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Concept Proposal for
 Forth Junction
Heritage Society
Transportation-Themed
Rail, Trail and Transit Interpretive
Regional Family Heritage
Rail Park
updated June
2022 (photo and illustration description and credits at bottom of
page)
designed to operate in partnership
with paired complementary transportation-themed tourism, commercial and/or industrial facilities
The Forth
Junction Heritage Rail Park
plan sets the stage
for the ultimate build-out of the overall vision. It accommodates
current opportunities and allows for additional uses of the site by
the community and other similar organizations as well as separate
but complementary semi-commercial features.
It also provides for the plan
to adapt as community, tourist, semi-commercial or commercial needs and trends evolve.
The mandate of the Forth
Junction Heritage Society is to preserve, promote and share the transportation heritage of our
community and region; and to pass that heritage to future
generations in a sustainable and interactive way through education,
advocacy and nurturing a passion for the continuous evolution of
trail, rail and transit.
The Forth Junction educational and exploratory component includes:
Calgary &
Edmonton Railway Museum
 The
first stage of the proposed heritage rail park will include a
replication of the original 1891 C&E combination railway station to house the artifact collection gifted by the Junior League of Edmonton from the now-closed station museum that was located in south Edmonton. These artifacts are currently stored and displayed at the Innisfail Historical Village.
The building may also become the home of a research centre for the
Calgary & Edmonton Railway with archives and library.
The 1891 station design had been built in several locations prior to
being replaced or demolished, including at Red Deer, Innisfail,
Olds, Carstairs, Airdrie, Lacombe, Ponoka, Wetaskiwin, Leduc and Strathcona as well as a handful of others south of Calgary.
None of the original combination stations have survived in Alberta.
See:
Plan for the Re-Creation of the C&ER Museum
Train viewing observation
platform and activity area
Also in the initial stage of the heritage rail park is an elevated
viewing platform
for rail enthusiasts and photographers who want to watch the busy CPR Calgary-Edmonton main rail line
that hosts up to 15 trains per day. It would eventually become a covered all-season facility with games, video and reading areas as well as a refreshment bar.
It would include an
adjoining themed playground, gardens and picnic area.
This element alone could ultimately attract a good
number of visitors from many parts of North America.
Miniature world
historical model railway exhibits
An additional replicated station,
such as an 1891 C&E Railway station converted to freight house,
would house historically accurate
miniature-world-style model railway exhibits showing the evolution
of communities in the region displaying the result of railway
decisions, technological advances, infrastructure and colonization.
These exhibits would be
represented in various scales over several time periods that could
include
the early 1890s of the Calgary & Edmonton Railway, the boom period
around 1913 featuring the CPR and the Canadian Northern Western
Railway, the late 1930s featuring 'The Chinook' high speed train, the transition era
from steam to diesel around 1955,
Canada's centennial year of 1967 and infrastructure and commodity
transportation changes around 1985 prior to the relocation of the
Red Deer rail yards and the end of passenger rail service in Central
Alberta. The exhibit could include a model of the historic 2,100'
Mintlaw steel trestle across the Red Deer River.
The project could eventually evolve to include the evolution of
model railway manufacturing.
 Ornamental railway station gardens
Many early railway stations had adjoining decorative gardens and
parks to present an attractive first impression of the town to
visitors and settlers getting off the train. These gardens often
included fountains, water features, pathways, flower enhancements, a gazebo and/or benches.
Red Deer was one of the towns or cities that had a memorable
ornamental garden located between the CPR station and the hotels
from 1906 to 1960. Unfortunately, it was replaced by a parking lot.
The Forth Junction Heritage Rail Park would include a similar
feature as an early attraction.
Replicated
railway stations
as a study in architecture
and representing regional railway evolution
 As a study in railway station architecture, special emphasis has been placed on the many railway lines that
developed the region.
These featured railways include
- the Calgary & Edmonton Railway and its branchlines
(later absorbed by the Canadian Pacific Railway),
- the Alberta Central Railway
(also absorbed by the CPR),
- the Canadian Northern Western Railway
(absorbed into the Canadian National Railways) and
- the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
(also absorbed into the CNR).
 Replicating
several representative styles of railway
stations that once were the hubs of many communities,
large and small throughout Central Alberta for over 125
years, these interpretive centres would be an attraction
unique in North America.
