Dunshalt Bunkhouse

It’s an old shed down on the farm, something utterly plain and utilitarian, right? Even to us folks always on the lookout for hidden history (so us), it’s worth no more than a passing glance…bet it’s full of spiders too! Then on closer examination – a reminder to always do a second take – it becomes clear what it was. Today it’s a place for storage of this and that but in a former life was a bunkhouse used by train crews needing a rest between runs. Having a big interest in railway archaeology, it’s turned into an amazing thing connecting us back to another time. Yes, this nondescript little building has us thrilled.

At some point it was unneeded by the railway and was moved to where it is today. Its function then and now would never be described as glamourous, or even remarkable, but still it’s no less important in the grand scheme of things. Be it a place to crash for the night or covered protection for random stuff, it served and still serves a purpose. We’re looking at what is perhaps the last identifiable thing left from the once “dot on a map” community called Dunshalt Alberta, which today is completely gonesville.

It’s not known when the structure was built, but it’d be safe to say it’s close to a century old. It follows a common pattern used by Canadian National Railways in the 1920s era (and perhaps later), based on old plans we were able to source. Other railways had similar buildings.

The bunkhouse once sat along a stretch of track built in the mid-1910s by the Canadian Northern Railway (Alberta Midland charter). The CNoR’s huge network was folded into the CNR circa 1920. This secondary mainline connected Saskatoon Saskatchewan to Calgary Alberta (along here, it was the Drumheller Subdivision). It acted as a conduit for grain shipments for much of its history and until the 1960s, similarly so for coal heading out of the Red Deer River Valley. The line remained in use until about 2008 (one report say 2010) and was pulled up a few years after. Sections at each end remain in use – just the middle is gone. Limited originating traffic and high operating costs were the reasons given for the closure.

Dunshalt was never more than a flag stop, a town with a small grouping of houses, if that, and little else save for a store (briefly) and buildings connected to the railways. That’s railways, as in plural, as there wasn’t just one in “town”, but two. The Canadian Pacific had a branch in the area, in use early 1910s to late 1970s and it’s Dunshalt where the two competitors crossed. See: Dunshalt Alberta 1974 and 2013. There was also a station here (CNR only and looking like a mini-me version of the bunkhouse), a grain elevator briefly (CNR served), an interlocking tower guarding the crossing and this here crew shack. This was Dunshalt.

The building was self contained with sleeping and eating quarters for several men. Think basic and nothing more. These would be placed every so often up and down the lines as needed. With changes in operations these became redundant (mostly) in the 1950-1960s period and were soon torn down or sold off. Farmer’s were always on the lookout for cheap structures to be repurposed into sheds or granaries – we see it all the time – with old one room schools and former railway buildings being common choices.

The current owners inherited the shed when they bought the farm in the late 1960s. At that point it probably had only been here for a handful of years. Outside the addition of large swinging doors at one end, it’s remarkably intact and as built. There’s even the old station sign. Look close and you can see it spelled out…Dunshalt. Incredible! The yard side of the building was painted white long ago, but on the other walls, it’s the that old school mineral red so loved by the railways. They painted everything that colour back then. Inside, there’s still the tongue and groove panelling of old and original windows

The building appears quite solid and sealed well against weather, even if it’s sagging a little here and there. You would too at that age. There’s no future plans for it, so it should be around for some time yet.

We find ourselves thinking back to those who worked the line and maybe stayed here, long ago. We see grizzled men and steam locomotives. It’s the smell of oil, squealing wheels and long dusty days up down the track, be it bitter cold or searing heat. To us this is railroading.

Seen inside, a coal fuelled heater. In the old days, it was that smoky, smelly stuff that kept you warm. The last patent date seen on the front plaque is 1947. The use of “domestic” coal for this purpose (and even cooking) mostly ended by the 1960s with natural gas then taking over.

Out in the yard, it’s a another shed with a sort of railway connection. This would have sat beside a grain elevator down by the railway long ago and would have been a combo fuel storage place and biffy (gas in two directions!). We see reused elevator sheds all the time. In this post, one that became a guard shack for a race track: Valley Motorcycle Park. Here’s another used for storage at a camping spot: Badland’s Disc Golf & a Bit of Wayne.

Almost hidden in the bush, it’s a 1960s era Dodge LCF truck. This medium duty line was distinctive in look with a brutish flat-faced front. Over there, it’s a ca.1930s era Cockshut Hart-Parr tractor. These were supplied by the Oliver Company in the US for Canadian Cockshut, prior to the firm introducing their iconic line of “streamlined” tractors made in-house post War.

Lastly, it’s a real treasure. Bright yellow? Tailfins? It’s BIGDoer.com approved! We’ve always prayed to find a car in “company” colours and here it’s is! It glows! And double bonus for one with over the top appendages like that. We got a thing for fins don’t you know.

We’re looking at a 1957 Dodge Regent, a Canada only model that interestingly made use of many Plymouth parts. Due to this two-brand mix they’re times called a “Plodge”. These were not produced in huge numbers – in 1957, around 10-12k is suggested. Internet talk says they suffered from many quality issues. The Regent was Dodge’s budget offering and was in production for most of the ’50s across a couple generations.

This car is complete and would need little to bring it back to roadworthy condition. The current owner has had it since the mid-1980s, rescuing it from a field at that time (and using a donor engine from another car). It was used for his wedding soon after being fixed up – how cool is that? A stylish honeymoon cruiser! But it’s sat for a time – life sometimes gets in the way.

On the way home, a stop in Lyalta to look at the unique grain elevator there. It was an innovative design from the 1980s which ultimately was not the success hoped for. Still, it’s quite the stand out visually. Interestingly it’s along the last vestiges of the old Drumheller Subdivision still listed as “in use”. And yes, we visited this elevator up close a few years back. Here: Buffalo 2000.

So ends another productive day. We saw cool stuff, learned a lot, roamed backroads, gave the camera a workout and we call that a win. We so hope you enjoyed the resultant piece that came of this fun. A big thanks to the owner for allowing us in. Good times.

They’re saying…

”The stories are sentimental, but honest. Next best thing to having been there.” Martha Maudsley.

Railway archaeology…
Taunton/Fortner Bridge – Big steel abandoned.
Hike to Payne Bluff – Clinging to the side of a cliff.
Troup Junction – A loop into the lake.
East Coulee’s historic wood bridge – An historic structure.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of Adventure: July, 2019.
Location(s): Rural Alberta.
Article references and thanks: The land owner, Book – The English Colony Nightingale and District, Geoffrey Lester & University of Alberta Press, Allpar.com, Exporail.
This building is on private property & BIGDoer.com visited with permission.

Some old shed at the farm?

No, it’s an old railway crew bunkhouse.

From this angle it now looks the part.

It’s sat here for well over fifty years.

Nearby, some old metal.

From the 1960s.

This used to sit next to a grain elevator.

A 1957 Dodge Regent.

Tailfins? That colour? We approve!

There it is…Dunshalt.

An old coal fuelled heater.

On the road home, this “Buffalo”.