Many partners have come together with a proposal to build a tribute to the historic value of Fife—the lime-loading tipple that was built near Fife in 1906.
There are families that can still trace their roots back to the early settlers that lived at Fife.
Columbia Western Trails Society, RDKB Area C/Christina Lake Director Grace McGregor, MLA Linda Larsen, Recreation Sites and Trails BC, Teck, many Fife residents and the Grand Forks ATV Club are holding a meeting for all interested in hearing about this proposed project on June 1 at 7 p.m. at the Christina Lake Community Hall.
Fife was a very important stop on the line, not just for the three lime quarries. Lime was used for flux in the smelting process.
The town had many residents that worked for the rail line.
To truly appreciate its significance, one must consider the conditions in the late 1800, when the line was built and the early years when the steam engines would travel the line. Steam power was a great development in the industrialization era. The principal was fairly straightforward: heat water and steam was produced, control the steam and it could power pistons to drive many forms of equipment.
Steam power needed infrastructure: water tanks, first wood bins, then coal bins. These had to be located along the rail at intervals that allowed the engines to take on water and fuel. These parameters dictated where stops and supplies were located along the route.
As the rail line was built, many stations, towns, flag stops, sidings, tunnels, trestles, bridges, snow sheds, flumes, overpasses where built.
In 1954 many of the steam age infrastructure became redundant. CP did not want to be liable for the unneeded infrastructures, and many were burnt down.
