Othello, British Columbia
Locality in British Columbia, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Othello is a locality in the lower Fraser Canyon area of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the north side of the Coquihalla River, about 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Hope and 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the Coquihalla Highway, near Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park.[1]
Othello | |
|---|---|
Locality | |
  Othello Location of Othello in British Columbia | |
| Coordinates: 49°22′59″N 121°21′4″W | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Fraser Canyon |
| Regional District | Fraser Valley |
| Area codes | 250, 778, 236, & 672 |
| Highways |  Highway 5 |
Othello was founded during the construction of the Kettle Valley Railway (KV), a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In May 1915, the eastward advance of the KV rail head from the CN/KV crossing at Hope reached about 5 kilometres (3 mi) beyond Othello.[2]
The naming of stations from Juliet west to Othello after characters in William Shakespeare's plays is generally attributed to Andrew McCulloch, the chief engineer and a Shakespeare enthusiast. Suggested alternative bestowers have been James J. Warren, the Kettle Valley Railway president, or one of the daughters of these men.[3][4]
Tunnels Road runs along the former right-of-way. Once standing about 100 metres (328 ft) before the northward bend into the visitor carpark, the station comprised a small freight/passenger shelter. Passenger service began in July 1916.[5] The section house, likely built in 1915, was swept downstream and destroyed by the floods in 1924 and 1932. A section crew was based at Othello 1916–1959.[6]
Following extensive rail bed and bridge destruction within the canyon caused by floods, November 1959 was the final passenger service at Othello.[7] The Coquihalla rail line was effectively abandoned and the tracks lifted in 1961 and 1962.[8]