The first of these replicated stations is anticipated to be the
1891 Calgary & Edmonton Railway combination station and freight house,
likely based on the one in Innisfail, to house the C&E Railway
Museum.
The freight house portion would house the beginning of the miniature
world historical model railway display.
The second station to be replicated would likely be a CPR portable
similar to the one at Mintlaw, representing the Alberta Central
Railway, as the reception centre for the park. The third would
likely be an original CPR #2 station based on either the Penhold or
Blackfalds station, depending on the final location of the park, to
be used primarily as a gift shop, refreshment bar, meeting room and
storage.
The CPR interpretive zone, built in Phase 2, could include three
replicated stations, possibly based on those that existed in Red
Deer or those that existed elsewhere in the region. At least one
would ultimately house the multi-era historical miniature world
exhibits.
The CNR interpretive zone, built in Phase 3, would include
replicated stations that serve to examine the role of the Canadian
Northern Western Railway, Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and the CNR in
Red Deer.
In addition to housing
exhibits, these replicated stations could have a variety
of other functions including a children's pavilion, transportation library and
research centre,
revolving exhibits, cultural and event pavilions, meeting rooms,
theatre room, activity centres and administration.
As part of the semi-commercial tourism zone, replicated stations
could also serve as cabin-style accommodations and/or specialty
food, book and hobby shops.
Transit &
Surface Transportation Heritage Pavilion
Highlighting the evolution of transit
and regional bus service in Central Alberta as well as other modes
of surface transportation that could include various auto, emergency or
military vehicles. Regional historic and cultural tours could be offered
from this facility.
Children's pavilion, themed
playgrounds & family activity zones
Transportation-themed playgrounds
scattered throughout the park and family activity zones
where families can enjoy the unique built and natural environment.
May include gazebos, outdoor stage, covered picnic areas, event zone and an activity, educational and
entertainment centre for children to learn the basics of transportation and mobility
science and logistics.
Heritage railway
collections interpretive exhibits
Covered and outdoor displays showcasing private and leased railway collections and the evolution of rail infrastructure, locomotives
and rolling stock in Central Alberta. Sufficient space will be included for hidden un-restored railway equipment storage that is not visible to
the public.
 Natural areas, green space, trails, picnic areas
including
trees, green spaces and possibly wetlands or other water features accessible through a network of internal trails and external trail connections with picnic areas and
benches to relax and enjoy the environment.
Themed interpretive nodes
and stand-alone kiosks
focusing on aspects of
railway activity, infrastructure and other modes of transportation that could feature fossil fuel,
petrochemical, industrial, livestock and
agricultural product distribution. The impact of the railway on the
economy, the environment, colonization, First Nations and community affairs could also be
highlighted as well as the future of ground transportation.
 1/8 scale miniature railway
interpretive journey
that may eventually be built as
an add-on to stage three possibly headed by a 1/8 scale replication of the CPR 'Chinook' Jubilee 4-4-4
No. 3001 high speed streamlined passenger steam locomotive that ran between Calgary
and Edmonton in the late 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s (it was one of only 5
of this class built, none survived).
Optional rail loop and rail
connection
Although it would be nice to have if there is sufficient space and funds,
a rail loop and direct rail connection
are not necessary for the park to function. A rail loop to run full size
trains would require a more-or-less square 40 acre site. A direct rail connection would facilitate getting
acquired or borrowed rolling stock on site, trucking in those artifacts would likely be less costly than building a
rail connection.
Staging
These features would be
developed in stages by the society over a period of time. As the
park develops, it would initially attract mostly local and regional
residents and guests, visitors, and tourists travelling along the
Calgary and Edmonton corridor but as the concept becomes fully
developed, it would attract visitors from a much-wider area,
ultimately becoming a world-class attractor, especially as the
complementary semi-commercial component evolves.
 The
first stage
would focus initially on the replication of the
1891 C&E Railway combination station (likely Innisfail), the train-viewing platform and
activity area, storage and restoration garage, reception and
decorative garden, parking, access, servicing and drainage.
Phase 1B
would follow with landscaping, gift
shop and meeting room (in replicated #2 station, either Penhold or
Blackfalds station) and the first of several historical miniature-world
model railway exhibits centred around a location in or near the host
community and specific era such as 1955 or 1985. Trees would be
planted, trails constructed and a playground built.
