The Coal Branch region encompasses a portion of the eastern slopes and foothills of the Canadian Rockies east of Jasper National Park.
It diverges from the main line at Bickerdike and runs south through Coalspur to the Lovett River, a distance of 57 miles (90 km).
A series of coal mining, railroad, and logging towns quickly developed along the route.
Going south from Bickerdike, they include McLeod River, Erith, Weald, Embarras, Robb, Coalspur, Diss, Sterco, Foothills and Lovetteville.
[2][page needed] A western branch that opened in the summer of 1913 diverges at Coalspur and extends 37 miles (60 km) to Mountain Park.