Nakusp and Slocan Railway

Steamboat connections on Upper Arrow Lake, were northward from Nakusp to a spur from the CP main line at Revelstoke.

[2] In July 1893, D. McGillivray, manager of the Inland Development & Construction Co., the principal contractor, commenced work.

[3][4] Progressing southeastward, the rail head from Nakusp reached Rosebery in August 1894[5] and Three Forks that October.

[6] The advance of the K&S toward Sandon, the vicinity of the most important mines, prompted the N&S to also extend 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi)[6] to that destination.

[8] Initially offering lower rates than the N&S, the K&S carried over 80 per cent of Slocan ore,[9] but the proximity of track to the mines determined the carrier in most instances.

[11] From 1897, the Rosebery–Slocan City ferry southward across Slocan Lake linked to the CP Columbia and Kootenay Railway (C&K).

[13] To avoid difficult grades on the main line, much eastbound freight was diverted to the route during the early 1900s.

Bypassing New Denver, a 2.5 per cent climb followed Carpenter Creek terminating at Three Forks, situated over 800 feet (244 m) below Payne Bluff.