Champion Park

This adventure we’re at Champion Park, near Okotoks. No doubt if you’ve travelled the #2 highway south of Calgary you’ve seen it. You know the place, the yard with the full size “train set”, located on the east side of the highway? That’s it! We’ve passed by it countless times and have often wondered, what’s it all about and how do we get inside? I’ve heard it’s only open by invitation and even then only if you know someone. We didn’t, or so we thought…

Imagine our amazement when we were presented with tickets, rather unexpectedly, to an event at the park. Hmm, I guess we had the right connections after all.

“All Aboard!” you are invited to: “The Grand Finale Champion Park Work Party.”

What? We get to go inside? We get to sweat a little and help clean up and maintain things? We’ll get fed? How can we refuse? The event was still a few days in the future and I felt like a kid eagerly waiting for Christmas morning. It was agonizing.

First a little about the place…

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos and to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

Champion Park is home to private collection of railway themed equipment, artifacts and structures. Included in that is an operating 1960s era locomotive, several old cabooses and freight cars, and the showpiece of the rolling stock collection, a private passenger car that once transported railway officials around. Also here are a number of historic buildings, including a nicely restored CPR train station. The park is celebrating it’s thirtieth anniversary this year. Wow, has it really been around that long?

Reminder, this facility is not normally open to the public.

I am pretty certain we’ll have plenty of time to photograph things in the park. First order of business on arriving however is to grab a quick breakfast and then get to work. There is a large pegboard with a list of jobs available and we simply pick ones that we’re qualified to do.

For our first task, Connie and I decide that the railcar Saskatchewan deserves our attention. She’ll vacuum the entire car from end to end, which is no small task. Myself, I’ll polish and oil all wood surfaces, And believe you me there is a lot of them – the walls, the ceiling and most of the furniture is made of wood, incredibly beautiful wood. It takes a couple hours to complete that job, but when done, does it shine! Sunglasses are recommended.

Saskatchewan was built in 1929 by the railway’s Angus Shops in Montreal. It is a “business“ car, that was used to transport CPR big-wigs around. No expense was spared building it, officials need to be pampered after all, and for the time it’s quite opulent and well appointed. There are several bedrooms, a full kitchen, a central eating area and a business lounge at the trail end. A rear observation deck allows one to view the passing scenery. This car has been at Champion Park since the 1980s.

Next we spend some time tidying up a former CPR bunkhouse. A building like this would be located at strategic places along a railway line and would be used by train crews for overnight accommodation between runs. I forgot to ask the people who run the park about its history. Oops!

Lunch time!

Mixing things up a bit, in the afternoon Connie and I spent the rest of our working day doing touch-up painting to the many buildings in the park. We each picked a specific colour (me CPR Brown, Connie CPR Red) and went at her. All the while we did our job, others were kept busy gardening, mowing lawns, painting as we were, and even laying some track. There is a lot to do here! The atmosphere was very party like and time passed quickly…and before we know it, it’s dinner time.

While the meal gets prepared, we spend some time checking out the equipment and buildings seen in the park.

First up is the locomotive, CPR #19, a small switching engine. Built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston Ontario in 1960, she was one of five in that order. It’s known as a model DTC-2 but is sometimes called a 44H44A1, a DT-2 or simply DTC. My official CLC book calls them DTC-2 but the locomotive builder’s plate says 44H44A1. Instead of the typical diesel engine driving a generator or alternator which then powers motors connected to the wheels, this one uses a hydraulic torque converter drive, almost like a car’s automatic transmission. This sort of system works well for small locomotives like this. CLC built locomotives from the 1850s to the late 1960s.

In total, the CPR owned fourteen of these locomotives built in the years 1957-1960. Interestingly this engine was from the last order the CPR ever placed with the company – they had been buying CLC locomotives since the 1880s! Several other DTC-2s still exist to this day, including two at the Fort Steele Heritage Park near Cranbrook BC.

This locomotive has two small diesel engines each driving one truck (or bogie). Power is sent to one axle and then transmitted to the other via a side rod arrangement. The motion of the these rods and counterweights is very steam locomotive-like.

Interestingly, this locomotive was once the switcher at the Angus Shops mentioned earlier. In the late 1960s it was retired from CPR service and between that date and 1987, when it arrived at Champion Park, it worked for a number of industrial firms.

There are several cabooses in the park, all of them built in the 1940s. One is a bay window style, which was only used on switching and transfer runs. Also seen is a 1920s era boxcar, a tank car also from the 1920s (it listed as being built in 1900, but I believe that’s wrong) and a stock car from the 1950s which was rebuilt form an older car. Rounding out the collection are some speeders, including one UK built Wickham track inspection car from the 1950s.

For this event a “caboose hop” (loco and caboose only) and later the Wickham car would (slowly) shuttle back and forth along the approximately one kilometre of track in the park, giving rides.

