Description of Historic Place

The wreck site of the CPR Barge #20 is located in Okanagan Lake on the north side of Fintry Provincial Park near Vernon, British Columbia. The remains of the vessel sit upright on the bottom of lake in 20 m of water.

British Columbia's Heritage Conservation Act automatically protects all heritage wrecks, including the remains of all wrecked vessels and aircraft once two or more years have passed since the date of loss. It is illegal to damage, alter or remove a heritage object from a heritage wreck except under a permit issued by the Archaeology Branch.

Heritage Value

The CPR Barge #20 wreck site has historic and recreational value as an example of an all-wood railway transfer barge in good condition, which is at an accessible location for exploration by divers.

The CPR Barge #20 is valued for its historic association with the transportation and shipment of goods over water in British Columbia. CPR Barge #20 was built at Okanagan Landing in 1945 and weighed 400 tons. The all-wood hull was 195 ft long, 36 ft wide and 7 ft deep. The purpose of the barge was to transfer up to eight railcars on two sets of parallel tracks on the top deck. The deck could also be used to move up to 700 tons of bulk materials such as ore samples, lumber, fruit and equipment. The CPR Barge #20 was no longer needed in the early 1970s due to the completion of various railway and highway projects in southern B.C. After being used briefly as a boat gas station, general store and temporary moorage, the barge filled with water and sank at its current location in the early 1990s.

Divers value the CPR Barge #20 due to the easy access from shore, the good condition of the hull, the barge construction, decking mooring posts, and elements of the hog post system visible at the wreck site.

Character-Defining Elements

The key elements that define the heritage character of the CPR Barge #20 include:

- Remains of the all-wood hull
- Decking mooring posts
- Elements of the hog post system
- Remnants of the barge's construction materials