CPR’s Branchline Below Water A Story of the Now-Submerged Arrow Lake Track

The last man who ran steam on the Arrowhead branchline was the late Jack Buller, who died in 2023 at age 98. He was on the fireman’s spare board in 1946-49, and shared these memories of firing CP 444:

“She was easy to keep the steam up . . . burning coal, firebox door had a latch and chain to pull to open, shovel in some coal and get back on my seat. Turning the engine on the turntable was an all hands event. The trip was a lot of fun; whistle blowing, waving at the locals, old 444 rocking to port and starboard at 20 mph and loving it . . . Toonerville Trolley stuff.”