Kimberley's Underground Mining Railway Our History

Kimberley’s Underground Mining Railway is owned and operated by the “Sullivan Mine and Railway Historical Society.”

The “Sullivan Mine & Railway Historical Society” is a non-profit organization formed by the merger of the “Sullivan Mine Interpretive Centre Society” and the “Bavarian City Mining Railway Society.”
The railway originated with the idea of having a commuter train route from downtown Kimberley to the ski hill. In 1978 the Kimberley Steam Railway and Navigation Society was formed by a few men of vision who went to an abandoned mine at Salmo B.C. to obtain rails for the new project.
By July, 1984, the railway, named the Bavarian City Mining Railway, was operational and had a ridership of 4,681 passengers. The route consisted of a 2-½ kilometer track, which circled the Happy Hans Campground.
In 1995 the railway line was extended by five kilometres winding down the mountainside and through the Mark Creek Valley to the Downtown Station.
In 2004 the extension to the Kimberley Alpine Resort was completed.
In October, 2005, the immense undertaking of drilling a 750-foot tunnel was begun. This tunnel is located in the Mark Creek Valley and will house the Sullivan Mine Interpretive Centre. This project was jointly funded by the Canada/British Columbia Infrastructure Program and by Teck Cominco Ltd. The tunnel excavation was done by very experienced former Sullivan miners employed by Redding Mining of Kimberley.
In 2006, the BCMR volunteers constructed a new locomotive and are presently working on three new railcars to be used to take visitors on the extended route
During the fall of 2006 the final preparation of the railbed, laying of the rails, and construction of the underground facilities was completed.
An official opening ceremony will be held prior to the May 19 start of the 2007 tourist season.

Throughout the twenty plus years of operation, our goal has always been to continue to improve and enhance the mining train experience, to promote Kimberley’s unique history and to attract new visitors to the area.