There are also lots of interesting buildings in the park including that bunk house we spoke of earlier (and attendant biffy) along with several old railway sheds used for storing track materials and the like. Also seen are two stations, the first is a tiny one from the (now) ghost town of Conrad Alberta. The second, and the park’s namesake and building showpiece, came in from from Champion Alberta, some 100km away. It was constructed just over a hundred years ago and was moved here in the 1980s. It’s stunning!

A section house, which we helped paint parts of, is also located on the grounds. I was so caught up in the moment, I forgot to ask where it came from. These buildings housed a worker and his family and it was his job to inspect and maintain a specific section of track. These were once common sight along most railways lines.

Also seen in the park is a large collection of track-side railway infrastructure – semaphores, old telegraph poles and one interesting wig-wag crossing signal. These were common in the first half of the twentieth century. As a train approached an arm (with warning light) would swing back and forth and a bell would sound, warning approaching drivers that a train was due.

While wandering the grounds, I ran into someone I’ve been hoping to meet for a long time. This fellow, Larry Buchan, is an amazing authority, no a human encyclopedia, of all things CPR. He’s been a great help to us many times and without his knowledge a number of reports we’ve written would be incomplete. It was an honour to spend time with him!

The dinner provided by the park was amazing. There was lots of BBQ beef, lobsters and all manner of yummy stuff. The hospitably of the owners was something else. Both Connie and I felt rather guilty, in fact, that we did not work enough to cover the amount of food we ate!

At various times in the year Champion Park hosts these work parties and we signed ourselves up for the next one. They also occasionally allow model train clubs to visit, and are a venue for social events and the like. In addition to train stuff, they have a lake for swimming or fishing and extensive grounds with gardens and green spaces. If you get a chance to visit the place, do it. Getting in is not that easy! Trust me, I’ve been trying for some time.

We were very fortunate to have blue skies this day and it made for some awesome pictures.

Thanks to Jason who helped us get the tickets needed to enter the park. It was an amazing day, a party, and we owe you one!

To see some other railway parks and museums we’ve visited, follow these links…
Alberta 2005 Centennial Railway Museum – what’s going on?
Canadian National Railway 1158.
Alberta Railway Museum – 1997.

Check out this here article…
Beachwood Estates.

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

Date of adventure: June, 2014.
Location: Champion Park near Okotoks, AB.

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Orange Glo

First, it’s time to work…

Champion Park Okotoks

A “caboose hop” passes by.

Bunk house Champion Park

Connie and I did some painting of this building, an old bunk house.

Champion Park Okotoks AB

The view east.

Okotoks Champion Park

You could catch a ride on the train (caboose) if you wished.

CPR stock car

This stock car was built in the 1950s.

Conrad AB train station

This tiny station was moved in from Conrad AB (now a ghost town).

Champion Park train display

The sky was almost perfect.

Laying track

Laying track…

Wickham railcar

This inspection car is from the 1950s.

CPR wood caboose

A wood caboose built in the 1940s.

CPR bay window caboose

A bay window style caboose was typically used on switching and transfer runs.

CPR outside braced boxcar

This outside braced boxcar is over ninety years old.

CLC DTC-2 locomotive

The tiny locomotive and its caboose fly down the tracks (or maybe crawl).

Wig-wag crossing signal

Wig-wag crossing signals were common in the first half of the twentieth century.

CPR railcar Saskatchewan

This CPR passenger car, Saskatchewan, was used to transport company officials around.

Champion Park train

A scene that could have easily have been from fifty or sixty years ago.

CPR car Saskatchewan

It took a couple hours to polish all the wood in this car.

Railcar Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan was built by the CPR shops in Montreal in 1929.

Old CPR caboose

This is a 1940s era caboose.

CPR tank car

A tank car built in the 1920s – it says 1900 on the car but I think that’s wrong.

CPR DTC-2 locomotive

This CLC DTC-2 locomotive was constructed in 1960.

CLC builder's plate

Built by the Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston Ontario.

Wickham inspection car

They also offered rides in this Wickham rail car.

Champion Park locomotive

There is perhaps a kilometre of track in the park.

CLC DTC-2 siderods

A close up of truck (bogie) assembly.

Champion Alberta station

The former Champion Alberta train station.

Canadian Locomotive Company

This engine was one of the last the CPR bought from the Canadian Locomotive Company.

CPR section house

Connie and I also did some painting of this former CPR section house.

Train station Champion AB

The station was built in 1910 and was moved here in the 1980s.

Dogs playing in water

Dogs having some fun.

Champion Park railway park

It was an honur to meet Larry Buchan (in the chair), a true authority on all things CPR.

Champion Park work party

Our invite!

Champion Park Okotoks work party

Jobs pulled from the work-board that Connie and I did.

31 responses

  1. T. Todd says:

    Hi, my name is Todd Hennig and I am the nephew of Mr. Knowlton and grandchild of Frederick (Ted) Knowlton. My mother was Judith (Judi) Hennig, nee Knowlton. She was quite a bit younger than Gerald and the eldest, Gwynneth Wallace, nee Knowlton. She was given the pet name and was called the Little Caboose. It was one reason why Mr. Knowlton had a few at the park. I remember many great hordes of gatherings there with so many friends and family in summer celebrations. I have not been there in several years but now that I have a daughter we will be going once COVID is no longer a matter of concern. It is great to see Okotoks has been given stewardship of this great monument to Canadian history. It is also great to see several positive comments and the positive experiences of friends to the park as well. Yes, there was always great food and great times. I will always remember my grandfather pounding his fist on the table and say, “Golly, girl! Good food!” That always brought a smile to all around us.