 The
second stage
would focus on the CPR interpretive
zone with the replication of two or more railway stations including
the original C&E Railway station that had been expanded and
repurposed as a freight house to become the home of the multiple
historically accurate miniature world model railway exhibits. Stage
2 would also include the themed playgrounds, water features,
enhanced landscaping and gardens, "opportunity" space for an
unexpected donation of equipment, a few interpretive kiosks,
enclosure of the viewing platform, additional trails and
enhancements and the beginning of both the children's pavilion in
one of the replicated stations and the transportation pavilion.
Small sections of track could be laid if required for an acquired
display.
The
third and final stage would
complete the project with the creation of the CNR interpretive zone
and the replication of additional railway stations including the
2-storey Red Deer 1923 CNR downtown station that was demolished in
1960 and an additional 2-storey station, either the original 1910
CPR Red Deer station or the 1920 CPR/CNR Rocky/Lochearn station. It
would also include the Transit and Surface Transportation Pavilion,
completion of the miniature world and the completion of the
children's pavilion. Track would be laid for static railway displays
and an enclosed rail restoration structure would be built.
Additional parking and final landscaping would be completed.
See
Ultimate Vision
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The Forth Junction Heritage Society has reviewed many
rail parks and rail museums and has taken inspiration
from several of them, some within Alberta and others
well outside.
Our desire is to not duplicate these facilities but
to learn from them to facilitate the creation of a
unique attraction with a unique combination of
facilities.
Some excellent attractions within Alberta that we have
taken inspiration from include the Alberta Central
Railway Museum near Wetaskiwin, Heritage Park in
Calgary, Fort Edmonton Park, the Alberta Railway Museum
north of Edmonton, Aspen Crossing at Mossleigh and Galt
Historic Railway Park south of Lethbridge.
We see these attractions complementary to our own
vision and we encourage you to visit these other great
parks.
Outside of Alberta, inspiration has come from the West
Coast Railway Heritage Park at Squamish, 3 Valley Gap
near Revelstoke, the Revelstoke Railway Museum, Canadian
Museum of Rail Travel at Cranbrook and Fort Steele in
B.C. as well as Exporail in Montreal, Winnipeg Railway
Museum, Toronto Railway Museum, B&O Railway Museum in
Baltimore, MD, EnterTrainment Junction in Cincinnati,
OH, Railraod Park Resort in Dunsmuir, CA, and San Diego
CA Model Railroad Museum.
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Photo descriptions and credits:
Header photo: Former C&E Railway Station Museum
replication in
south Edmonton (Paul Pettypiece 2013);
Concept plan for 2-3 zone rail heritage themed
development (Paul Pettypiece);
Proposed 16-acre site plan for future Forth Junction
Heritage Rail Park (Paul Pettypiece);
Former Calgary & Edmonton Railway Station Museum
replication in
south Edmonton (Paul Pettypiece 2013);
Display at former C&E Railway Station Museum in Edmonton (Paul
Pettypiece 2013);
Railway viewing platform at Park Forest Rail Fan Park Illinois
(Enjoy Illinios);
Child admiring model railway exhibit at Big Valley
Freemo event (Paul Pettypiece 2009);
CPR Red Deer station, freighthouse,
garden 1912 (Red Deer Archives P8737);
Graphic of several Central Alberta railway stations (Paul Pettypiece);
Innisfail 1891 Calgary & Edmonton Railway station 1890s (Glenbow
Archives NA-1709-71);
Blackfalds 1904 CPR early standard #2 station (Blackfalds Historical
Society);
Red Deer 1923 Canadian National Railways modified 3rd class station 1955 (Red Deer Archives P7009);
Union bus depot Red Deer Cardinal Coaches 1949 (Glenbow Archives
PA-3127-1);
Rail park at West Coast Railway Museum (Paul
Pettypiece 2016);
'The Chinook' train led by Jubilee 3001 and 4 cars (Canadian Pacific
Archives);
Proposed 16-acre site plan for future Forth Junction
Heritage Rail Park Stage 1 (Paul Pettypiece);
Proposed 16-acre site plan for future Forth Junction
Heritage Rail Park Stage 2 (Paul Pettypiece);
Proposed 16-acre site plan for future Forth Junction
Heritage Rail Park Stage 3 Final (Paul Pettypiece);
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