Ghostrider Express & Corridor

The idea

Ghostrider Express is Troy Hunter’s own vision for all-electric passenger travel between the Bow Valley and the Kootenays. It is not a project of any First Nation, rail company or government. No endorsement, partnership, funding, land access, power supply or operating agreement is implied.

Why Ghostrider?

On summer evenings, as the sun drops, a shadow shaped like a horse and rider appears on the face of Mount Hosmer above Fernie (ȼaqawuʔkǂuʔnam), BC, near k̓aqawakanmituk (Michel and Sparwood). Locals call it the Ghostrider.

A so-called legend grew up around it: that William Fernie promised to marry a chief’s daughter in return for learning where her coal necklace came from, broke that promise, and that a curse of fire, flood and famine followed. The story was later tied to Fernie’s fires of 1904 and 1908, the 1916 flood and a 1964 “curse-lifting” ceremony.

Many versions exist. It is a popular settler-era story, not Ktunaxa teaching; Ktunaxa perspectives on it differ, and curses are not part of Ktunaxa tradition. Troy’s Ghostrider Express takes its name from the shadow on the mountain, and Fernie is one of the stops on the route he imagines.

The route concept

Troy imagines a Bow Valley connection near Mînî Thnî (Morley), with possible routing through Kananaskis or the Raven’s Nest (Crowsnest Pass), then through the Elk Valley, with stops at k̓aqawakanmituk (Michel/Sparwood) and Fernie, into the Rocky Mountain Trench. These are ideas for discussion, not agreed routes or connections to another rail service.

Troy imagines that a future circle route could one day include k̓unanuqǂiʔit (Kootenay Plains) in Alberta — an idea for discussion only, not a planned stop or an agreed connection.

Troy’s route ideas follow old roads. As he writes, many Ktunaxa travel and trade routes aren’t lost in the forest; they’re largely paved over. Troy notes that in 1845, Father De Smet’s journey through Ktunaxa homelands took him from Tobacco Plains (ʔakinkumǂasnuqǂiʔit) north to the Columbia Lakes (ʔa·kisq̓nuk), through what is now Kootenay National Park and on to Banff.

The local corridor

ʔaq̓am – Cranbrook – Kimberley

Troy’s concept explores local transport and tourism connections between ʔaq̓am, Cranbrook (ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit), St. Eugene, the Canadian Rockies International Airport and Kimberley. These are geographic references and imagined destinations, not project partners or confirmed stops.

Phase one: a local electric line

Troy imagines the electric line could begin close to home. His concept would draw on solar potential to power a local electric passenger commuter rail for residents and visitors. In his vision, one system would link Wardner (k̓uǂaqaq̓yuqunuk), at the top of Koocanusa Reservoir, with Cranbrook (ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit), St. Eugene Mission Resort at ʔaq̓am—where he sees that solar potential—the Canadian Rockies International Airport, the Bavarian City of Kimberley and Kimberley Ski Resort. This is an idea for discussion, not a plan, and no partner, funding or endorsement is implied.

Imagined stops: Wardner · k̓uǂaqaq̓yuqunuk → Cranbrook · ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit → St. Eugene Mission Resort at ʔaq̓am → Canadian Rockies International Airport → Kimberley → Kimberley Ski Resort.