    • Those are the memories that’ll last with you forever. Thanks for sharing Todd! We sure had a good time at that work party and would love to go back sometime.

  2. Henry (Big H ) Niznik says:

    Beautiful photos. Seen it from the highway numerous times but miss a lot at 110 KPH. I always wanted to see this wonderful display. Never hear much about it. I remember that station when I stopped to get a photo of it on the Canada Day weekend in 1977. Great to see it preserved . It is like the one Irricana had before it got demolished circa 1974.

    • Thanks, it was so much fun to document Champion Park. The place flew under the radar give it was a private collection. You saw the station while still in Champion? Awesome! There used to be so many like it.

  3. John Black says:

    Loved going to Champion Park when I was living in Calgary!

  4. Jim Tustian says:

    Gerald Knowlton did a marvellous thing, establishing this park as a tribute to his Dad, the Station Agent at Champion.

  5. Judy Dahl says:

    Another extremely interesting article and photos. Thank you for sharing.

  6. Lamont Rustamova says:

    I still recall when the station moved from Champion to its present location.

  7. Got to check out the Park today, was very fun! Sadly no locomotive or inspection car rides… We signed up for ‘future’ volunteer work as well.

    And yes, you are welcome for those tickets 😛

    • Saw your pics online…nice. How could it not be fun to visit the place, even if access to some things was restricted. We’re still thankful for those tickets!

  8. Kevin says:

    Great article. This park is going to be donated to the Town of Okotoks. This is very good news. Here is the article.

    okthepk.ca/news/sep3heritage2016091601.htm (now offline)

    • Good news. Love that place. Don’t mind the OKthePK website using our photos, but is their reporter so lazy that they couldn’t even be bother to give us credit for them? Sigh…

      • Kevin says:

        I didn’t realize they used your photos at the bottom of the article. Certainly some credit and a link to your blog would be a nice payment. Keep up the great work.

        • It shows a real lack of professionalism. Actually quite shocked by it. Wrote them, but of course not expecting them to act on it given their cavalier actions before.

          • Ref: Use of your photos on my website OKthePK…

            There was no photographer’s name attached to the photos so that’s why the photographer wasn’t credited.

            If you check the website you will see some show the photographer’s name while others are labelled “Anonymous Photographer”.

            Most do not supply their name.

            I haven’t received any eMail from anyone at this site.

            Only discovered this website by accident.

          • Thanks for commenting.

            Where to start…

            Photographer credit? See: https://www.bigdoer.com/using-content/
            This link is on every single page on the BIGDoer site in multiple places.
            Even if Google was used to collect the photos the website they’re pulled from is still listed.
            If who ever downloaded the images was not able to figure out who they belonged to, and when they were shot – the article they reside in also includes both a shoot date and published date – perhaps you need someone new to do this. What you said couldn’t be found could not be more obvious.

            We happily lend sites like yours use of images, just for a little credit. This credit brings us traffic and that traffic helps pay the bills here at our non-profit historical society. Not asking for much, and got much less.

            We did email you. Checked, it went through. Perhaps it got routed to a spam folder (in our experience they’re often unreliable), or just perhaps overlooked. Here it is…

            “Hi guys,

            This article.

            okthepk.ca/news/sep3heritage2016091601.htm (now offline)

            Don’t mind you using our pics, not in the least, but come on give credit please. Your reporter didn’t know where they came from? Sigh…

            https://www.bigdoer.com/15611/exploring-history/champion-park

            Have a good one,”

            As it was said in that email above, have a good one,

  9. Chris Roy says:

    I pass this train almost daily. I noticed that he has put Christmas lights on a few of his cars and they look fantastic.

  10. Roger Burke says:

    So awesome to see people trying to keep a part of our great history.
    Great job and keep up the good work.

  11. J Gardiner says:

    Wow, you’re one lucky couple! What a great place to visit.

  12. Malcolm M says:

    The parents of the woman who I date own the park. You would have probably met them that day for the work party. We live in Toronto and it was not possible for us to come out to the event.

    This will be my first visit to the park. We are there for a wedding next weekend and on Monday they are moving the trains back into the building so will get a chance to see them in action. I am very excited.

    Thank you for your great description. I will be sure to admire your work when I am there!

    Cheers,
    Malcolm

    • Opps, somehow missed your message.

      Have fun Malcolm, it’s a great place. And put on your sunglasses when entering the car Saskatchewan. The wood glows!

  13. shamrock says:

    Pretty awesome, I was just passed by there yesterday!

  14. wartpuss says:

    Amazing photos! I’ve seen the trains from the highway and often wondered about them.

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