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Rail being laid for heritage line
reprinted from Red Deer
Advocate (Paul Cowley) September 2, 2010
Work has begun on a project to
lay 12 kilometres of track from Stettler to Red Willow for use by
historic rail tours and to boost tourism.
Grading is nearly complete along the abandoned rail line north of
Stettler that will be used to extend rail tours north to the small
hamlet of a few dozen people. Once the gravel has been laid, the
tracks will be laid, a project expected to be completed by the end
of March.
The project is being led by the East Central Alberta Heritage
Society (ECAHS) whose decade-long goal has been to restore the rail
line on the east side of Hwy 56 ripped up for scrap in 1997. The
society was able to raise enough money to buy the rail from Stettler
to Big Valley and Alberta Prairie Railway runs popular tours along
the 30-kilometre line.
Western Economic Diversification Canada gave the project to extend
the line a big boost last year when $2.6 million in funding was
announced and provided through Canadian Badlands, which promotes
tourism in that stretch of Alberta. Since that announcement, another
$600,000 has been raised through provincial and corporate funding,
which will cover the cost of building the line to Red Willow.
An important hurdle was overcome recently when the society found the
80-pound steel rail necessary for the first leg.
Rail, ties and spikes were bought (from) Cando Contracting Ltd., a
railway salvage company in Brandon, Manitoba. Cando is also
supplying some of the equipment needed to lay the rail, as well as
providing a $350,000 cash donation.
Local, provincial and national contractors will lay the track.
Society president Norma Leslie said they still plan one day to
extend the track another 12 kilometres to Donalda.
"(ECAHS) will continue to pursue funding opportunities to extend the
rail from Red Willow to Donalda, and beyond, but for the present the
focus is on the projects we have begun.
"There is no definite target date, at this time, for the next
extension," she said.
In the meantime, work is expected to begin on a number of linear
parks that will be built at key points along the entire line. The
work will also be funded mostly through the Western Economic
Diversification Canada's Community Adjustment Fund, which provided
$732,000 to build the parks. Another $60,000 came through private
and corporate donations.
Consultations with landowners, environmental surveys and other
preliminary work has been completed and fencing and grooming is
already underway.
Leslie said five parks will go ahead and are expected to be
completed by the end of March. They are slated for near Edberg,
Meeting Creek, Big Valley, Rowley and Morrin.
News article: Relic caboose gets new home
(Red Deer Advocate May 2013)
News article: Rail link effort chugging along
(Red Deer Advocate May 2013)
News article: Big Valley station banks on
restored roof
(Stettler Independent Apr.2013)
Blog: Big Valley Canadian Northern Station
Celebrates 100 Years
(RETROactive Sept.2012)
News article: Track for historic railway tours
likely to be done by late summer
(Red Deer Advocate June 2011)
Feature article: 6060 turns 66
(Red Deer Express Sept.2010)
News article: Stettler group wants to convert
grain elevator into museum
(Red Deer Advocate May 2010)
News article: Train track wanted
(Red Deer Advocate May 2010)
News article: Major funding will restore rail
line to Donalda
(Stettler Independent Oct.2009)
Canadian Northern Railway in Central Alberta
(CNR)
- Camrose to Drumheller
Canadian National Railway Stations in Central Alberta
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