Sitting along the highway in the little rural community of Ryley Alberta, it’s a most curious structure. Could that be an old…railway station? Indeed, or so it used to be, and while still looking the part the trains don’t stop anymore. It’s not even beside the tracks. Last home to the Ryley Grand Central Roadhouse and Pub, the building is a tad run down but it almost appears as though someone is working on it. We don’t know to what end.
The town of Ryley (named Equity early on) was founded about a hundred and ten years ago with the arrival of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. This line is still used by Canadian National and runs a bit to the north (with the town in behind). There used to be a station on 50th and 50th there in downtown, looking much like this, but it was moved to a “private museum” down the road in the 1970s. Could this be the same building repatriated? Or if no, where did it come from? A search turns up nothing.
If you know more, please speak up.
Every town served by the railway once had a depot like this, but their day is long gone and those few left can mostly be found at museums. Every once in while, however, you can find one out in the wild as we did here. Wished it open so we could have stopped in for a beer…
Short Subjects: reports that are short and sweet in nature. It’s stuff interesting enough in itself, but not deserved of the full on BIGDoer.com treatment. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and likewise things of that sort and you’ll be in and out in no time.
This structure is definitely a GTP Type E station, their standard design for small towns. The second floor bay window gives it away.
Citing info from Charles Bohi’s “Canadian National’s Western Depots”, this site claims that the station currently at Ryley is originally from Dinant, which was the first station north of Camrose on the GTP’s Tofield-Calgary branchline. Nothing remains there today.
rrshs.org/Alberta/abrrstruc.htm
railways.library.ualberta.ca/Maps-9-1-5/
The former GTP line from Tofield to Barlee (just north of Camrose) became the CN Kingman Subdivision. The southern half through Dinant had already been abandoned by the time of the 1977 Hall Commission’s review of prairie grain transportation, as only the Kingman-Tofield section was mentioned in their report. This report noted that the line had last handled revenue freight in 1974, and recommended it for swift abandonment.
We knew of Bohi’s book and even searched it out, as we knew it probably held the answer, but didn’t find a copy available to us in the little time we had. The latter has been lacking lately. In any case, that website did the job and thank you for sharing it. It’s not well indexed by search engines, which could explain why we missed it, but does hold some interesting info! I recall reading that government publication (on paper) long ago. It’s a fascinating look back and really helps explain the reasons behind all those abandoned lines. Once again, thank you for adding to the story.
(A long read) After twelve years it's time to put a face to the name and come clean on something. That's rarely-seen Chris in the photo, one half of Team BIGDoer, my best friend for almost thirty years and orchestrator of everything you see here. For his entire adult life, he's battled a deep depression.
Mostly it's manageable, but there are extended bouts where it's crippling and his life comes to a grinding halt. Sometimes there are days or weeks where he's lost. Sleep does not come easy at this time and further aggravates the issue. As he ages, it's worsening and seems intent on destroying him from the inside.
If you see a lack of posts here, or ones poorly worded, confusing or simply off, it's from one of these periods.
Through all this, he remains as kind, thoughtful and loving as ever, but is somewhere else. To the family, it's just Chris and accepted as it should be. The kids and grandkids adore him no less. Until today, however, this has been hidden from the outside world, although closer friends and some readers were probably already suspect of his condition. I hope admitting this does not break the site.
He finds clarity when we're out and doing things, hiking or documenting something historic and it's only THE reason this page and our website exists. It's therapy. Then he's a new and passionate person, but the monster as he calls it always returns. The Beer Parlour Project has brought out a side I've never seen and when out in the field he's never been so on point and confident.
This post is not for sympathy but to inform. Just so you know where he is and here's what you can do to help (a last ditch request)...
If you see a missed comma or oddly worded sentence in a post, please be kind. You'll probably see his uncertainty when he's off and be nice there too. But if you like what you see, even if the write up could be presented better, post your encouragement. Say something and say it loud...it's important and will keep him sharing. Help Chris get better by cheering him on.
Other than some photos that are mine, everything else comes from him. All the tiring research and the writing (he admits he's NOT a writer), are his.
Chris puts every dollar he makes into this "project of a lifetime", and it's supplemented by donations from readers who enjoy the content. If you want to help...
Admittedly he was not thrilled with the idea of posting this but agrees it probably should be said, even if it makes him uneasy. He doesn't like appearing in photos either. He's so shy, thinks he looks goofy and hates his husky eyes. I love them and they're windows into a wonderful, complex and quiet, but tortured soul. It breaks my heart when he's in a bad space.
This image comes thanks to photographer Arturo Pianzola and was captured while exploring the historic Riverview Mental Hospital in Coquitlam BC. Chris thought since he was in the area last year, he'd stop by to visit with a grandfather he never really knew, who spent his last years at the facility and is buried on the grounds.
Thanks for listening and your understanding. Hopefully we'll see you next week. Johanna (Connie).
Journey of Natty Gann (Disney 1985) and the same location in the Crowsnest Pass 2014. We're visiting the Pass over the new year, as we often do, and this time we'll be staying at a house that appears (briefly) in the film. How cool, eh? Chris has decided it's time on this visit to reshoot this and other Natty Gann comparison shots we did from ten years ago. Stay tuned!
This scene was shot in historic downtown Coleman and shows the former Holyk's Grocery. It was built in the early 1900s and the store closed in the '60s. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Johanna (Connie).
From 2015. Rob Pohl and his strange old-style view camera joined us in documenting the Laing House (with permission). Head down to the comments to see an amazing coincidence with something I found inside.
From the Crossley slides, it's an undated view of Towers School, out near Cluny Alberta. It was originally called Swastika School but that's before the word and symbol were ruined by negative connotations. Built 1922. Gone? _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
The same alley in downtown Calgary's west end, in the 1970s & today. You have to look hard to see the connection! The area was quite run down back then and is in stark contrast to all the shiny condo towers seen present day. Calgary Place West, an apartment block, appears in both images although it's barely a sliver in ours. Check the comments for more info.
Photo credit: James Tworow collection. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Lost highways (2022): a section of old #93 in Southeastern BC. That BIGDoer-mobile is gone now but quite famous and had a following of its own. Old mine roads, cow paths, 4x4ing across fields - no problem and people would recognize us out in remote areas just by this car. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Makes me think of the station in my home town which was saved and made into a tea house.
Viking? It’s similar in look to this one.
This structure is definitely a GTP Type E station, their standard design for small towns. The second floor bay window gives it away.
Citing info from Charles Bohi’s “Canadian National’s Western Depots”, this site claims that the station currently at Ryley is originally from Dinant, which was the first station north of Camrose on the GTP’s Tofield-Calgary branchline. Nothing remains there today.
rrshs.org/Alberta/abrrstruc.htm
railways.library.ualberta.ca/Maps-9-1-5/
The former GTP line from Tofield to Barlee (just north of Camrose) became the CN Kingman Subdivision. The southern half through Dinant had already been abandoned by the time of the 1977 Hall Commission’s review of prairie grain transportation, as only the Kingman-Tofield section was mentioned in their report. This report noted that the line had last handled revenue freight in 1974, and recommended it for swift abandonment.
publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2016/bcp-pco/CP32-26-1977-1-3-eng.pdf
We knew of Bohi’s book and even searched it out, as we knew it probably held the answer, but didn’t find a copy available to us in the little time we had. The latter has been lacking lately. In any case, that website did the job and thank you for sharing it. It’s not well indexed by search engines, which could explain why we missed it, but does hold some interesting info! I recall reading that government publication (on paper) long ago. It’s a fascinating look back and really helps explain the reasons behind all those abandoned lines. Once again, thank you for adding to the story.