West Canadian Collieries #1 came from the Canadian Locomotive Company of Kingston Ontario and has called the Crowsnest Pass home for over a century. The locomotive worked for a couple of coal mining firms locally, WCC being the last, before being put on display. It looks a tad forgotten, hidden away behind some trees, but that it still exists at all is good. There’s not many steamers left.
Built in 1914, it came to work for Hillcrest Collieries in nearby Hillcrest in 1920, after a brief stint in Manitoba. When Hillcrest closed in 1939, it found work with West Canadian Collieries at their Greenhill Mine in Blairmore. This firm had a few mines in the area and the Greenhill was not far from where the locomotive sits today.
It worked until the late 1950s when mining ceased and for spell remained in the engine house at the abandoned mine site. Rescued a few years later, locals put it on display and it’s been here ever since.
We’ve acquired some old images of this locomotive from over fifty years ago and they’ll be fodder for a BIGDoer.com Then and Now. Stay tuned and we’re just waiting for nicer weather. At that time, we’ll compile a more in depth history too and share it with you. There’s a lot to chat about.
Short Subjects: Reports a few paragraphs in length and brief in nature. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and things of that sort. You’ll be in and out in no time.
The Nagel House, RM of Happyland Saskatchewan. More below
- Like what we do? Shout it in the comments - thanks from us! - The houses was built in 1916 & occupied into the 1970s. - They raised a lot of kids here (we heard 9), so they needed a big place like this. - Then photo: unknown source & date, but likely the 1920s for the latter.
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Scenes from the Big Bend Highway & in Revelstoke BC from 1953. These are from the Crossley slides & it's like we're along for the ride.
- Like what we do? Shout it in the comments - thanks from us! - For Big Bend there's various scenes including Silver Tip Falls, Boat Encampment Store & Cabins (+ Crossley's Oldsmobile) & the Boat Encampment Cairn. See: https://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/9490114140 - That's Williamson Lake in Revelstoke, the Mount Revelstoke lookout, & Heather Lodge atop Mount Revelstoke (it's gone now). - The Big Bend Highway was bypassed in the 1960s & many sections are now underwater. - We think the fellow in the hat may be Crossley. Let's thank him for all the fine photos. It's been a fun ride tagging along on his adventures & it's not done yet.
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The same spot in Calgary Hillhurst 113 Years apart! More below
- Like what we do? Shout it in the comments - thanks from us! - Then: the Calgary Tigers Rugby Club are playing the Edmonton Eskimos in Riley Park back in 1912. - Now: Riley Park still exists, but this section is now part of Hillhurst/Sunnyside Park. - That's St Barnabas Anglican Church in back (opened 1912). The original building was lost to fire in the 1950s & replaced, but the tower was spared. - Go to the comments to see the front of St Barnabas. - Then photo is thanks to the University of Calgary.
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Speaking of films shot in & around the Crowsnest Pass - Journey of Natty Gann 1985 & the Dwyer Farm in 2016.
Exploring film history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- A Disney production (not a bad movie either), many scenes were shot in the area. - It's the story of Natty, on cross-country trek to find her father & it's set in the bleak days of the depression of the 1930s. - Many locals were extras in the film - if you were one, chime in down in the comments. We'd love to hear from you. - The lighter areas of the house show where boards were removed by barnwood salvagers. _______
Rockyford Alberta more than 100 years apart (1910s, probably later in that decade & 2024).
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- Rockyford was founded in the early 1910s & sprung to life with the coming of the railway. - Many of the buildings seen in the old photo burned down over the years. - The former bank & the one marked "pool" beside it, in the original photo (both right), are two buildings seen in both images. - The present day Rockyford Hotel (right, our image) was built after the Then photo was taken. - Rockyford's train station would have been just behind our shooting position in the old days. The tracks are gone now. - Then photo credit: University of Calgary - it's dated 1911 there but research suggest it's from a bit later. _______
Consort Alberta on a cool & crisp morning in late 1997 or early 1998. Shot by Chris while returning from oilfield hotshot run & after a couple hour nap next to the buildings. A quick photo & he was back on the road.
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
- These elevators, dating back to the 1950s & before, were gone a few years later. - The railway line was on its last legs at this point & service was very spotty. Sometimes months would pass without seeing one. - Both the grain elevator firms & the railway (Central Western - ex CPR) knew the writing was on the wall.
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