Camrose Heritage Railway Station & Park

We’ve toured a fair number of historic train stations the last while and that’s not a bad thing. There’s something about hanging around the “depot” the Team finds irresistible and we hope you similarly enjoy the experience too. This fine example belongs to the Canadian Northern Society, one of many they own (more in a moment) and is a museum you can tour. Welcome to the Camrose Heritage Railway Station and Park, built over a hundred years ago and lovingly restored.

Touring the station is a great way to waste away an afternoon or in our case an afternoon and evening’s worth of time. We had such a blast we’d have stretched it out longer if they allowed, but then I suspect we’d be overstaying our welcome. Our enthusiasm runs deep but can border on the annoying to others…or so we suspect (insert smiley face here).

The station dates back to 1911 and corresponds with the arrival of the newly built Canadian Northern Railway’s Alberta Midland line through town. This stretch of track, via a rather meandering and indirect route, connected Edmonton to Calgary.

You’ve arrived!

Built to a standard design, albeit on the larger side (Camrose was a prominent community after all), it was one of hundreds of similar stations up and down CNoR lines in the west. They all shared a family resemblance and had pleasing lines.

In 1920, Canadian Northern was folded into Canadian National Railways, along with some competitors, including transcontinental rival Grand Trunk Pacific. This other railway also served Camrose (starting in 1911), as did the Canadian Pacific Railway (staring in 1905). It was a busy place for trains and it’s fascinating both CNoR and GTP arrived about the same time while building towards the same destination. The race was on but for the most part the two lines were a distance apart, save for a few sections.

This section by the station is still in use by CN and sees a modest number of trains per day. One passed by as we did our photos. A good portion of their present day Edmonton to Calgary route uses the former Grand Trunk line, but this section through Camrose is ex-CNoR. The GTP route was generally more direct and better engineered.

Passenger trains continued to serve the station into the early 1980s and for the last few years, under the auspices of Via Rail, Canada’s national passenger train operator. As CN had done for a time before, Via used a rail car (looking almost like an oversized bus on steel wheels) to serve its Edmonton to Drumheller run. Earlier it was Edmonton to Calgary but the service was cut back at some point.

Long ago, you could take any number of trains going any number of directions from Camrose station (eight different routes once converged on the community), but at the end there wasn’t much going on. Look at the 1949 dated timetable posted by the waiting platform and see how things used to be.

That a good portion of the old Alberta Midland had passenger train service into fairly recent times, meant many old stations along the line survived. There’s one in Rowley (see: Rowley Alberta then and now – CNR Station), another in Big Valley (it’s amazing: Big Valley’s Train Station) and one more in Meeting Creek (see: An Evening in Meeting Creek). Each stands where built and all are nicely restored. Tour trains still stop in Big Valley, but the others are along abandoned sections of the Alberta Midland line.

The last two stations mentioned belong to the Canadian Northern Society, along with a grain elevator in Meeting Creek (see: An Evening in Meeting Creek), roundhouse remains in Big Valley (see: Big Valley Roundhouse) and a former Grand Trunk Pacific Station in Viking (this:Train Stations: Viking Alberta).

In addition, there’s another CNoR station at the museum in Stettler and a couple others down by Hanna, but we’re getting off topic here.

The Camrose Station sits almost where it was built some hundred and ten years back, but was moved away from the tracks for visitor safety. It was restored to all it’s original glory starting in the early 1990s, when acquired for preservation and this was a task that took a few years to complete. Their efforts were well worth it, as you can see, and the building plus the dedicated people behind it all, are a treasure.

Welcome to the Camrose Heritage Railway Station & Park.

There’s a stretch of dummy-track out front and a length of telegraph line helps complete the scene. It’s easy to imagine – a train arrives and Camrose Station’s a busy hub of activity. Go back in time and do it right here. It’s chaotic scene with people, baggage and express all headed somewhere and each needing to be routed correctly. There’s telegrams to send, instructions to relay and no end to the work for the station agent. Express was a less-than-carload service operated by the railways (sort of like a modern day courier service) and they did a brisk business.

