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The Dolly Varden
Mine Railway was an 18 mile long narrow gauge (36”) railway
built in rugged mountains of Northern British Columbia at the
end of WW1. It services the Dolly Varden Mine, containing some
of the richest deposits of silver ore ever found. Regular
silver ore yielded 63 ounces of silver / ton; high grade ore was
yielding 1280 ounces of silver / ton. The mine consisted of a
camp at the top of the railroad with an ore tipple and a
powerhouse, and ended on a wharf and a large ore bunker on the
shores of Alice Arm. It's
history is short, having only existed from 1917 to its eventual
closure in 1921.
The history of the Dolly Varden would have been lost without
its story being captured forever by the author Darryl E. Muralt in the
book “Steel Rails and Silver Dreams.” Highly
recommend you get a copy of this book if you want to learn more.
There are many more photos and diagrams within the book.
The main reason for this website was to add material that is not
in the book that was discovered after the book was published.
Why would a railway
of such short livelihood warrant any attention? One of the
strongest reasons is that it was professionally photographed by
the Dominion Photo Company, which preserved details of the
primary structures of the Dolly Varden. Blueprints of the railway and structures are
preserved.
The Dream is still alive. Dolly
Varden Silver Corporation still owns the rights to the mine, and
is actively exploring the area and rebuilding the access road to
the mine over the former railroad right of way. The
railroad may be gone, but the silver still is waiting to be
released.
Latest Updates: March 27, 2022 Added
colourized photos of the Vancouver Public library pics Sept. 1, 2019 Added pictures
from tour of Alice Arm / Kitsault 2019 and City of Vancouver
Archives June 11, 2017 Added pictures
from 1971 Cringan August 6, 2016 Added more
Pics to Reid Layout July 5 / 15 Added 1 more
Vancouver Public Library Pics / Upgraded Others / Edited VPL
Pictures database May 14 / 15 Added 4 more
Vancouver Public Library Pics / Edited VPL Pictures database /
Added DV resources / Added DV Layout Feb 21 / 15 Added pictures
from Dan Pickard / John Hunter of their beautiful On30 layout
from Australia Jan 31/15 Added more
pictures from Brian / new pictures from Frank Godde MMR / added some links / corrected VPL
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