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1955
A time of transition from steam to diesel and
the start of passenger service decline
 - The steam-to-diesel era and the beginning of the
decline in passenger service as a result of the explosive popularity of
the automobile and the advent of regular air travel characterizes this
year with lots of changes as a result.
- The last year that the CPR Jubilee 4-4-4 F2a semi-streamlined
steam locomotive led the 'Chinook' high-speed passenger
train between Calgary and Edmonton being replaced by the new Budd RDC 'Dayliner'
self-propelled passenger car.
- The last year that CPR ran mixed passenger trains between Red Deer
and Rocky Mountain House via the Mintlaw bridge, Sylvan Lake and Benalto.
- The last year that CNR ran mixed passenger trains between Mirror
and Nordegg via Red Deer, Sylvan Lake and Rocky Mountain House.
- Both CPR and CNR had several D10 (4-6-0) and Pacific (4-6-2) steam
locomotives in the Red Deer area for mostly local and yard work. CPR
was using large Selkirk (2-10-4) and Hudson (4-6-4) for fast
freights.
- Diesel locomotives were quickly overtaking steam. CPR closed its
10-stall roundhouse in 1955 and it was demolished in 1963. The coal
chutes and water tower were closed and demolished in 1960. The CPR
yard stock pens were also closed in the late 1950s.
- The most common diesel locomotives in the Red Deer area for both
CPR and CNR were 4-axle GMD GP7s and GP9s. 4-axle Alco S2s and S4s
were sometimes used for yard work. CPR ran a few FM 6-axle
Trainmasters and C-Liners. CNR ran a few GMD F3 cab units.
- The Canadian National station east of downtown Red Deer closed for
passenger service in 1955 but continued to serve express and freight customers
until the yard was relocated in 1960. A National grain elevator was
closed.
- The CPR Red Deer freight house that had been a conversion and
expansion of the original
1891 C&E combination station continued until it closed in 1961.
Two tracks served the freight house for LCL (less than carload)
customers. It was demolished in the mid 1960s. A similar but smaller freight house in Lacombe
was closed in 1956.
- In Red Deer, Carling Brewery and Macdonalds Consolidated warehouse
were built in 1954 becoming major railway customers. Alpha Dairies,
built in 1936 was also a major customer for several years. Five
grain elevators (including UGG, Federal, National) were regular
customers served off the downtown yard.
- The beautiful CPR railway garden park was still an attraction
before being converted to a parking lot in 1960.
- CNR reopened the Ardley bridge across the Red Deer River after
being closed for a couple of years due to reconstruction after being
washed out in 1952. Trains had been detoured via Stettler and Big
Valley.
- Canadian National had introduced the new 'Transcontinental' passenger
train via Saskatoon and Edmonton in 1954. Locomotives and passenger
cars were converted to the black, green and
gold colour scheme with the red maple leaf herald.
- Although 40' boxcars were the dominant rolling stock, the oil boom
of the late 1940s saw a dramatic increase in tank cars. As a result
the CPR yard was expanded in 1948.
- Regular scheduled passenger
service was still alive but declining and many trains were cancelled
starting in 1955. Most railway stations were still
operational including:
- Red Deer CPR 1910 chateau-style,
- Red Deer CNR 1923 modified 3rd class,
- Blackfalds CPR 1904 early #2,
- Lacombe CPR 1911 special,
- Ponoka C&ER 1891 combination,
- Hobbema CPR 1928 #14A,
- Wetaskiwin CPR 1907 special,
- Penhold CPR 1904 early #2,
- Innisfail C&ER 1891 combination,
- Bowden CPR 1904 early #2,
- Olds C&ER 1891 combination,
- Didsbury CPR 1904 Pratt,
- Sylvan Lake CNor 1913 3rd class,
- Sylvan Lake CPR 1924 #14A,
- Benalto CPR 1928 #14A,
- Eckville CNor 1912 3rd class,
- Rocky Mountain House/Lochearn CPR 1920
A3,
- Nordegg/Brazeau CNor 1914 3rd class,
- Prentiss CNor 1912 3rd class,
- Clive CPR 1912 A2 Western,
- Alix relocated CNor 1912 3rd class,
- Alix CPR 1910 #5,
- Nevis CNor 1912 3rd class,
- Nevis CPR 1912 A2 Western,
- Erskine CPR 1910 A2 Western,
- Stettler CPR 1925 #14A,
- Stettler CNor 1911 2nd class,
- Big Valley CNor 1912 2nd class,
- Mirror GTP 1911 Design E,
- Ardley GTP 1911 Type E,
- Delburne GTP 1912 Type E,
- Elnora GTP 1911 Type E,
- Trochu GTP 1912 Type E,
- Gull Lake/Aspen Beach L&BV 1917 small
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