Othello, British Columbia

Othello is a locality in the lower Fraser Canyon area of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is located on the north side of the Coquihalla River, about 7 km (4.3 mi) east of Hope and 4 km (2.5 mi) west of the Coquihalla Highway, near Coquihalla Canyon Provincial Park.^[1]

Othello was founded during the construction of the Kettle Valley Railway (KV), a subsidiary of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In May 1915, the eastward advance of the KV rail head from the CN/KV crossing at Hope reached about 5 kilometres (3 mi) beyond Othello.^[2]

The naming of stations from Juliet west to Othello after characters in William Shakespeare's plays is generally attributed to Andrew McCulloch, the chief engineer and a Shakespeare enthusiast. Suggested alternative bestowers have been James J. Warren, the Kettle Valley Railway president, or one of the daughters of these men.^[3][4]

Tunnels Road runs along the former right-of-way. Once standing about 100 metres (328 ft) before the northward bend into the visitor carpark, the station comprised a small freight/passenger shelter. Passenger service began in July 1916.^[5] The section house, likely built in 1915, was swept downstream and destroyed by the floods in 1924 and 1932. A section crew was based at Othello 1916–1959.^[6]

Following extensive rail bed and bridge destruction within the canyon caused by floods, November 1959 was the final passenger service at Othello.^[7] The Coquihalla rail line was effectively abandoned and the tracks lifted in 1961 and 1962.^[8]