal or serious injuries, but two children were thrown clear.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18861110uvic/18861110#page/n2/mode/1up/search/rogers+pass |page=3 |title=The Daily Colonist, 10 Nov 1886 |website=www.archive.org|year=1886 }}</ref>

1887: A carpenter, who fell from a bridge in the vicinity, rolling {{convert|40|ft|m}} into a stream, suffered a likely fatal skull fracture.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/dbc/items/1.0346380#p3z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=4 |title=Daily British Columbian, 2 Aug 1887 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1888: A westbound passenger train waited at snow shed 7, while a crew, standing on a flat car, fought a fire at shed 13. When the coupling broke, the runaway car carried the crew eastward down the slope. All jumped clear, except the conductor, who unable to brake, passed through the burning shed, and jumped just before the car smashed into the stationary train.{{sfn|Finch|1987| pp=58–59}} That year, a young snow shed worker, who refused to seek and pay for medical treatment, died of fever. On his person was $3,000 in cash.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xledgreen/items/1.0181660#p3z-5r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Ledge, 2 Sep 1909 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1889: When a freight and passenger train collided in a snow shed to the east, one person was seriously injured and the locomotives received extensive damage.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/dbc/items/1.0347108#p7z-3r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=8 |title=Daily British Columbian, 17 Jul 1889 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1890: A cook deliberately poisoned a brakeman, who later died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist18900325uvic/18900325#mode/1up/search/rogers+pass |page=1 |title=The Daily Colonist, 25 Mar 1890 |website=www.archive.org|year=1890 }}</ref>

1891: A car inspector slipped while boarding and fell beneath the moving passenger train, which cut off his left leg below the knee.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/kootstar/items/1.0310108#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Star, 24 Jan 1891 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1897: An employee lost three fingers that were caught while coupling cars. The locomotive taking him to hospital derailed, delaying his arrival.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkootmail/items/1.0181124#p0z-1r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kootenay Mail, 14 Aug 1897 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1898: During loading operations, a log slipped and fractured a worker's skull. In a coma for days,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldenera/items/1.0227057#p3z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Golden Era, 25 Mar 1898 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> the outcome appeared to be total deafness from burst eardrums.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/goldenera/items/1.0227241#p0z-3r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Golden Era, 27 May 1898 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1900: While uncoupling a pusher from an eastbound freight, a brakeman slipped and fell in front of the pusher, sustaining such leg injuries that he died the next day.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xrevherald/items/1.0187483#p0z-3r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Revelstoke Herald, 30 Mar 1900 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1906: Two trains collided when a CPR mainline passenger train ran into a mudslide in the vicinity. Some injuries, but no deaths, were reported.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/nwdn/items/1.0316391#p0z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Daily News, 8 Sep 1906 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1907: While clearing track just west of Glacier, a snowplow plunged {{convert|20|ft|m|0}} down a bank, dislodging a stove and inflicting severe injuries to the right thigh of a worker.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311174#p4z-3r0f:%22plough%22 |page=5 |title=Mail Herald, 6 Feb 1907 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Later that year, while infilling a trestle a few hundred feet east of depot, the brakes failed as the final cars were being emptied. When the 14-car train derailed, the employees jumped clear, but the locomotive fell upon the fireman, fatally crushing him. The engineer fractured his leg, and two others sustained lesser injuries.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0310866#p0z-4r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 19 Oct 1907 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Two months later, by snow shed 17, a brakeman fell from an eastbound train, costing him his left arm.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311444#p0z-3r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 28 Dec 1907 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1908: During excavations with a steam shovel, a bank gave way, burying a worker who suffocated.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist19080707uvic/19080707#page/n13/mode/1up/search/rogers+pass |page=14 |title=The Daily Colonist, 7 Jul 1908 |website=www.archive.org|year=1908 }}</ref> Later that year, two workers suffered serious injuries when a rail being placed slipped and fell on them.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311197#p3z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=4 |title=Mail Herald, 18 Nov 1908 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1909: To the east at Griffith's siding, an eastbound train hauling 12 empty cars derailed. The locomotive and 9 cars rolled down an incline killing the engineer and fireman.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311188#p0z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 10 Jul 1909 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> Months later, an unmanned locomotive left the pass yard, and derailed {{convert|2|mi|km|0}} east down the grade.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0310924#p3z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=4 |title=Mail Herald, 25 Sep 1909 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1911: A body found near Six-Mile Creek suggested a [[freighthopping|hopper]], who boarded a freight train at the pass, had jumped to his death.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/nelsondaily/items/1.0383569#p6z-2r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=7 |title=Daily News, 31 Jan 1911 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1912: When an eastbound passenger train ran into snow slide, three cars derailed, but no serious injuries occurred. However, a slide at Albert Canyon struck the rescue [[Crane (rail)|wrecker]]. The locomotive and three cars toppled over, killing a crew member and injuring three others.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xkelownarec/items/1.0180674#p0z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=1 |title=Kelowna Record, 18 Jan 1912 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1913: An engineer, who fell into an underground draining trough of heated oil at the roundhouse, later died from the scalding.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311379#p7z-3r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=8 |title=Mail Herald, 22 Nov 1913 |website=www.ubc.ca}}<br />{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311344#p0z-3r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 23 Dec 1914 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1914: Run over by a train, a man survived with serious injuries.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311050#p7z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=8 |title=Mail Herald, 8 Apr 1914 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

