Fifty years separate the two images used in this then and now. Our subject will be the Canadian Pacific Railway and the location, a spot by the Elbow River, in the community of Inglewood, just east of downtown Calgary. We’ve been supplied an old image showing a passing train and our goal is shoot a photo similarly composed, same angle and all and then compare the two. We love how these demonstrate just how closely linked time and change are.
The “then” image comes via our friends at the Galt Railway History Park (Great Canadian Plains Railways Society) in Stirling Alberta and is their copyright used with permission. It’s from the Ken Hooper collection of railway images which that group oversees (it’s extensive and no doubt will spawn more posts like this). Have an old street/building/transit/train scene photo you want included in a BIGDoer.com then and now? Send it our way!
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos and to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
The old image is dated October 1965 and shows a passenger run heading towards the camera position. Data accompanying the photo mentions it’s heading southbound (temporarily eastbound here) on the railway’s MacLeod Subdivision. That’s in error, but only by a small margin. At this point the train is a few hundred metres west of the junction with that line. At this position it’s on the CPR’s east/west mainline, here, the Brooks Subdivision. The MacLeod line is branch off it.
The train has just left the CPR’s downtown Calgary station, off frame and to the left. The final destination is the city of Lethbridge, either via the entire MacLeod Subdivision or the more easterly Aldersyde Subdivision (the train alternated between them). This run would take several hours to complete.
Instead of a traditional locomotive hauled consist, the train is comprised of two self propelled RDC (Rail Diesel Cars). These came on the scene in the 1950s and were generally used on the lesser patronized and/or shorter runs. The lead unit, as can be seen, has a small baggage compartment in the front so it’s an RDC-2. The other is all coach, so it’s an RDC-1. There were also other configurations. These came from the Budd company in the US, although a number were also assembled in Canada by Canadian Car and Foundry (or Can-Car). Both major Canadian railways operated them. The CPR called them “Dayliners”. Another RDC run out of Calgary was to Edmonton.
The drive train was located sub-floor with the prominent hump on the roof housing the radiators (I assume a leak there would be disastrous). These cars are made of stainless steel which makes them quite durable. A few are still in use today.
The Calgary to Lethbridge service was cancelled in the early 1970s. The last true passenger run of any kind to serve Calgary (discounting expensive “tour” trains), under the auspices of Via Rail, who took over CPR’s passenger business in the late 1970s, was in 1990.
On our visit we catch a slow moving sulphur train, which stirred up the pigeons. Since it’s eastbound, it’s empty (read on). Pulled by a trio of GE locomotives (all model ES44ACs built in the mid to late-2000s), two in the lead and a third DPU, aka Distributed Power Unit, bringing up the rear. That last unit, #8862, was once painted up in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
The sulphur comes from various gas plants in Alberta, as a by-product, and is transported to the west coast for export. A low value product, these trains are at best spotty and run only when the commodity price is favourable. Cars in this dedicated “unit” train are aluminum hoppers that get rotary dumped at the destination – so flipped upside down without being detached form the train.
A lot has changed in the fifty years between shots. The skyline, my oh my, how that differs – in 1965 the city had a population of some 300 000, today, it’s over a million! As a result, downtown keeps growing to the right. The railway bridge is different (BTW, the old one makes a brief appearance in the 1970s film Silver Streak). One line pole, right of centre remains, hard to see, and helped us line up our shot. The 9th Avenue road bridge in back right connects both photos. Some of the trees blocking the view to it are the same, as seen by their position, but are perhaps a bit bigger. One is certainly leaning more.
The fence got in the way in our shot, but we have to duplicate the position as best we can, so have to live with it. Side note: in the old photo notice the white car to the right, complete with massive tail fins.
One thing that bugs us doing these then and nows, a technical problem, is how different the photos look when compared one way over another. Notice how the tracks in the stacked photo seems to trail off at diverging angles (we call it the fall-away problem) yet when placed side by side, they seem to match up pretty well. Optical illusion! I have no idea why this happens. Still, the one atop the other version is visually a better arrangement, even with that issue.
Our now photos are composed in camera. We line-em up, take a shot or a few and hope like hell it or they end up looking like the original. That’s how it’s done and it’s more challenging than it appears. We could of course do it all in post production I guess. But no. We’d rather have them imperfect, and doing it this way, we’ll never totally ace it, than to fake the results.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: December, 2015. Location: Calgary, AB. Article references: Canadian Trackside Guides, Galt Railway Historic Park/Great Canadian Plains Railway Society, CPR records @ Exporail Quebec. Our photos were shot from public property.
In behind the RDC (current site of Fort Calgary) was a Macosham (sp?) warehouse. It was served by rail, but I don’t remember how it got in there. Across 9 Ave or along the river berm behind Inglewood (I think).
The Canadian National had a spur line into what is present day Fort Calgary, back populated by warehouses, into the late 1960s perhaps even a bit longer. It paralleled the Bow and today is that walking path. There was a bridge right where the Elbow and Bow joined up.
My buddy is a conductor and took me along on his hot shot into Cowtown. I got to sit in the engineers seat of the second locomotive ( “just don’t touch nothing!” ) all the way in to Alyth yard. When we crossed Glenmore trail I slid the window open and hung my arm out, thinking someone I know might see me, but nobody did. It was a very cool ride. I may not have been a huge railway fan before that night, but I was after.
no problem. I grew up not far from Rosetown, my dad owned a farm equipment dealership. So I got to travel with him to all the major centers to pick up equipment and parts, and then deliveries all over the 3 western provinces. Then I began trucking when I was 21, so I know the provinces pretty well. I have really been enjoying your site, I have memories of a lot of your visited spots. Hey! You know Chris Attrell! thanks for documenting what you are.
That all sounds so interesting. Glad you like our little corner of the Internet too, we try hard, and of course we have a ton of fun doing it and sharing it with others. Yes, I know Chris. Now that guy is a photographer. I dream of being half as good.
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
🎄 🎄 🎄
CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
In behind the RDC (current site of Fort Calgary) was a Macosham (sp?) warehouse. It was served by rail, but I don’t remember how it got in there. Across 9 Ave or along the river berm behind Inglewood (I think).
The Canadian National had a spur line into what is present day Fort Calgary, back populated by warehouses, into the late 1960s perhaps even a bit longer. It paralleled the Bow and today is that walking path. There was a bridge right where the Elbow and Bow joined up.
My buddy is a conductor and took me along on his hot shot into Cowtown. I got to sit in the engineers seat of the second locomotive ( “just don’t touch nothing!” ) all the way in to Alyth yard. When we crossed Glenmore trail I slid the window open and hung my arm out, thinking someone I know might see me, but nobody did. It was a very cool ride. I may not have been a huge railway fan before that night, but I was after.
Now that’s a memory!! Thanks for commenting.
no problem. I grew up not far from Rosetown, my dad owned a farm equipment dealership. So I got to travel with him to all the major centers to pick up equipment and parts, and then deliveries all over the 3 western provinces. Then I began trucking when I was 21, so I know the provinces pretty well. I have really been enjoying your site, I have memories of a lot of your visited spots.
Hey! You know Chris Attrell!
thanks for documenting what you are.
That all sounds so interesting. Glad you like our little corner of the Internet too, we try hard, and of course we have a ton of fun doing it and sharing it with others. Yes, I know Chris. Now that guy is a photographer. I dream of being half as good.
As a kid, I loved riding on the dayliner.
I recall heading to Edmonton on one (1970s).
Cool pic of the RDC!
I know, so nice!