The Railways as Parents of a City The building of three railways as the primary catalyst for the birth of the City of Red Deer Central Alberta Historical

The Railways as The Railways as Parents of a CityParents of a City

The building of three railways as the primary catalyst for the birth of the City of Red Deer

Central Alberta Historical Society Red Deer May 15, 2013

The North-South The North-South CorridorCorridor

The City of Red Deer owes its location and position as the transportation and distribution centre of Central Alberta to a great extent to the building of and decisions made by the various railways in its early years

Other communities in Central Alberta often prospered or perished, as well as their locations determined by the coming of the railway

For more than 60 years, the railway stations in numerous communities were the focal point for transportation and communication, and to some extent, the social and business fabric of towns large and small

ProloguePrologue


Part of an ancient natural ice-free corridor as last ice age was ending 10,000 years ago

First inhabitants around 3,000 BC

Includes several First Nations north-south transportation corridors

Abundance of water, timber, wildlife

Ancient Old North Trail extends from southern U.S. to Alaska through Central Alberta


Old North Trail loosely-defined series of foot paths that had winter and summer routes used by First Nations tribes and later by fur traders

Central branch crossed Red Deer River at ‘The Crossing’ west of Red Deer or alternately near Innisfail

West branch along foothills of Rockies Wolf Track extended from Edmonton

area to near present-day Lacombe to Rocky Mountain House

North-South CorridorNorth-South Corridor

In the south, trade route developed from Fort Benton, Montana to Fort Whoop-Up (Lethbridge)

NWMP arrived 1875, set up Fort MacLeod and Fort Calgary, linking the two posts with a trail using portions of Old North Trail

Little to no settlement in Central Alberta

East-West CorridorEast-West Corridor

Fur trading posts and missions developed along the North Saskatchewan River corridor using river to move goods

Carlton Trail linked Winnipeg and Edmonton

Settlements developed at Fort Edmonton, St. Albert, Fort Saskatchewan, Rocky Mountain House and several other locations along corridor

Beginnings of Beginnings of the the

Calgary-Calgary-Edmonton TrailEdmonton Trail McDougalls built crude

450-km road from Edmonton to Morley 1873 via Red Deer Crossing and Lone Pine (near Bowden)

NWMP built road from Fort Calgary to Lone Pine 1875 (now Hwy 2)

Evolution of Evolution of the the

Calgary-Calgary-Edmonton TrailEdmonton Trail

C & E Trail becomes extension of Fort Benton trade route through Fort MacLeod to Fort Calgary to Fort Edmonton

Arrival of the Arrival of the CPR CPR

in Albertain Alberta

Northern Route Northern Route IdentifiedIdentified

Original proposed route of transcontinental railway was surveyed farther north than ultimately located where there were already settlements and the area was more suitable for agricultural development; route located south of South Saskatchewan River and north of Battle River; telegraph line built

Southern route ultimately chosen, in part to discourage U.S. railways from branching northward

Arrival of CPR in CalgaryArrival of CPR in Calgary

The Canadian Pacific Railway reaches Calgary in 1883.

Arrival of CPR in CalgaryArrival of CPR in Calgary

Wagons line up to deliver goods north to Edmonton as Calgary-Edmonton Trail gains significance and replaces Carlton Trail to move goods and people from eastern communities

The Calgary-The Calgary-Edmonton TrailEdmonton Trail

Red Deer CrossingRed Deer Crossing

The Calgary-Edmonton Trail gains significance in 1883 but still very few settlers between Calgary and Edmonton

Small community begins at Red Deer Crossing 1883

Series of stopping houses develop along trail including Lone Pine, Poplar Grove, Cache Creek, Blindman and Bartlett’s

The Calgary-Edmonton The Calgary-Edmonton TrailTrail

Crude stagecoach service carries mail, goods and passengers 1883-91

Trip takes 4 to 5 days requiring use of stopping houses along the way

One-way fare $25 (a good wage was $2 per day)

