The Spiral Tunnels and the Spirit in Man

Birds build elaborate nests, ants dig intricate underground tunnels, and beavers construct dams to control water flow. These structures are incredible marvels of engineering that address particular challenges, but none truly match what mankind can accomplish. The ability of animals to make such structures is static—the basic architecture, construction methods, and materials are generally constant. They do not innovate; what they build is chiefly based on instinct or “programming.” In contrast, human engineering reflects a different capacity for adaptation, invention, and problem-solving. The Spiral Tunnels at Kicking Horse Pass, British Columbia, are an outstanding example of human ingenuity and perseverance, exceptional for their scale, historical significance, and engineering sophistication. That contrast is important.

When the nation of Canada was formed in the summer of 1867, it did not include all the vast area we consider Canada today. The province of British Columbia did not officially join Canada until 1871. To entice British Columbia to join Confederation, John A. Macdonald—the first Prime Minister of Canada—made a rather bold promise: a transcontinental railway connecting the country from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) was to be one of the most ambitious railways ever constructed. Upon its initial completion in 1885, it connected Port Moody, British Columbia, to Montreal, Quebec, with approximately 4,800 kilometres (3,000 miles) of track. It was a major impetus for Canada’s economic development and the crown jewel of Mr. Macdonald’s National Policy to forge a strong, viable country.

However, laying train tracks across such a large country as Canada was not without challenges, such as determining where to build the line through the interior of British Columbia. Prime Minister Macdonald might not have made such an audacious promise if he had fully understood the terrain involved, which includes three major mountain ranges: the Rockies, the Selkirks, and the Monashees.

Finding a route through the Canadian Rockies was particularly difficult. After an extensive surveying effort, it was decided to build in the area of Kicking Horse Pass. “Under government pressure to complete the railway, and given the engineering challenges that came along with the geography, Canadian Pacific (CP) was not in a position to carve a gradual descent” (“Spiral Tunnels,” Parks.Canada.ca). Yet, to expedite the project, a temporary solution was implemented; the result was a 4.5-percent grade that quickly became known as the Big Hill. Trains heading east up the hill required additional locomotives and fuel to provide the energy needed to climb the grade—very costly. Trains heading west down the hill relied on good brakes, the crew’s bravado, and a series of spur lines to divert runaway trains—extremely dangerous. There were many wrecks and derailments during the 25 years the “temporary solution” was operating. Obviously, something safer and cheaper was necessary.

Engineering the Loop

In 1906, Assistant Chief Engineer J.E. Schwitzer proposed that two looping tunnels be built, arranged in an elongated figure eight—doubling the track length and halving the grade. This would allow trains to effectively double back on themselves, gradually changing elevation within the constraints of the mountain valley. It was a novel solution to the problem, applying a proven technique used in Switzerland. Constructed between 1907 and 1909, the project involved a labour force of 1,000 and cost $1.5 million.

The Spiral Tunnels consist of two tunnels set 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) apart. An eastbound train enters the Lower Tunnel in Mount Ogden, turns left while travelling uphill along the curving tracks, and emerges from the tunnel 15 metres (50 feet) higher and now heading in a southerly direction. The train continues on a gentle grade, crossing over the Kicking Horse River toward the other side of the valley and the second tunnel. When it enters the Upper Tunnel in Cathedral Mountain, the train turns right, negotiates the gentle curve of the uphill track, and exits 17 metres (56 feet) higher, heading east to continue its cross-Canada journey. The process is reversed for trains travelling west. Together, the two spiral tunnels and the connecting tracks effectively reduce the grade to a manageable, safe, and economical 2.2 percent. They are the only tunnels of their kind in North America and symbolize Canadian engineering skill and the nation’s ability to overcome obstacles.

A Divine Difference

The reason mankind possesses such remarkable abilities above the animal world is explained in Scripture. Moses, inspired by God, explained that all creatures have been made and reproduce according to specific design criteria (Genesis 1:25). He then continues with an account of the creation of mankind: “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness’…. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (vv. 26–27).

While the animals were designed to reflect their own kinds, God chose very differently with humanity. The Creator explicitly says that He patterned mankind after Himself. As a result, we have been designed with deliberate intent—created in God’s image and likeness.

The implications of that design choice deserve more attention than they receive. Consider a child’s doll. That doll may have the general appearance of a baby—but how much is it really like a baby? The doll does not eat, sleep, cry, or bite. It does not need its diaper changed, nor will it wake up three times a night, crying and hungry. It does not truly laugh, smile, make cute noises, or cuddle, nor can it learn or think. It has no concept of morality, no intellectual or creative abilities. It is an outer imitation, but lacks the inner richness that is a hallmark of human existence.

How about the growing field of artificial intelligence? The situation here is reversed. We’ve created systems that imitate our intelligence, but lack the embodied image God has given us. They, too, are an imitation, not the whole.

This contrast helps illustrate the difference more clearly. The biblical account of mankind’s creation stresses that, unlike any other part of creation, we are uniquely designed to reflect God. That makes us truly different from the other physical creatures God has made. There is something in our design that differentiates us from the animals and allows us to possess capacities that reflect our Creator.

A passage in Job offers insight into this difference. God, speaking through Job’s friend Elihu, states that “there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding” (Job 32:8). A similar sentiment is echoed in the words of the Apostle Paul: “For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:11).

Being made in God’s image and likeness gives us the ability to face and overcome complex engineering challenges—as well as any of life’s obstacles—with creativity, ingenuity, and perseverance. This is the lesson the Spiral Tunnels help illustrate. To find out more about the spirit in man and why we have been designed in both the image and likeness of God, you can order our free booklet What Is the Meaning of Life? from the Regional Office closest to you. You can also read or listen to it online right here at TomorrowsWorld.org.