CALGARY'S HERITAGE PARK
Classic Western Canadian History
With
more than 200 exhibits and attractions spread over 127 acres of
parkland, Heritage Park Historical Village has a lot to offer
history buffs and railroad fans. Live steam train rides,
restored turn of the century amusement rides, an auto museum,
and heritage buildings offering homemade cinnamon buns, ice
cream, and full meals appeal to everyone. Antique cars, a 1905
bus, a horse drawn bus, a working railroad turntable, a
paddlewheel cruise ship on the reservoir, and a replica of the
first oil well drilling rig in Alberta are just a few of the
operating exhibits.
The
Park is 50 years old (2014) which makes it a historic site that
is itself a historic site. Most of the restored buildings date
back 75 to 100 years ago. The railway equipment covers the
period from open platform passenger cars of the late 1800s to
the 1949 vintage 2-10-4 Selkirk, CPR #5931 on display. The
working steamers are ex US Army 0-6-0 switchers, painted as CPR
#2023 and 2024. CPR 2018 is a
dieselized 0-6-0, used rarely. An operating restored Calgary
streetcar carries passengers from the parking lot to the Park
gates.
CPR 5934 on display in 1968 in downtown Calgary, before she was
moved to the Park. Renumbered to its original #5931 in 1991.
CPR #2024 at the grain elevator =>
The normal Heritage Park passenger train consist is
either 2023 or 2024 and passenger cars Morrissey, Fernie &
Michel Ry #62 and 63, built around 1885; as well as Canadian
National Observation Car #15097, built in 1892. A freight with
box car, stock car, tanker, and caboose is also run, with other
special cars on display at the roundhouse. On Railway Days, both
freight and passenger trains are run, as well as double-header
passenger trains and turntable demonstrations.
A
diesel powered replica of the SS Moyie, a sternwheel paddle
steamer, cruises Glenmore reservoir beside the Park. The
original paddle wheeler was built in 1898 and sits fully
restored as a National Historic Site in Kaslo, BC. The ride runs
about 45 minutes and is the most peaceful thing you can do in
Calgary, short of canoeing the Reservoir at sunrise in June.
The following pre-digital photos were taken at Railway Days
sometime in the late 1990's. It was dull and rainy so the photos
lack that great Kodachrome colour.
CPR #5931 AT THE HERITAGE PARK
GATES
HERITAGE PARK STREETCARS
The
double ended street car carries patrons from the parking lot to
the park gates. Calgary Municipal #14 is a restored original
car; #15 was built from spare parts with a brand new body to
match #14 (after these photos were taken).
HERITAGE PARK TRAINS
Trains run all day at Railway Days, with a passenger, a freight,
a mixed, and a double-header alternating around the loop, making
for a lot of similar but different photo opportunities.
CPR 0-6-0 #2023
CPR 0-6-0 #2024
SOME HERITAGE PARK
SCENES and Vehicles
There
are more than 200 historic structures in the Park; almost all
are open to the public May through October. The auto museum and
some other activities are open year round.
CPR 0-6-0 #2023 with the Dingman #1 oilwell
replica in the background.
Dingman #1 oilwell replica
