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The 100 th Year of the ACR and the Mintlaw Trestle

Explore how the Calgary & Edmonton Railway and the Alberta Central Railway, along with the construction of the Mintlaw Trestle, contributed to the growth and prosperity of West Central Alberta in the early 1900s.

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The 100 th Year of the ACR and the Mintlaw Trestle

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  1. The 100th Year of the ACR andthe Mintlaw Trestle Its Impact on the Development of West Central Alberta Forth Junction Heritage Society Annual General Meeting October 25, 2012

  2. The Calgary & Edmonton Railway Calgary & Edmonton Railway (partially owned by Mackenzie & Mann) constructs line north from Calgary and establishes townsite at Red Deer 1890 C&E builds timber bridge across Red Deer River 1890-91; continues line north to Strathcona 1891; CPR assumes control of C&E Railway 1892

  3. The Calgary & Edmonton Railway New Red Deer C&E/CPR combination station and freight house built 1892; similar stations built at Innisfail, Lacombe, Ponoka, Olds, Carstairs, Wetaskiwin, Leduc, Strathcona, Airdrie and south of Calgary

  4. The Alberta Central Railway Schematic plan for Alberta Central Railway -Yellowhead Pass to Moose Jaw & Hudson BayACR chartered 1901 with headquarters in Red Deer - led by John T. Moore – construction delayed until 1910

  5. The Calgary & Edmonton Railway Red Deer becomes CPR divisional point 1908 establishing town as distribution centre of Central Alberta timber bridge replaced by steel 1908

  6. The Calgary & Edmonton Railway New Red Deer CPR station (centre) built 1910 to replace first station (right) built 1892 (relocated & used for freight); station addition 1912

  7. The Alberta Central Railway Letter of approval from Wilfrid Laurier to construct ACR from Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House 1910

  8. The Alberta Central Railway 102 Years AgoSir Wilfrid Laurier arrives at Red Deer CPR station August 10, 1910

  9. The Alberta Central Railway 102 Years AgoSir Wilfrid Laurier(with John T. Moore) drives first spike for Alberta Central Railway in south Red Deer east of C&E RailwayAugust 10, 1910; construction begins from C&E Railway at Forth to Mountview, yard and station built, line graded to Pine Lake

  10. Canadian Northern Western Railway Subsidiary of Canadian Northern Railway owned by Mackenzie & Mann 1911 Construction of Canadian Northern Western Railway begins from Warden (near Stettler) via Alix and Burbank to Sylvan Lake, branch built south to North Red Deer 1912 CNWR reaches Rocky Mountain House1914 CNWR reaches Brazeau coal fields at Nordegg

  11. Prosperity and Optimism1908-1914 From 1901 to 1912, the population of Red Deer rose from 323 (smaller than Lacombe or Innisfail) to almost 3,000 . . . and due to the economic boom as result of railway building around Red Deer and west . . .1913 Red Deer becomes cityanticipating a population of at least 20,000 by 19201913 Sylvan Lake becomes townwith 2 railway stations in close proximity

  12. Prosperity and Optimism1908-1914 Plans for 3 railways in 6 directions through Red DeerC & E (CPR)CNWR (CNR)ACR (CPR)plus 3 more nearbyrepresenting the settlement and development of Western Canada

  13. The Alberta Central Railway Forth JunctionThe ACR crosses the Calgary & Edmonton Railway (CPR) and Waskasoo Creek 1911 at Forth (south Red Deer) connecting Mountview and Westpark East of bridge, including trestle over Piper Creek and yard in Mountview, abandoned after ACR absorbed into CPR

  14. The Mintlaw Bridge Construction of 2,112’ long, 110’ high steel trestle begins 1911

  15. The Mintlaw Bridge ACR goes bankrupt due to inflationary pressure of booming economy around Red Deer. CPR leases line for 999 years and completes bridge in fall 1912

  16. The Alberta Central Railway Cygnet (Burnt) Lake drained to allow ACR roadbed construction;ACR built to high standard while CNWR built to basic standard

  17. The Alberta Central Railway Rival railways 1912-14 Alberta Central Railway and Canadian Northern Western Railwaywith conflicts and sabotageACR builds bridge across North Saskatchewan 1912 CNWR reaches Rocky Mountain House in 1912ACR reaches Rocky Mountain House in 1914 after bankruptcyCNWR obliged to share ACR river bridge

  18. The Alberta Central Railway 1280’ Horseguard Trestle near Eckville under construction 1911 - later earth-filled

  19. The Alberta Central Railway 725’ North Saskatchewan River bridge at Rocky Mountain House built in 1911 – shared with CNWR

  20. The Alberta Central Railway Portable – Mintlaw, Cygnet, Sylvan Lake, Benalto, Crawshaw, Kootuk (Eckville), Hespero, Condor, Alhambra, Lochearn, Rocky Mountain House West built 1912-15 Sylvan Lake & BenaltoCPR Std 14A built 1924, 1928 Rocky Mountain HouseCPR Std A3 built 1920 Mixed passenger service 3x per week 1913-1957