1915: The victims bowled over, a train cut off one man's legs,<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311292#p3z-7r0f:%22rogers%20pass%22 |page=4 |title=Mail Herald, 31 Jul 1915 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref> and the leg above the ankle for a seven-year-old boy.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/mherald/items/1.0311340#p0z-7r0f:%22Rogers%20Pass%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald, 29 Sep 1915 |website=www.ubc.ca}}</ref>

Refer [[Connaught Tunnel#Repairs, modifications & emergencies|Connaught Tunnel]] and [[Glacier, British Columbia#West portal|west portal vicinity]] for later incidents in the general area.

===Highway===
1967: Near the west portal, a runaway loaded gravel truck collided head on with an eastbound bus carrying 25 passengers. The bus driver, a trainee driver, and three passengers died.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist19670617#mode/1up/search/rogers+pass |pages=1–2 |title=The Daily Colonist, 17 Jun 1967 |website=www.archive.org|year=1967 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=those+who+died+were&ymd=1967-06-17&t=11420 |page=1 |title=Vancouver Sun, 17 Jun 1967 |quote=….the truck driven by Sexsmith and the Greyhound bus by Trenholm were to meet and five persons were to die. Those who died were …. | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

1968: A bus carrying 14 children and two adults plunged {{convert|135|ft|m}} down a gorge, but the occupants suffered only fractures and minor injuries.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1968-07-22-03 |page=3 |title=Prince George Citizen, 22 Jul 1968 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

1994: To avoid a head-on collision with a highway sanding truck, a tour bus carrying 21 passengers swerved into a snowbank. One passenger sustained a broken leg, and another an injured shoulder.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22tour+to+Banff%22&ymd=1994-02-07&t=11420  |page=1 |title=Vancouver Sun, 7 Feb 1994 |quote=A sightseeing tour….for 21 Asian visitors…bus they were riding in collided with a Parks Canada sanding truck…near Rogers Pass. Two of the injured passengers….flown to Vancouver General Hospital….one….had a broken leg, the other an injured shoulder…. With….truck hurtling head-on….veered to the left and headed into a snowbank…. | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

2000: A tour bus passing through a snow shed drifted into the oncoming lane. A head-on collision with a truck killed both drivers and four passengers. The remaining 21 passengers suffered minor to critical injuries.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:2000-11-29-07 |page=7 |title=Prince George Citizen, 29 Nov 2000 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

2007: After crossing the centre line and crashing through a concrete guardrail, a 24-passenger bus, carrying 11 people and a driver, came to rest on the passenger side. Two passengers incurred non-life threatening injuries.
<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22through+a+concrete%22&ymd=2007-11-10&t=8803  |page=13 |title=Calgary Herald, 10 Nov 2007 |quote=The 24-passenger bus carrying 11 people and a driver ….crossed the centre line, crashed through a concrete guardrail….and came to rest on the passenger side….Two female passengers….with non-life threatening injuries. | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

===Aircraft===
1964: A [[Jodel D.11]] crashed. Records sealed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&lang=eng&rec_nbr=4584090 |title=CF-RFJ - Jodel D11 - Aircraft Accident  |website=www.collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref>

1969: A [[Piper PA-28 Cherokee|Piper PA-28]] crashed. Records sealed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://collectionscanada.gc.ca/pam_archives/index.php?fuseaction=genitem.displayItem&rec_nbr=4584597&lang=eng&rec_nbr_list=4584593,4584597 |title=CF-FER - Piper PA-28 - Aircraft Accident  |website=www.collectionscanada.gc.ca}}</ref> After a passenger bailed out to direct traffic, the pilot of a [[Cessna 185 Skywagon|Cessna 185]] landed on the highway.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1969-11-24-03 |page=3 |title=Prince George Citizen, 24 Nov 1969 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

1977: A couple died in a light plane crash in the vicinity of Glacier.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1977-10-03-01 |page=1 |title=Prince George Citizen, 3 Oct 1977 |website=www.pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}</ref>

2017: The pilot of a [[Boeing-Stearman Model 75|Boeing A75N1 bi-plane]] survived a crash near the summit.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.revelstokereview.com/news/pilot-survives-plane-crash-in-glacier-national-park/ |title=Revelstoke Review, 31 May 2017 |website=www.revelstokereview.com|date=May 31, 2017 }}</ref> Six months later, the two occupants died when a [[Mooney M20]]D crashed in the mountains about {{convert|10|km|mi}} southwest of Glacier.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2017/a17p0170/a17p0170.html |title=Aviation Investigation Report A17P0170 |website=www.tsb.gc.ca|date=February 27, 2019 }}</ref>
}}

