{{Short description|Railway station in British Columbia, Canada}} {{Infobox station | name=Ashcroft | style = Via Rail | image= | image_caption= | address=Caribou Rd, Ashcroft, BC | country=Canada | coordinates={{coord|50.7298|-121.2760|type:railwaystation_region:CA|display=inline,title}} | line = <!-- line information is detailed under "services" --> | other= | structure= Sign post | platform=1 side platform | tracks=1 | parking= | bicycle= | baggage_check= | passengers= | pass_year= | pass_percent= | pass_system= | opened= | closed= | rebuilt= | electrified= | accessible= | code= | owned= | zone= | former= | services= {{Adjacent stations|system1=Via Rail|line1=Canadian|left1=North Bend|right1=Kamloops North|oneway-left1=yes|line2=Canadian|left2=Boston Bar|right2=Kamloops North}} | other_services_header = Former services | other_services_collapsible = yes | other_services= {{adjacent stations|system1=Via Rail |line1=Super Continental|left1=Hope|right1=Kamloops North |system2=Canadian National Railway|line2=Main|left2=Basque|right2=McAbee}} | mpassengers= | map_type = British Columbia#Canada | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 13 }}

'''Ashcroft station''' is on the Canadian National Railway mainline in Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada. There is no actual building or place of shelter - VIA Rail says the station type is a signpost. The stopping point is located on the north side of the Thompson River (in North Ashcroft, opposite the main Ashcroft town site). The station is served by Via Rail's ''The Canadian'' as a flag stop (48-hour advance notice required).<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/stations/rockies-and-pacific/Ashcroft| title=Ashcroft train station| website=Via Rail}}</ref>

==History== In summer 1884, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) built a log bunkhouse and station at the new townsite.<ref name=18Jun82>{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Ashcroft&f_pub=-1&f_year=1982&f_month=6&f_day=18 |page=Z6 |title=Kamloops News |date=18 Jun 1982 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}</ref> The structure was the standard-design (Bohi's Type 5) single-storey station building with gable roof and dormers (identical to Keefers).<ref name=Bohi>{{cite book|last1=Bohi |first1=Charles W. |last2=Kozma |first2=Leslie S. |page=130 |title=Canadian Pacific's Western Depots |publisher=South Platte Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-942035-25-9}}</ref> In early December, the eastward advance of the CP rail head from Port Moody passed through the townsite.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/dbc/1.0345726#p2z-2r0f:%22track%22 |page=3 |title=British Columbian |date=26 Nov 1884 |website=library.ubc.ca}}</ref> Initially called St. Cloud by the railway (after St. Cloud, the access point to the Red River Trails on the Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad),<ref>{{Cite book |author=Corporation of the Village of Ashcroft |title=Bittersweet Oasis, A History of Ashcroft 1885–2002 |year=2002 |publisher=Corporation of the Village of Ashcroft | isbn=1-55056-875-2|page=15}}</ref> the name did not last. The post office, which opened in 1886, was named Ashcroft Station.<ref name=PMAsh>{{cite web |url=https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=posoffposmas&IdNumber=27390 |title=Postmasters (Ashcroft Station) |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca|date=25 November 2016 }}</ref> However, the settlement was equally known as Barnes.<ref name=14Mar87>{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0062543#p2z-3r0f:%22bridge%22 |pages=1, 3, 12 (403, 405, 414) |title=Return: Ashcroft Bridge |date=14 Mar 1887 |website=library.ubc.ca}}</ref>

In 1960, the station was replaced.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-new-via-station/147412482 |page=3 |title=Journal (Ashcroft) |date=11 Aug 1987 | website=www.newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/chungphotos/1.0220000?v=oc |title=Ashcroft C.P.R. railroad station |website=library.ubc.ca}}</ref> The present mobile station building dates from about 2020. The CP Ashcroft passing track is {{convert|8645|ft|km|1|order=flip}}.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.okthepk.ca/foamerFiles/25thompson.htm |title=CP Thompson Subdivision |website=www.okthepk.ca}}</ref>

In February 1912, the {{convert|800|ft|m|0|adj=on|order=flip}} Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) tunnel at Black Canyon was virtually completed.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Ashcroft&f_pub=-1&f_year=1912&f_month=3&f_day=1 |page=A4 |title=Merritt Herald |date=1 Mar 1912 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}</ref>

The Ashcroft flag stop, identified only by a pole in the ground, serves Via Rail's The Canadian.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/rockies-and-pacific/ashcroft | title=Ashcroft train station | website=www.viarail.ca}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed-hover"> File:Ashcroft CP Station 1899.jpg|CP Station, Ashcroft, 1899 Canadian Northern Pacific (CN) Railroad Last Spike.jpg|1915 last spike plaque, near Basque File:CPR GE AC4400CW Ashcroft - Kamloops.jpg|Westward view of CN bridge and CP Terminal (background), Ashcroft, 2011 </gallery>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ashcroft Railway Station}} Category:Via Rail stations in British Columbia