Overview:

: The Spiral Tunnels are two tunnels, each 800m in length, located on the Canadian Pacific Railway near Field, British Columbia in the country's Rocky Mountains. Constructed between 1909 and 1911 they allow the railway to pass through a steep ascent and sharp curves at the same time, thus avoiding a long climb with greater grade. The tunnels make use of a helix, where each fenced twisted clearly visible spiral follows the path of the train track allowing it to pass through the mountain at a much gentler incline. The two tunnels were the first to use this innovative design in North America and have been featured on numerous TV shows, magazines and websites. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Canada
Prominent Features:

The Spiral Tunnel, located in British Columbia, is one of the most prominent engineering feats in the world. The tunnel formed part of the Canadian Pacific Railway, located in the Kicking Horse Pass, and was first opened in 1909. It has a 360-degree turn and a 1000-foot-long spiral loop. The Spiral Tunnel is 5,416 feet long, and the railway line has a grade of 6.8%. It is considered a major engineering accomplishment and still stands today. The Spiral Tunnel is a popular tourist attraction and offers a picturesque view of the surrounding mountains. It is also the location of a museum which displays information about the remarkable tunnel and railway. This national monument of Canada portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

The Spiral Tunnel is an engineering marvel located in British Columbia, Canada. It is actually a double spiral tunnel, and was built between 1912 and 1916 as a part of the Canadian Pacific Railway's project to build the Second Mainline West of the the Kicking Horse Pass in the Rocky Mountains. The Spiral Tunnel is located in the Kicking Horse Canyon, a gorge located in the Yoho National Park of Canada. The Kicking Horse was a major challenge to the builders of the Second Mainline. The canyon is 540m deep, with narrow and steep cliffs on either side. To add to the difficulty, two avalanche tracks run across the canyon, where slides were common. The Spiral Tunnel was designed as a way to solve this problem and to allow the track to safely traverse the canyon. The idea was to bore through the Talus of the side of the canyon and to cut a flat path around the 90 degree curves. This would not only reduce the grade of the track, but also reduce the risk of avalanches and falling rocks. The Spiral Tunnel was ultimately a success, and the Second Mainline is still in use today. The Spiral Tunnel has become an iconic symbol of the region and one of the most remarkable engineering accomplishments of its time. It is now widely viewed as a National Historic Site, and its importance has been nationally recognized. You must visit one of these historical places in Canada on your Canada tour

Interesting facts:

1. The Spiral Tunnels are a pair of railway tunnels located in British Columbia, Canada. 2. The tunnels are located along the Kicking Horse Pass railway line, which is part of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). 3. The tunnels form a spiral shape, which allows the east-bound and west-bound trains to pass each other without having to slow down or stop. 4. The tunnels were completed in 1909. 5. The tunnels were built with both safety and efficiency in mind. Before their construction, trains encountering each other at that point had to slow down, reverse for one mile or more, then stop and wait for the other train to pass. 6. Each of the two tunnels is over two thousand seven hundred feet in length. 7. The spiral tunnels are one of the steepest sections of railway in the world, with a grade of 4.5 percent. 8. The Spiral Tunnels cut over one hundred feet between the base of Mount Ogden and the summit of the Kicking Horse Pass, making it possible to traverse the Pass without having to cross the summit. Visit one of the famous monuments of Canada with your friends and family.