Yahk then and now

These two pictures were taken about forty years apart in the small town of Yahk BC. Not much remains from the first, with the only exception being the hotel shown on the left in the second picture. In the “then” picture you can just see it just peeking out behind the left side of the station.

The water tower foundation is still there but nothing could be found of the station. Where it sat has been built over and some radio towers sit in its place.

The train seen here is heading eastbound towards Cranbrook, located some 60km away. It’s being pulled by the ubiquitous to the region Canadian Locomotive Company, Fairbanks Morse (USA) designed “C Series and “H Series” locomotives. Common in this area well into the mid 1970s, these engines were known for being able pull which made them very suitable for the CPR’s southern BC lines, which often had a roller coaster like profile.

This train could have been coming in from the Trail or Nelson areas or it may have come off the line that heads south from Yahk, connecting with the Union Pacific Railway at the US border in Kingsgate BC (or Eastport Idaho on the US side).

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos and to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

It appears that the leading locomotive is number 4065. If so, this makes it one the very first (of two) Canadian Locomotive Company diesel engines that the CPR purchased. Built in 1951, it toiled in relative obscurity in the region, until being retired and donated to the National Museum of Science and Technology in Ottawa Ontario in 1975. I could not make out the road numbers of the other locomotives seen.

The station seen in the “then” picture is a pretty typical structure of the era. Many towns had similar stations at one time. The waiting room would be on the left by the bay window, the right side would be for express shipments and baggage and the upstairs, living quarters for the agent. By this date, it may have been empty or may have been used for storage. The last passenger trains through here were in the mid 1960s.

Thy water tower is a typical CPR octagonal style structure, and in the days of steam, nearly every town and junction had one just like this. The ball on the roof indicates the water level inside. In this case it’s showing close to full. That’s a bit odd since by the time of the picture CPR had loooong since retired its last steam locomotive and one would think they’d have drained the tank since it was no longer needed. These enclosed octagonal towers were seen across the CPR system and they were insulated and equipped with stoves to keep the water from freezing in the winter.

There are only a few of these left across the whole of Canada and interestingly nearby Cranbrook is home to one (see link below). This author has seen many pictures from the 1970s showing numerous other CPR water towers still in place, however not long after they seem to have quickly faded from the scene. Why they were kept so long after the last steam engines were retired (around 1960) is uncertain. Perhaps it was just a “get around to it” project.

Canada’s other national railway, the CNR, used a similar style enclosed water tower and some of these still exist in museums and other places.

Yahk sits very close to the US border.

There are two former hotels in town sitting not far from each other – both named Yahk – the Yahk Hotel and the New Yahk Hotel. The right one, The Yahk, seems to have closed recently, and the second building the former New Yahk, has been turned into apartments. The latter looks to be in rough shape on the outside, especially that crazy balcony, but perhaps it’s a palace inside (or maybe not). In any case, it’s good that it still exists but it could some TLC. Let’s hope someone finds use for the other.

To see some other then and now reports we’ve done, refer to any of these links…
Remote railway interlocking tower – then and now.
Then and now overlooking Wayne Alberta.
Nelson then and now.

To see the CPR octagonal water tower still standing in Cranbrook BC, click this link…
Canadian Pacific Railway octagonal water tower.

If you wish more information on this place, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: August 2012
Location: Yahk, BC.

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Yahk BC 1970s

Yahk in the early 1970s. Amazing that both the water tower and station still existed then.

Yahk BC 2012

The same view in 2012. On the left is the former New Yahk Hotel partially seen in the picture above.

Yalk BC railway water tower

The water tower foundation. Nothing could be found of the station.

CPR octagonal water tower

A close up of the concrete base.

New Yahk Hotel balcony

I am not sure how much time this balcony has.

New Yahk Hotel

The old New Yahk Hotel converted into apartments. It needs a little (heck a lot) of TLC.

Yahk Hotel

The Yahk Hotel looks to have only closed recently.

27 responses

  1. Brian Fazio says:

    Love the pictures, we moved from the house attached to the train station in 71. My Dad was the CP opperator there. Brian Fazio

  2. Chi says:

    Does anyone know what happened to the man who owned the jewelry store just past the bridge. He and his wife lived in a house separate from the store. She was disabled. They owned a Doberman dog named Daisy

  3. Chris Esau says:

    We are trying to save the Yahk hotel it needs a new roof please help at gofundme.com/hornyowl (broken link).

    • A good cause. Will be talking with the fellow soon we hope.

      • Tim says:

        My name is Tim and me and my family bought the Hotel Yahk and will be restoring it to its formal glory.
        U should stop in this summer and see how it is going.

        • Let’s chat sometime Tim. I was speaking earlier with an Arlen who I understand was working to save the building, but I’ve since lost contact with him. Are you connected?

        • Larry says:

          Hi Tim
          Larry from Craves Diner down the road. Come help when I can. Can you call me I don’t have your number? If you get this soon. If not I’ll come by see you soon.

      • Mel says:

        Hi! I am a little offended. Facts …. I am sure that the Old New Hotel has NEVER been converted into apartments. The Salon Hotel has! FYI ! If You would like some history I would love to share.

        • Sorry, not sure why. But suspect it’s because we said the one building needs a little TLC? It does, but that does not make it bad in our eyes, but simply that it’s in need of some attention. Not a disparaging comment at all but a statement of concern. Only the one former hotel (New Yahk) is said to be apartments. It sure looks that way. Not sure what the Salon Hotel is but, please helps us know more. We’re supposed to visit Yahk this year to tour the other Yahk Hotel with the present owners, and some other places locally, should it all pan out. Do fill us in when we’re in the area. Coffee’s on us.

  4. charlotte brenner says:

    my grandparents (Rose and Adolf Brenner) use to have the Brenner Cafe in Yahk…just wondering if anyone has any pictures of it?

  5. Gunnar Forsman says:

    Nice to see pics from old Yahk. Spent part of the summer of ’87 in there in ore prospecting. Stayed at a motel called Fiddlers Inn just south of centre. I believe we went for beers some times to the saloon at the Yahk hotel. Yeah and I have a Yahk ‘n back shirt as well at home in Finland ! Gunnar

    • Hi Gunnar,

      “I’ve been to Yahk ‘n’ back!”. a true classic. Funny, I also did prospecting in the region in 1983-1987. Why not tell us where you were working.

      Thanks for sharing.

    • Suz says:

      Does any one have history on any of the Kingsgate mining camps? My kids have found lots of old tools and other things on our property.

      • If you send us coordinates we might be able to dig up some tidbits. We do historical work for the ministry of mines in your province. Thanks for commenting.

  6. Brenda says:

    Love these old photos of Yahk, brings back memories of my growing up there.So sad that the tower & train station are gone now. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. 🙂

  7. APT says:

    I’ve been to Yahk and back I think my dad had a t-shirt like that once…

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