The agent’s work station occupies a bay window and is a good viewpoint to look out over the action.

This employee, and their family, would have lived in the attached apartment and most stations, save for those in the smallest of towns, would have a resident agent. The typewriter, telegraph and phone seen here were his tools of the trade. The building has a typical layout, with a passenger waiting area, agent’s workspace, freight and baggage room, plus the living quarters touched on earlier.

The speeder seen out front would have been used by line maintenance crews and inspectors. We got to travel halfway across southern Saskatchewan in one a few years back and it was a wild, exhilarating ride. The trip of a lifetime and one we’ll always remember. These things are a bit harsh on the joints, but railroaders were a tough lot. Scenes from this adventure, and it was amazing, can be found here: Riding the Rails in SW Saskatchewan – Part One and here: Riding the Rails in SW Saskatchewan – Part Two.

Out behind the station, there’s an old bunkhouse and flag stop station/later watchman’s shanty, both brought in from elsewhere. These are also full of artifacts and should they be donated any more, we wonder where they’d put them. A large scale model railways is found on the grounds (put away for the season on our visit) and out near the entrance, a number of down-sized grain elevators*.

Grain elevators were a fixture in every prairie town, Camrose included, and there’s still one left here (a relatively modern one) just down the tracks. It’s visible from the station platform and we later stopped by this building during this same weekend. We’ll post about it as soon as time permits – we’re forever behind and have a huge backlog.

The Camrose Heritage Railway Station and Park is open all summer or by appointment in the off season. We’ve posted a link below to help you connect so you can make plans to drop by too. Tell them we sent you and keep an eye open for their resident deer.

From the Canadian Northern Society website: “The depot houses unique displays of local railway heritage, the White Elephant gift shop, self-serve refreshments in the Tea Room, as well as the Canadian Northern Society’s archives and library.”

Go back in time and do it right here – note grain elevator in the distance.

The city of Camrose dates back to 1905, with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and today has a population approaching twenty one thousand. In addition to the railway, agriculture, plus the oil and gas sector provides employment for many. We did this fine in-city hike on one visit and loved it: Mirror Lake & Stoney Creek Loops Camrose.

*Look north down the street past the elevators and a bit to the left…let’s just say there’s a job for that guy at Air Canada! This attention-getter is found at a meat shop and oddly wasn’t noticed by us on the way in. That’s official BIGDoer colours on that car in the photo, so we approve.

Know more (new tabs): Camrose Heritage Railway Station & Park and Canadian Northern Society.

There’s always new content being post so be sure to drop by often!

They’re saying…

”Fascinating in depth historical information about people and places in Alberta that I didn’t even know existed. It is a true learning experience and enjoyable too.” Bernadette S Finzel.

Railway stuff…
The Trains Here, Do They Fly – Stupid fun and nothing more.
Twilight Train – A ride on Aspen Crossing’s tour train.
Trainspotting – Field BC edition – Sitting by the tracks and sipping wine.

If you wish more information on what’s seen here, don’t hesitate to: contact us!

Date of Adventure: November 2021 and May 2022.
Location(s): Camrose, AB.
Article references and thanks: Shawn @ Canadian Northern Society, Camrose Heritage Railway Station & Park and Canadian Trackside Guides.

Out on the grounds.

Speeders were used by maintenance crews.

We once went a full day without nearly killing ourselves…

The place is stuffed to bursting with train memorabilia.

Drop in a few coins.

The trains would take you anywhere…once.

The station dates to 1911.

There’s a job waiting for him at Air Canada!

The railway did a brisk express business.

It’s little changed (mid-1970s photo).

A typewriter was a tool of the trade for station agents.

Telegraphs lines were once commonly seen along the tracks.

During the blue hour.

Every building holds treasures.

Peeking inside.

In the hands of the Canadian Northern Society.

A coal stove to keep away the chill.

Take a break in the tea room.

Station signs from towns in the area.

The agent’s workspace.

It’s the little details.

This room is full!

Inside the crew bunkhouse.

The station’s been a museum since the 1990s.

At every turn…

Regular visitors.