Key Decision Key Decision Makers that Makers that

formed formed Red DeerRed Deer’s future’s future

John T. MooreJohn T. Moore

Managing Director of the Saskatchewan Land and Homestead Company. Visits Red Deer 1881. Company purchases 115,000 acres of land around Red Deer in 1882 at $2/acre

Moves to Red Deer in 1901 and secures charter for Alberta Central Railway

Elected to Legislative Assembly 1905

Rev. Leonard GaetzRev. Leonard Gaetz

Arrives in Red Deer in 1884 from Ontario as an agent for the Saskatchewan Land and Homestead Company. First to homestead at current townsite near mouth of Waskasoo Creekwith wife and 10 children. Purchased surrounding land to increase property to 1200 acres.

James RossJames Ross

Manager of contracting company hired in 1883 to complete CPR from Swift Current to Craigellachie, BC

President of Calgary and Edmonton Railway Co. and Calgary and Edmonton Land Co.

President of Dominion Bridge Co.

William Mackenzie & William Mackenzie & Donald MannDonald Mann

Partnered with James Ross and Herbert Holt to built several railways including Calgary and Edmonton Railway.

Began railway network in Western Canada in 1895 which would become Canadian Northern Railway

The Calgary and The Calgary and Edmonton Edmonton

RailwayRailway

The C & E The C & E RailwayRailway

First charter in 1885 New charter 1890 Principals included

James Ross, Herbert Holt, William Mackenzie, Donald Mann

3 crossing of Red Deer and Blindman Rivers surveyed (The Crossing, mouth of Blindman River, west of Innisfail)

The Calgary & Edmonton The Calgary & Edmonton RailwayRailway

James Ross accepted proposal by Rev. Leonard Gaetz for half-interest in his property for townsite and bridge crossing

Rail line built from Calgary to south of Red Deer by November 1890 (4 months)

First lots went on sale in new townsite January 1891

Settlers at Crossing moved to new townsite


Timber bridge built across Red Deer River 1890-91


Rail line completed to Strathcona July 1891 (no direct connection with Edmonton)


C&E Railway was built with the intention of leasing it out to an operator (presumably CPR)

CPR leased line for 6 years with option to renew

CPR assumed operation of the C&E August 1891, named communities and built facilities for operation


Combination station and freight house built 1891 in 3 weeks to replace temporary boxcar

Similar stations built at Innisfail, Olds, Lacombe, Ponoka and other towns (including south of Calgary) to replace small temporary stations or boxcars

The Calgary-Edmonton The Calgary-Edmonton CorridorCorridor


First passenger trains ranbetween Red Deer and Calgary in the spring of 1891

Regular passenger service between Red Deer and Edmonton starts 1892

Travel time reduced to 12 hours by train from 4 days by stagecoach

One way fare $10 Calgary-Edmonton (Strathcona)

Mail service by rail marked end of stagecoach service on Calgary and Edmonton Trail

Red Deer Red Deer Becomes Railway Becomes Railway

TownTown


By 1900, the C&E Railway is the most profitable railway of its size in Canada

Population of Red Deer in 1901 at 323, similar to or smaller than, populations of Lacombe and Innisfail

In 1905 CPR expands Red Deer yards and opens two branchlines originating in Red Deer – Lacombe to Alix and Wetaskiwin to Camrose

Red Deer population mushrooms to 1,500

The C & E The C & E Railway Railway

ExpansionExpansion Lacombe to Alix

branch extended to Stettler 1906 with immediate passenger service to Red Deer

Wetaskiwin to Camrose extended to Hardisty in 1906, crew originates at Red Deer


Ornamental station park gets started 4-stall roundhouse and stockyard built 1906


Upgrades to facilities included 70-foot turntable and expansion of roundhouse to 10 stalls

Construction of elevated gravitational timber coal tipple 1907 dominated skyline

CPR became primary employer, customer and supplier for town and remained so for decades

