Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Old Steam Shovel/Moffat Bridge/CN Railway Bridge In Quesnel British Columbia (7 - Pictures)


Above Photo: Moffat Bridge. The first bridge across the Fraser River at Quesnel was built in 1928 and opened in the Spring of 1929. This bridge served the area until it was replaced by the present Moffat Bridge in 1970.

Also In The Above Photo: The replica of a Cornish water wheel was donated by W.H.Boyd of Cottonwood House. This replica of the Cariboo gold rush was dedicated by Governor Randolph Bruce in 1930.

As we drove through Quesnel I spotted an old steam shovel that is located in Ceal Tingley Park. I slowed the car down and got off of the main Highway and onto a side road and then into a parking lot in the park. It was just awesome, the shovel was used in the early 1900s at the Bullion Mine which was owned by the Cariboo Hydraulic Mining Company. From what I read, it was used to dig a trench from Spanish Lake to the Bullion Mine. The Bullion Mine. was later closed in 1912. 



Above Photo: An old steam shovel that was used by the Cariboo Hydraulic Mining Company.



Above Photo: Riveted boilers and other iron parts from the Upper Fraser River's first river-boat are displayed here at the east end of the old Fraser river bridge. The S.S. Enterprise travelled into Omenica country to Stuart Lake and was left to rot there. These metal remains were returned to Quesnel in 1977.

Below text (History) from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The name is derived from Jules Maurice Quesnel, who accompanied Simon Fraser on his journey to the Pacific Ocean. Quesnel came to be called 'Quesnellemouth' to distinguish it from 'Quesnel Forks', 97 kilometres (60 mi) up river. 


Above Photo: When looking at any of my pictures, you can click on each of them for a larger view.

In 1870 it had been shortened to Quesnelle and by 1900 it was spelled the way it is now. Quesnel is located along the gold mining trail known as the Cariboo Wagon Road and was the commercial centre of the Cariboo Gold Rush. It also marks one end of the Alexander MacKenzie Heritage Trail. Because of its location on the Fraser River it was also an important landing for sternwheelers during 1862 until 1886 and then from 1909 until 1921.


Above And Below Photos: This is the CN Railway bridge.


The last sternwheeler on the upper Fraser was Quesnel's own namesake craft, and home town product, the Quesnel. Quesnel was incorporated in 1928.

When your planning your trip to Quesnel, British Columbia, make sure you contact, or drop into Tourism Quesnel for all the information you will need to make your holiday a memorial one.

Tourism Quesnel Website:


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