The Walhachin Quarry is located on the south side of the Canadian Pacific Rail mainline, across from the village of Walhachin. The ballast quarry is owned and operated by CP Rail but production statistics are not available.

Rock types within the proposed quarry site of the Walhachin East area are similar to those seen within the Walhachin quarry and consist of basaltic tuff, intermediate to mafic lapilli tuff, banded calcareous intermediate tuff and breccia. The volcanic rocks are part of the Upper Triassic Nicola Group. Unlike the main quarry, limestone and calcareous limestone breccia lithologies are rare in the Walhachin East area.

The intermediate to mafic lapilli tuff is excellent primary ballast with very high toughness and hardness. The interlocking welded nature of the individual fragments make for a well indurated, hard and tough rock. In the Walhachin East test area the calcareous intermediate tuff has a high hardness with moderate to high toughness. The calcareous nature of the tuff will reduce the toughness of the rock. Where the calcareous tuff is present in proportions of less than 25 per cent, the unit is expected to produce primary ballast, however, where it comprises more than 25 per cent, secondary ballast will be produced. Three bulk samples were taken from the proposed quarry in the Walhachin East site. Physical test results and abrasion numbers of 14.9, 17.4 and 19.8 will produce over 20 years ballast (Assessment Report 22950).

In 1992, a feasibility study on behalf of CP Rail focused on an area east of the existing quarry, known as the Walhachin East site. The investigation evaluated the potential of the site as a ballast source and consisted of diamond drilling 5 holes totalling 487 metres, 3 overburden test pits and 3 bulk samples.