Competition for Competition for the CPRthe CPR

Canadian Canadian NorthernNorthern

Mackenzie and Mann acquire Edmonton, Yukon and Pacific Railway 1898; built Low Level Bridge 1900

Canadian Northern Railway (created by Mackenzie and Mann 1899) links with Strathcona 1902

East-west CNor line reaches Edmonton 1905

Canadian Canadian NorthernNorthern

Canadian Pacific signs 999 year lease with C&E Railway 1901 to prevent takeover by Canadian Northern

CNor incorporates Alberta Midland and Canadian Northern Western Railways 1909

Red Deer Red Deer Becomes CPR Becomes CPR Division PointDivision Point


Various improvements since 1905 indicate something big on the horizon

CPR negotiated arrangement with town for double the amount of water

Red Deer officially announced as divisional point in 1908 establishing Red Deer as the distribution and transportation centre of Central Alberta


Preparation for new bridge started in 1906

New 2-span steel bridge (300 ft) replaced 3-span timber bridge 1908


New station built at head of Ross Street 1910


New station, relocated original station used for freight house, and ornamental park (elevated gravitational coal chutes in background)

The Alberta The Alberta Central RailwayCentral Railway

Alberta Central RailwayAlberta Central Railway

ACR chartered 1901, led by John T. Moore, with headquarters in Red Deer

Yellowhead Pass to Moose Jaw and Hudson Bay via Red Deer and Saskatoon


Sir Wilfrid Laurier arrived at Red Deer CPR station August 10, 1910 (note 1892 station still in use)


Sir Wilfrid Laurier(with John T. Moore) drives first spike for Alberta Central Railway in south Red Deer east of C&E Railway August 10, 1910;

construction begins from C&E Railway at Forth (south of Red Deer) east to Mountview; yard and station built, line graded to Pine Lake


The ACR crossed the Calgary & Edmonton Railway (CPR) and Waskasoo Creek 1911 at Forth (south Red Deer) connecting Mountview and Westpark for westerly expansion


Construction of 2,112’ long, 110’ high steel trestle at Mintlaw began in 1911


Mintlaw trestle completed fall 1912

longest existing rail structure in Central Alberta,

3rd longest steel trestle in Western Canada,

top 10 longest railway bridges in Western Canada

Canadian Canadian Northern Northern

Western RailwayWestern Railway

Canadian Canadian Northern Northern RailwayRailway

Alberta Midland (Canadian Northern) builds north-south line from Edmonton through Camrose, Stettler, Big Valley to Drumheller in 1911, connects with Calgary in 1914

Canadian Northern Canadian Northern Western RailwayWestern Railway

Martin Nordegg invited William Mackenzie and Donald Mann to build rail line to Brazeau coal fields 1908 after being refused by Canadian Pacific Railway

Mackenzie and Mann created subsidiary of Canadian Northern Railway called Canadian Northern Western Railway in order to receive provincial subsidies

Mackenzie and Mann chose route to Rocky Mountain House parallel to Alberta Central Railway

Standard for track building inferior to ACR so progress could be made quickly


Canadian Northern Western built line west from Warden (west of Stettler) to Sylvan Lake in 1911 with trains originating in Big Valley

Major trestle built at Burbank to cross Blindman River

Spur line built from Burbank area south to North Red Deer


Several confrontations with competing Alberta Central Railway

The building of two railways along with other improvements in and around Red Deer created prosperity for town and area farmers

Canadian Northern Western reached Rocky Mountain House in 1912, Nordegg in 1914

The Alberta The Alberta Central Railway Central Railway Goes BankruptGoes Bankrupt


Due to high cost of construction of a high standard rail line, including the construction of 2 major bridges (Mintlaw and Rocky Mountain House), and the inflationary effects of competing with the Canadian Northern Western Railway, the Alberta Central Railway went bankrupt in 1911

The CPR leased the line, then took it over as a wholly-owned subsidiary in 1912 and completed construction between Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House by 1914


The eastern section, including trestle over Piper Creek and yard in Mountview, was abandoned 1913. Rail taken up, bridges removed and station sold as residence

