The Big Hill
CPKC manifest with a mix of the the new merged railroads power climbs the mountain out of Field, BC. 7/24
The name originally given the "Big Hill" was the original 4.5% eastbound grade out of Field, BC, that directly assaulted the Continental Divide at Kicking Horse Pass, as a better solution could be engineered. Canada Highway 1 mostly follows this original line. The grade was realigned in 1909 with the Spriral Tunnels. This lowered most of the grade to 2.2%. However this section from Field to the Cathedral Tunnel is still 2.4% making it one of the steepest sections of mainline grade in North America. Railroaders still often refer to this mountain as "The Big Hill"....
