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All Canada British Columbia Whistler Whistler Train Wreck
AO Edited

Whistler Train Wreck

The remains of a Canadian train crash are now mouldering beneath layers of rust and graffiti.

Whistler, British Columbia

Added By
Philip Ries
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Whistler Train Wreck   Whistler Train Wreck
Whistler Train Wreck   Whistler Train Wreck
Whistler Train Wreck   teachandlearn on Flickr
  mhansen721 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Located along a hiking trail south of Whistler, British Columbia are a handful of crushed train cars that derailed from some nearby tracks and were left to rot away among the lush Canadian greenery. 

It was in 1956 that the train was speeding down the tracks with a load too heavy, going over twice as fast as it was supposed to. Given these factors, one of the cars curled one of the tracks and the train partly derailed, grinding to a halt. The damaged cars were not flung from the tracks but had to be hauled off in a clean-up operation that moved the wrecks deeper into the forest. Since the surrounding wildlife was not majorly damaged or destroyed, the cars were nearly instantly buried and hidden in the overgrowth. 

Since the crash, the cars have become a favorite spot for graffiti artists and hikers looking to take in a bit of lovely ruination. 

In 2013, the site came to the attention of local authorities as access to the site trespassed on government land and required crossing the train tracks which is illegal. Visitors attempting to access the site were ticketed.

In response to the popularity of the site, an official trail and suspension bridge was built to access the wreck in 2016. 

Related Tags

Trains Railroads Graffiti Hidden

Know Before You Go

A parking lot for the trail is located on Whistler Quarry Road. The hike is an easy two kilometers with a suspension bridge to cross the river.

Community Contributors

Added By

philipries

Edited By

KasiaWanders, EricGrundhauser, mhansen721

  • KasiaWanders
  • EricGrundhauser
  • mhansen721

Published

March 16, 2015

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Sources
  • http://whistlerhiatus.com/whistlerhikes/train-wreck.html
  • http://www.whistlerquestion.com/opinion/columnists/setting-the-story-straight-on-whistler-s-train-wreck-1.962088
  • http://www.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/train-wreck-access-under-review/Content?oid=2455791
  • https://www.outdoorvancouver.ca/whistler-train-wreck-hike/
Whistler Train Wreck
1001 Sea-to-Sky Highway
Whistler, British Columbia, V0N 1B2
Canada
50.10306, -122.988204
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Mushroom House

Whistler, British Columbia

miles away

Parkhurst Ghost Town

Whistler, British Columbia

miles away

Stawamus Chief

Squamish, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Whistler

Whistler

British Columbia

Places 4

Nearby Places

The Mushroom House

Whistler, British Columbia

miles away

Parkhurst Ghost Town

Whistler, British Columbia

miles away

Stawamus Chief

Squamish, British Columbia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Whistler

Whistler

British Columbia

Places 4

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