Walhachin is an unincorporated community in the Thompson Country region of south central British Columbia, Canada. The place is on a south shore bench of the Thompson River between Brassey and Jimmie creeks. The locality, off BC Highway 1, is by road about northeast of Spences Bridge, east of Cache Creek, and west of Kamloops.
Topography
At the end of the Last Glacial Period (LGP), a lake covered the valley. At the mouths of Deadman and Brassey creeks, large sand and gravel deltas formed. The Bonaparte River, which then drained eastward, deposited silt on the valley floor. The lowering lake reduced the deltas, revealed the terraces, and allowed the Thompson to carve a channel to flow westward. Later erosion in the drainage basins of the Brassey and Upper Ranch creeks overlaid these sand and gravel areas with fertile deposits.
The area is about wide stretching along the river. The plateaus set the north–south limits. A First Nations reserve to the east and then unavailable land to the west set the longitudinal limits.
Earlier settlements
In 1858, the arrival of placer miners transformed the river edges and prompted the displacement of First Nations in the vicinity. Evidence of former indigenous winter quarters is visible along the terraces. In 1868, the Skeetchestn Band reserve on Deadman Creek was surveyed.
Experiencing the vegetation associated with semi-arid conditions of Western North America, the land was most suited to cattle ranching. In 1865, John Wilson pre-empted property to the west on the north shore for winter grazing. He expanded his herd to thousands of cattle, unlike the pre-emptors, who had preceded him. On the south shore central parts, J.B. Greaves abandoned his herd in 1867, returned in the spring, and settled. Adjacent to his east, he also gained title to the Tingley property in 1872. He greatly expanded his holdings eastward in 1879.
On the south shore opposite Wilson, Charles Pennie pre-empted in 1870, acquiring and leasing more property over the following years. By 1876, he remained the only permanent settler west of Greaves. Overgrazing transformed the natural bunchgrass to sagebrush and cactus. Possessing water rights on Brassey Creek and storage at Twin Lakes, Pennie developed a apple orchard, having potential far exceeding the general area. After Charles died in 1900, his widow was open to selling the ranch. By this time, of hay was also under irrigation.
Railways
Canadian Pacific
In December 1884, the eastward advance of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) rail head from Port Moody passed through the locality.
Erected in 1884, the standard-design (Bohi's Type 5) single-storey station building with gable roof and dormers (identical to Keefers) was sold in 1965.
In 1908, CP installed a wye. The station was at the highest point on the line west of Craigellachie. Consequently, 60-car freight trains were split into 30-car units for separate hauling up the steep grade from North Bend.
In 1910, a freighthopper died in an unspecified accident.
In 1911, CP built an engine house and plastered the station. On being evicted from a freight train that year, several freighthoppers hurled rocks at the train drawing a response in kind from the crew. The offenders were later arrested.
In 1914, a freighthopper suffered a crushed arm and foot on being run over either when boarding or departing a CP train. Months later, an escaping jewels thief attempted to board a passing CP train but instead sustained scalp wounds and fell dazed beside the track.
In 1920, a CP train struck a man riding a horse along the track, causing severe injuries.
In 1921, one defendant received three years and the other two and a half years for breaking into a CP baggage car near Walhachin.
In 1927, the charge from a lightening bolt travelling along the wire to the headphones of the CP telegraph operator briefly knocked him unconscious.
In 1932, an eastbound train carrying a CP superintendent ran into a rockslide. That year, transients completely burned five boxcars at Semlin. Semlin is named for Charles Augustus Semlin.
In 1936, a fire burned the CP water tower, three telegraph poles, and some ties. The tank infrastructure was rebuilt.
In 1948, automatic block signalling (ABS) was installed.
In 1955, the partial derailment of an eastbound CP passenger train caused no injuries.
In 1976, 28 westbound CP wheat cars derailed at Semlin, with four falling about into the Thompson.
In 1985, protests lodged after CP removed a private crossing over four tracks was resolved by a relocated crossing over a single track.