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 Concept Proposal for
Transportation-Themed
Rail, Trail and Transit
Interpretive
Community Heritage Rail Park
creating a unique experience that values
family recreational activity, the natural environment and the
transportation heritage of the prairies, to be located near
Red Deer close to historic and current transportation corridors;
and to interpret,
demonstrate and display the relationship between built and natural environment as it relates to the evolution of ground transportation in Western Canada
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.
Innisfail option
Springbrook
option
Features of the proposed rail park at
completion
(Phase 3 - conceptual only)
creating a unique experience that values
family recreational activity, the natural environment and the
transportation heritage of Central Alberta
and to interpret,
demonstrate and display the relationship between built and natural environment as it relates to the evolution of ground transportation in Western Canada
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Calgary & Edmonton Railway Museum
Replication
of the original 1891 C&E railway station to house
current collection
of artifacts. This station was built in several
locations prior to
being replaced or demolished, including at
Red Deer, Innisfail,
Olds, Carstairs, Airdrie, Lacombe, Ponoka,
Wetaskiwin, Leduc and
Strathcona. The majority of these
artifacts were gifted to the Forth
Junction Heritage Society by
the Junior League of Edmonton,
operators of the closed C&E
Railway Station Museum in south
Edmonton.
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Replication of historic railway
stations
as a study in architecture
Replicated
and/or restored railway stations of Central Alberta
as interpretive centres of the railways of Red Deer County
including the Alberta
Central Railway (CPR), Canadian Northern Western Railway (CNR),
Grand Trunk Pacific
Railway (CNR). These stations would be used
for a variety of purposes including model rail and themed exhibits,
children's pavilion, games room, mini-theatre, gift shop, a
transportation library and administration.
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Series of miniature historical
model rail exhibits
One or more of the replicated
railway stations
will house accurate representations of the
evolution of the railway in the development of
Red Deer and other communities in Central
Alberta featuring a variety of scales and
time
periods. This could evolve to become Canada's
largest series of historically-accurate miniature
railway exhibits.
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Children's pavilion &
miniature railway
activity, educational and
entertainment centre
for children to learn the basics of transportation science and logistics including miniature train rides and other
fun activities
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Transportation history pavilion
Highlighting the evolution of transit
and regional bus service in Central
Alberta as well as other modes
of ground transportation. Regional
historic and cultural tours could
be offered from this facility.
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Heritage railway
collections interpretive
exhibits
indoor 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 a
future rail loop and
hidden un-restored railway equipment storage.
- Train viewing observation
platform and activity area
Elevated viewing point
for rail enthusiasts and photographers to watch the CPR rail line
with games, video and
reading area and refreshment bar with
adjoining themed playground, gardens and picnic area.
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Themed interpretive centres
and kiosks
focusing on aspects of
historic railways such as the C&E Railway and the Alberta
Central Railway, railway activity such as fossil fuel and
agricultural transport, personal
vehicles and other ground transportation which could
include military and first
responder vehicles.
- Ornamental rail station
gardens
similar to the
many railway station gardens (including the 1906 CPR Red
Deer ornamental garden)
that greeted visitors and settlers in the first
half of the 20th
century. Other gardens could be scattered throughout
the rail park with
fountains, benches and other features.
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Natural areas, green space, trails, picnic areas
natural areas including
trees, green spaces and wetlands accessible
through a network of
internal trails and external trail connections with
picnic areas and
benches to relax and enjoy the environment.
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Family activity zones,
themed playgrounds
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 and event
zone.
Phase 1
of the 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. It also provides some
time to modify the plan as community needs, studies, consultations and trends evolve.
 The first phase includes:
- Calgary & Edmonton Railway Museum housing the collection gifted by the Junior
League of Edmonton from the now-closed station museum in south Edmonton;
- children's playground and outdoor activity area;
- covered viewing platform and snack bar for rail fans who
want to watch the busy CPR
Calgary-Edmonton main line that hosts up
to 15 trains per day. This element alone could
ultimately attract a good
number of visitors from many parts of North America;
- stand-alone interpretive kiosks;
- an ornamental railway garden similar to those that were
once connected to railway
stations;
- additional gardens, a gazebo, water features,
fountains;
- natural areas, trails and tree planting.
Eventually the park would connect with regional
trails including the Trans Canada Trail;
- temporary heritage transit storage building and bus tour depot;
- the beginnings of a historical miniature world model railway
exhibit;
- at least one other replicated railway station as
representative of railway architecture.
These features would initially attract mostly local and regional
residents and guests, visitors, and tourists travelling along the
Calgary and Edmonton corridor.
The above features would be developed by the society. The long term
vision for the site is for the central area of the parcel to be complementary stand-alone semi-commercial developments.
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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Photos and graphics:
Header photo: Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum, Nova Scotia
1. Site plan graphic rending by
Paul Pettypiece;
2.& 3. Photos of former C&E Railway Museum Edmonton & child at FreeMo by
Paul Pettypiece;
4. Photo of Sorensen bus courtesy of Steve Parkin; 5. Photo of
Musquodoboit Harbour Railway Museum, Nova Scotia from website;
6. Colourized 1912 photo of Red Deer stations and garden courtesy of Red
Deer Archives P8737;
7. Photo of gardens & railway at West Coast Railway Heritage Park, BC and
graphic of Phase 1 rail park by Paul Pettypiece
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