  21. The Alberta Central Railway Sylvan Lake built 1924 Red Deer built 1912 Rocky Mountain Housebuilt 1920 Benalto built 1928 Stations of the Alberta Central Railway (CPR design)small stations originally built at Red Deer, Mintlaw, Cygnet, Sylvan Lake, Benalto 1912-13new stations later built by CPR at Sylvan Lake and Benalto (now moved or destroyed)

  22. The Alberta Central Railway built 1915 Built 1920; destroyed by fire 1967 Rocky Mountain House (Lochearn)

  23. The Alberta Central Railway

  24. The Alberta Central Railway 1955

  25. The Alberta Central Railway Privately-owned former Alberta Central Railway original right of way southwest of Red Deerabandoned 1962 when junction moved to Tuttle siding (near Gasoline Alley) due to construction of Highway 2 expresswayright of way sold to landowners

  26. ACR/CPR & CNWR Sylvan Lake Sylvan Lake flourished early as tourist town as result of arrival of railways (former ACR line is curved area on left; Canadian National (CNWR) on right)

  27. Mintlaw Tiny community had small Searle elevator (relocated) and small portable station with passenger service Bachusky photo

  28. Last Train 1981 Benalto McLoughlin photo

  29. The Mintlaw Bridge 1985 Mintlaw Trestle prior to rail removal; last train 1981;abandoned 1983

  30. The Mintlaw Bridge east today

  31. The Mintlaw Bridge west today

  32. The Mintlaw Bridge today CPR donates Mintlaw bridge to Red Deer County for $1 in 2009-2010Bridge identified as significant historical resource in Heritage Inventory 2009Bridge Preservation and Public Access Strategy completed Spring 2012Major Central Alberta landmark for 100 years in Sept. 2012“CPR is planning to donate Mintlaw bridge to Red Deer County for use as part of a recreational trail.” – IBI Mintlaw Bridge Valuation Sept. 2009

  33. The Mintlaw Bridge today Mintlaw trestle purchased by Red Deer County2010repairs 2011major landmark for 100 yearsclose to historic Calgary & Edmonton Traillooking west toward Red Deer River

  34. The Mintlaw Bridge today - longest existing rail structure in Central Alberta; - longest abandoned rail structure in Alberta; - 3rd longest steel trestle in Western Canada, - 5th longest railway bridge in Albertalooking east toward Tuttle siding(Gasoline Alley 2A opp. Lantern St.)

  35. The Mintlaw Bridge today ACR Mintlaw bridge looking south from west side of Red Deer River Historical significance: historic landmark, symbol of optimism and entrepreneurship of Central Albertans, largest remaining relic of ACR, opened up for settlement the area west of Red Deer to the Rockies, provided passenger and freight service, catalyst for major boom resulting in Red Deer becoming a city in 1913

  36. Red Deer County proposed ACR Trail – Red Deer to Benalto Award-winning Red Deer County Open Spaces Master Plan adopted 2009showing former Alberta Central Railway right of way as future trail

  37. Red Deer County proposed ACR Trail – Red Deer to Benalto Red Deer River Valley & Tributaries Concept Park Plan adopted 2010showing potential future trails using ACR ROW, river valley and Sylvan Creek

  38. Mintlaw Bridge Public Access & Preservation Strategy RDCo 2012 Adopted for information only on April 10, 2012

  39. Potential Trails via Mintlaw Bridge Proposed Red Deer – Sylvan Lake Trail using former Alberta Central Railway (CPR) right of waywith potential Sylvan Creek direct link

  40. Potential Trans Canada Trail – Red Deer to Springbrook Former ACR Corridors including Mintlaw Bridge as alternate alignments of Trans Canada Trail (Green)Red Deer to Springbrook using linkage from Bower Ponds through Maskepetoon Park under Highway 2 and CPR along river to Sylvan Creek with other possible future trail alignmentspossible funding opportunity for creation of trail and rehabilitiation of Mintlaw Trestle

  41. TransCanada Rail Bridge Trail Red Deer CPR bridge built 1908; abandoned 1991; now part of Trans Canada Trail

  42. TransCanada Rail Bridge Trails Iron Horse (multi-use) TrailBeaver River CNR BridgeWaskatenau to Cold Lake, Heinsburgincludes Bonnyville, St. Paul, Smoky LakeTrans Canada Trail Kettle Valley Railway (CPR) Trail southern BCincludes Merritt, Princeton, Penticton, Myra Canyon, Midway Trans Canada Trail

  43. TransCanada Rail Bridge Trails Sky Trail, Outlook , SaskN. Saskatchewan River CPR BridgeCanada’s longest pedestrian bridge at 3000 ft.Trans Canada Trail Kinsol Trestle Trail Vancouver Island BCtimber trestle 144 ft. tall, 617 ft. long Trans Canada Trail

  44. The 100th Year of the ACR andthe Mintlaw Trestle Its Impact on the Development of West Central Alberta Forth Junction Heritage Society Annual General Meeting October 25, 2012

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