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Railway
stations were once the
focal point of Western Canadian communities
(updated March 2022)
Photo descriptions
and credits at bottom of page.
 The railway station was the gateway and
heart of most Western Canadian communities for at least 60 years.
For immigrants, settlers, visitors, merchants, manufacturers and
farmers, the railway station was the focal point of the community.
Mail, news, communication and goods were exchanged there.
Although
Canadian Pacific experienced a virtual monopoly on rail service for
25 years, two other major railways provided competition until the
two were amalgamated after ten years of intense railway expansion.
Although each community has unique characteristics as
does the region as a whole, in many ways Central Alberta represents
the settlement, development and character of Western Canada.
The Railway Stations of Central Alberta by
railway and subdivision
A look at five stations in Central Alberta that are
unique and have special significance as well as the various railway
station styles and plans in Central Alberta listed by CPR or CNR
subdivisions including:
 - Canadian Pacific Railway (formerly Calgary & Edmonton
Railway) Red Deer
subdivision (Calgary to Red Deer) and Leduc
subdivision (Red Deer to Edmonton),
- CPR Alberta Central subdivision
(formerly Alberta Central Railway Red Deer to Rocky
Mountain House
now abandoned),
- CPR Lacombe subdivision (Lacombe to Stettler),
- CPR Wetaskiwin subdivision (Wetaskiwin east partial),
- CPR Hoadley subdivision
(formerly Lacombe and Blindman Valley Electric Railway and
Lacombe
and Northwestern Railway from Lacombe to Rimbey),
- CPR Acme
subdivision (Acme to Wimborne abandoned),
- CPR Langdon subdivision
(Calgary to Acme partial),
- Canadian National Railway Brazeau subdivision currently operating
Mirror to Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House
(formerly Canadian
Northern Western Railway Mirror to Nordegg),
- CNR Three Hills subdivision (formerly Grand
Trunk Pacific Railway Mirror to Calgary partial),
- CNR Stettler subdivision
(formerly Alberta Midland Railway a subsidiary of Canadian Northern
Railway Camrose to near Drumheller
abandoned, a portion operated by
Alberta Prairie Railway)
Mackenzie and Mann influenced Central
Alberta's first railway stations
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- A Comprehensive Guide to the Calgary &
Edmonton Railway Combination Stations
 The first railway stations built between
Calgary and Edmonton in 1891 were a standard combination station
that only took a few weeks to build. Although none have survived,
many were in service either as stations or freight sheds well into
the 1950s while others were replaced by larger facilities. The
original stations were built at Airdrie, Carstairs, Olds, Innisfail,
Red Deer, Lacombe, Ponoka, Wetaskiwin, Leduc and Strathcona (South
Edmonton) as well as a few communities south of Calgary. All but the
ones at Olds, Innisfail and Ponoka were replaced by larger stations.
Photos and renderings accompany the article.
Red Deer 1910 CPR station 'jewel' still
dominates Ross Street
The 1891 C&ER combination station at Red Deer was
replaced by a unique chateau-style station similar to one in
Lethbridge in 1910. It served the railway until the relocation of
the downtown rail yards in 1990. Scheduled for demolition, the
historic station was designated a federal, provincial and municipal historic resource
and saved resulting in the Ross Street extension being rerouted
around the structure which was renovated in 1996 to continue to dominates Ross Street as offices. The former 1891
station was relocated, extended and used as a freight house until
the mid-1960s. Photos and renderings accompany the article.
Red Deer once had four railway stations
When one thinks of railway stations in Red Deer, the
CPR brick chateau-style station at the head of Ross Street is the
only one that usually comes to mind. But Red Deer had four stations
over time including the original 1891 C&ER combination station.
There was also a Canadian National Railways station a few blocks
away between 1923 and 1960. And, for a short time in 1911, an
Alberta Central Railway station stood in south Red Deer. That
station was relocated a few times and used as a residence until this
day. Photos and renderings accompany the article.
 Canadian Pacific Railway Stations in Central Alberta
- by style/plan
Several station styles were built or evolved in the
Central Alberta region from the 1890s to the 1960s including
portable and temporary stations, the original Calgary and Edmonton
Railway combination stations, new stations of the 1900s and
replacement stations as a result of upgrades or fires. Some stations
were unique including the 1910 Red Deer CPR station. This section
explores the various styles and in which communities they were
built.
Canadian National Railway Stations in Central Alberta
- by style/plan
About 20 years after Canadian Pacific was building
stations, new railways, including the Canadian Northern and the
Grand Trunk Pacific which later became the Canadian National
Railways, went on to building many stations to complement their new
lines within the region. Some stations were unique including the
1923 Red Deer CNR station. This section explores the various styles
and in which communities they were built.
Most communities once had portable stations
for a time
Multiple Station Communities
Some communities in Central Alberta had railway stations for more
than one railway. Those communities included Red Deer, Sylvan Lake, Eckville, Stettler,
Camrose and Alix. The station at Rocky Mountain House was shared by
two railroads.
Railway Station Architecture as a Heritage and
Tourism Theme
Photo descriptions and credits:
Header: Red Deer CPR 1910 station, park and C&ER 1891 combination
station as freight house 1911
(Red Deer Archives P3202);
Red Deer CPR 1910 station streetside (Paul Pettypiece 1987);
Alix CPR 1910 standard #5 station (Glenbow Archives via Peels Prairie Postcards 1910);
Lacombe CPR 1911 woodframe station (CP Archives 1916);
Innisfail Calgary & Edmonton Railway 1891 station 1890s (Glenbow
Archives NA-1709-71);
Red Deer CPR 1910 station streetside (Paul Pettypiece 2007);
Red Deer CNR 1923 station 1955 (Red Deer Archives P7009);
Red Deer CPR 1910 station, park and C&ER 1891 combination station as
freight house 1911
(Red Deer Archives P3202);
Sylvan Lake CNoR 1913 3rd class station c1940 (Sylvan
Lake Archives)
Photos courtesy of Red Deer Archives, Glenbow Archives, Canadian
Pacific Archives, Sylvan Lake Archives and
Paul Pettypiece.
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