Red Deer Red Deer Becomes a CityBecomes a City

Red Deer Becomes a CityRed Deer Becomes a City Plans were proposed for more

railway building including expansion of the Canadian Northern north-south route through city

Population booms to 2,800 The prosperity and land boom

resulting from intense railway building in area provided confidence that Red Deer would grow into a major metropolis in near future

Red Deer becomes city in 1913

Red Deer Becomes a CityRed Deer Becomes a City Economic boom came to sudden end

with a recession and outbreak of World War One

Population remained steady at around 2,800 for several years

However, Red Deer had been assured of its dominant position as Central Alberta’s transportation and distribution centre as a result of the many decisions and developments of three railways in the previous 2 decades

EpilogueEpilogue

Calgary-Calgary-Edmonton Edmonton Corridor Corridor StabilityStability Canadian Northern &

Grand Trunk Pacific became part of Canadian National Railways 1919-1923

Mirror replaced Big Valley as dominant Canadian National divisional point in Edmonton-Calgary corridor

Calgary-Edmonton Corridor Calgary-Edmonton Corridor StabilityStability

CN built Red Deer River bridge & station at Red Deer in 1920


CN bridge abandoned 1941 after several washouts

Line built to connect CN station to CPR yards


Canadian Pacific continued to improve yards and facilities in Red Deer


Gravitational coal chutes converted to mechanical type in 1923 and trestle removed

Steam-era facilities were maintained until 1955-60

Ornamental station park converted to parking lot in 1960

Roundhouse demolished 1963 Older grain elevators replaced by modern

ones between 1948 and late 1950s

Calgary-Calgary-Edmonton Edmonton Corridor Corridor StabilityStability By 1930 Canadian Pacific

runs 3 corridor passenger trains per day in each direction taking 6-7 hours with integrated Red Deer feeders from Stettler, Rimbey and Rocky Mountain House lines

Canadian Pacific introduces high-speed rail in 1936 with ‘The Chinook’, reducing travel time to 4 ½ - 5 ¼ hours at speeds up to 90-100 mi/hr, up to 22 stops

Jubilee 3001 ‘The Jubilee 3001 ‘The Chinook’Chinook’

One of only five locomotives and train sets built by Canadian Pacific for ‘high speed’ inter-city passenger service

Ran in corridor from 1936 to 1939 and 1945 to 1955

Sister locomotive established speed record in 1937 which stood until 1976 (112.5 mi/hr – 181 km/hr)

Ended service in 1955 and scrapped in 1958

Calgary-Calgary-Edmonton Edmonton Corridor Corridor StabilityStability ‘The Chinook’ replaced by

heavier locomotives and longer trains during war years 1939-1945 primarily due to increased military personnel movements

Passenger service and rail infrastructure within all 3 corridors remained stable for 40 years (1914-1954)

Personal vehicles became affordable and gas was cheap during period of economic prosperity after war

Time of Time of ChangeChange

Canadian Pacific introduces Dayliner (Rail Diesel Car) service 3 times daily in 1955 reducing travel time to 3 ½ - 4 hours

Passenger service ends on Alberta Central line from Rocky Mountain House

Brazeau Colleries at Nordegg close in 1955 making CN passenger trains between Mirror and Rocky Mountain House unprofitable, CN cancels all passenger service on line

More ChangeMore Change

After 94 years of continuous passenger rail service along the corridor, the last Via Dayliner ran on Sept. 6, 1985

Last train on CPR Alberta Central line 1981

Red Deer CPR railyards relocated from downtown to west side of city 1991, downtown station closed but preserved

The Railways as The Railways as Parents of a CityParents of a City

For more information on the history of Central Alberta’s

railways, visit:www.ForthJunction.com

Central Alberta Historical Society Red Deer May 15, 2013

Documents

The Railways as Parents of a City The building of three railways as the primary catalyst for the birth of the City of Red Deer Central Alberta Historical