==Climate==
Rogers Pass has a subarctic climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfc'') with an average high in January of about {{convert|-7|C|F}} and in July of about {{convert|20|C|F}}.  With an average {{convert|9.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} snowfall per year, Rogers Pass is among the snowiest places in Canada. Encompassing 134 individual paths in the steep terrain,{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=4}} avalanches are common in winter.{{sfn|Schieiss|1990|p=3}}  
{{Weather box
|location = [[Rogers Pass, British Columbia]]
|collapsed = yes
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = -7.3
|Feb high C = -3.6
|Mar high C = 1.6
|Apr high C = 6.6
|May high C = 11.0
|Jun high C = 15.9
|Jul high C = 19.6
|Aug high C = 19.4
|Sep high C = 13.3
|Oct high C = 5.0
|Nov high C = -2.9
|Dec high C = -7.2
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = -9.7
|Feb mean C = -6.6
|Mar mean C = -2.5
|Apr mean C = 1.9
|May mean C = 5.6
|Jun mean C = 9.9
|Jul mean C = 12.8
|Aug mean C = 12.6
|Sep mean C = 7.9
|Oct mean C = 1.8
|Nov mean C = -4.9
|Dec mean C = -9.4
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = -12.1
|Feb low C = -9.6
|Mar low C = -6.5
|Apr low C = -2.8
|May low C = 0.2
|Jun low C = 3.9
|Jul low C = 5.9
|Aug low C = 5.8
|Sep low C = 2.3
|Oct low C = -1.4
|Nov low C = -6.8
|Dec low C = -11.6
|year low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 223.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 156.4
|Mar precipitation mm = 112.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 74.6
|May precipitation mm = 70.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 95.9
|Jul precipitation mm = 92.1
|Aug precipitation mm = 91.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 90.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 130.3
|Nov precipitation mm = 196.6
|Dec precipitation mm = 213.4
|year precipitation mm = 1547.3
|Jan snow cm = 216.9
|Feb snow cm = 151.8
|Mar snow cm = 95.2
|Apr snow cm = 41.0
|May snow cm = 8.5
|Jun snow cm = 0.2
|Jul snow cm = 0
|Aug snow cm = 0
|Sep snow cm = 2.1
|Oct snow cm = 44.7
|Nov snow cm = 165.3
|Dec snow cm = 206.8
|year snow cm = 932.5

|source 1 = <ref name=metadata >{{cite web |url= http://www.climat.meteo.gc.ca/climate_normals/results_1981_2010_f.html?stnID=1363&lang=f&amp;StationName=Rogers+Pass&amp;SearchType=Contains&amp;stnNameSubmit=go&dCode=1&dispBack=1|title=Calculation Information for 1981 to 2010 Canadian Normals Data |publisher= Environment Canada |access-date=September 29, 2015 }}</ref>|
}}

==See also==
*[[Canadian Rockies]]
*Other CPR grades in British Columbia: [[Field Hill]], [[Big Hill]], Spiral Tunnels, [[Eagle Pass, British Columbia|Eagle Pass]]

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite thesis | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0095109#downloadfiles |last=Backler |first=Gary G. |title=The C.P.R.'s capacity and investment strategy in Rogers Pass, B.C., 1882–1916 |year=1981 |website=www.open.library.ubc.ca|doi=10.14288/1.0095109 }}
*{{cite book | url=http://parkscanadahistory.com/publications/rogers/rogers-pass-snow-avalanche-control.pdf |last=Schieiss |first=V.G. |title=Rogers Pass Snow Avalanche Control |year=1990 |publisher=Environment Canada | isbn=0-921806-04-3 |via=ParksCanadaHistory.com}}
*{{cite web | url=http://parkscanadahistory.com/series/mf/292.pdf |last=Finch |first=David A.A. |title=A History of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Glacier National Park, B.C., 1884–1930 |year=1987 |publisher=Environment Canada |via=ParksCanadaHistory.com}}
*{{Cite book | url=http://parkscanadahistory.com/publications/nppac-cpaws/snow-war.pdf  |last=Woods |first=John G. |title=Snow War |year=1985 |publisher=The National and Provincial Parks Association of Canada | isbn=0-920570-08-9 |via=ParksCanadaHistory.com}}
*{{cite web |url=http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/smithd/477/manuals/readings/02_geog477.pdf |last=Downs |first=Art |title=Incredible Rogers Pass |year=1968 |website=www.uvic.ca |access-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-date=October 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002043732/http://www.geog.uvic.ca/dept2/faculty/smithd/477/manuals/readings/02_geog477.pdf |url-status=dead }}

==External links==
*{{cite cgndb|id=JBQXM|name=Rogers Pass}}

{{Interior Ranges of British Columbia}}
{{NHSC}}
{{British Columbia parks}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Selkirk Mountains]]
[[Category:Columbia Country]]
[[Category:Mountain passes of British Columbia]]
[[Category:Canadian Pacific Railway]]
[[Category:Rail mountain passes of British Columbia]]
[[Category:National Historic Sites in British Columbia]]
[[Category:Glacier National Park (Canada)]]