1892 - Alberta Central Historic Model Rail Project

Alberta Central
Historical Miniature Rail
and Landmark Display

Ground Transportation
Heritage Preservation

1892
The beginnings of a regional distribution centre

1890-92 --

the original wooden truss bridge over the Red Deer River By the summer of 1891, the Calgary and Edmonton Railway is completed between the two fledgling major cities and by 1892, the new community of Red Deer is starting to come alive.

A new Red Deer townsite develops with arrival of the railway An agreement between James Ross and Rev. Leonard Gaetz in early 1890 had created a new townsite on the Gaetz property;

one of the earliest trains along the Calgary-Edmonton Railway The building of the Calgary-Edmonton Railway (now Canadian Pacific) determined the location of several communities along the way, including Red Deer, Penhold, Innisfail, Bowden, Olds, Blackfalds, Lacombe, Ponoka and Wetaskiwin. Most of the communities were even named by the railway.

It marked the end of 'The Crossing' settlement where Fort Normandeau is today and the stagecoach along the Calgary-Edmonton Trail was no longer viable with the trip between the two centres by train taking 12 hours compared to the 4 days by stagecoach.

1890s CP bridge, Red Deer townsite, early train photos courtesy of Red Deer Archives

1892 - The beginning of a regional centre     1913 - The headiness of rapid expansion     1939 - The glory days of passenger service
1955 - Transition and change 1967 - Canada's centennial     1985 - Last passenger train in region      2005 - Alberta's centennial
Innisfail Historical Model Rail Exhibit         Historic Model Railway Concept      World-Class Model Rail Museums

Forth Junction Park Concept       Railway Station Architecture       Future Historical Miniature Rail Exhibits     Ultimate Vision