British Columbia. Railway Point
Canadian National Railway, SW of Torpy River
53.7167 N 120.9667 W — Map 93H/10 — Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1911 (GTP map)
Name officially adopted in 1983
Official in BC – Canada
Canadian National Railway, SW of Torpy River
53.7167 N 120.9667 W — Map 93H/10 — Google — GeoHack
Earliest known reference to this name is 1911 (GTP map)
Name officially adopted in 1983
Official in BC – Canada
141 miles west of the Yellowhead Pass on the Canadian National Railway
Mile 52 in Fraser Subdivision (McBride to Prince George as of 1977)
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway station built in 1914
Mile 52 in Fraser Subdivision (McBride to Prince George as of 1977)
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway station built in 1914
This railway point appears on:
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map [ca. 1912]
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway timetable 1914
Pre-emptor’s map Fort George 1G 1916
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map ca. 1918
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map 1919
Pre-emptor’s map Tête Jaune 3H 1919
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map [ca. 1912]
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway timetable 1914
Pre-emptor’s map Fort George 1G 1916
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map ca. 1918
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway map 1919
Pre-emptor’s map Tête Jaune 3H 1919
The station might recall Stuart Kidd (1883–1957), manager of Brazeau Trading Company in Nordegg (for whom Mount Kidd in Alberta was named in 1904), or perhaps his brother John Alfred (Fred) Kidd. See comments.
References:
- Holmgren, Eric J., and Holmgren, Patricia M. Over 2,000 place names of Alberta. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Modern Press, 1973. Internet Archive
I assume the Holmgren reference indicates one of the Kidd brothers as the basis for the Mt. Kidd name. Does this reference also mention Kidd station? If not, why might the naming of Kidd station be linked to Stuart or Fred Kidd?
Holmgren indicates Stuart Kidd as the basis for Mt. Kidd. Holmgren does not mention Kidd Station, since the book cited is only about Alberta. Yours is the only mention I have heard about the “Kidd brothers” or Fred Kidd. Do you have more information about the Kidd brothers?
Kidd was on the Grand Trunk Pacific line and Mt. Kidd on the Canadian Pacific line, consequently a name origin link appears spurious. From experience, I am skeptical of the accuracy of place name origins generally. I know for some BC places, I have come across archival newspaper articles from different eras indicating conflicting origins. I assume this is the case for the following:
Text favouring Stuart Kidd:
Boles, Glen W., Laurilla, Roger W., & Putnam, William L. (2006). CANADIAN MOUNTAIN PLACE NAMES The Rockies and Columbia Mountains, Rocky Mountain Books, p.144
“…There were two brothers of this name who ran the general store at the town of Morley. John Alfred Kidd did so from 1902 to 1907, but the summit was named for his brother Stuart (1883–1956), who ran the store for the next four years before moving on to Nordegg. Stuart was elected Chief Tah-Osa of the Stoneys in 1927.”
Texts favouring John Alfred (Fred) Kidd:
https://bivouac.com//MtnPg.asp?MtnId=1444
Kane, Alan. (2016). Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd edition. Rocky Mountain Books, p. 174
Holmgren, Eric J. & Patricia M. (1976). Over 2000 PLACE NAMES OF ALBERTA Third Edition. Western Producer Prairie Books, p. 148
“Although there is some uncertainty as to the origin of this name, it seems probable that it was after John Alfred Kidd…..”
(Seemingly, the Holmgrens corrected their earlier edition)
My grandfather Stuart Kidd was named after Mt. Kidd in Alberta.
Also he died in 1957 not 1956!
Scott Kidd