The subject of this then and now is the former Canadian Pacific Railway Lethbridge Alberta Train Station. A fine old structure at the north end of downtown it’s well over a century old and stands where built, but is now no where near the tracks. They moved them out of the core in the 1980s. For the last couple decades it’s been a medical clinic. We’ll look at the picturesque structure just after it was built and again today.
On display here is an old stream locomotive which we’ll touch on briefly as well.
Lethbridge was founded in the 1890s. Originally it was served by some narrow gauge railways, collectively known as the “Galt Lines”, which later came under CPR control. With the tracks standard gauged and business on the rise (especially growth in coal mining), a new station was built, in 1906, replacing an earlier depot. Details about that earlier structure are sketchy but presumably it was not far away, or maybe even on the same spot, and might have dated back to the Galt Line days (update: scroll down to comments to get the full backstory).
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos and to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
Business was so good that by 1910 the station was expanded upon, more than doubling in size. For the next many decades, it was witness to the comings and goings of countless passenger trains, both locals and long distance runs heading here, there, and everywhere; to all points on the compass and all dots on the map. Or nearly so.
The passenger trade fell off over the years, especially so, post 1960. The last runs that made use the building were in the early 1970s. Afterwards, it was converted to office space for the railway.
By 1984 the CPR had moved their tracks out of downtown Lethbridge. The former yard, now a shopping centre, was relocated to Kipp (just west of Coalhurst) and the main through track moved a few blocks to to the north next to Highway #3. The station was stranded and vacant.
In 1987 it was converted to a clinic belonging to the Lethbridge Community Health Centre. The building has been historically recognized (same year, 1987) and is similar to other stations in the province, in Red Deer, Strathcona (Edmonton) and Medicine Hat.
The structure has a sandstone foundation and is wood framed with brick cladding mostly on the lower level. A large conical tower just offset from the building’s centre, is the most prominent architectural element.
The steam locomotive seen at the station, hard to photograph due to tight quarters, has been on display here since the 1960s. I think in the early days it was beside the building and not hidden away as it is today behind it. Built in 1910 (and rebuilt in the late 1920s), it’s a fine example of a type of locomotive that would have operated in the area, well into the 1950s. It appears in pretty good shape, at least visually so.
The then photo was supplied to us by a reader and is an old postcard in the public domain (no messy copyright issues). Thanks to Eric Lombard, formerly of Lethbridge, and now Calgary for supplying it. If you have or know of an old photo like this you think would make a good subject for a BIGDoer.com then and now, we encourage you send send it to us. We’ll revisit the location seen to shoot a similar image and then write about the whole experience here on this very website. You’ll get credit too – wanna be famous?
While the old photo is undated, we know it’s from the period 1906-1910, just after the station was built, but before it was made larger. That addition was well done and blends in well with the original.
Notice the good number of people milling about in the old photo. Lots of kids too! I suspect they all gathered on seeing the photographer. Film back then required sloooow shutter speeds and many people are blurred from movement. Look at those railway cars in back of the old photo. Wow! A century ago, I guess the streets of Lethbridge were dirt.
From a technical standpoint shooting a “now” photo so it’s near identical to a “then”, can be quite challenging. When doing it square on however, as was the case here, it’s rather easy in comparison, since we’re only dealing with a single dimension and not many. Still, it helps that we do this a lot. This one lined up quite well. Recall, we do it in camera.
If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!
Date: November, 2015. Location: Lethbridge, AB. Article references: The Canadian Register of Historic Places, Lethbridge Historical Society, Canadian Trackside Guides. The station and locomotive can be viewed from public property.
I remember going on the Dayliner to Calgary back in the late 1960’s. I think I was one of only a few paying customers, most passengers were the station agents wives from each town going to Bay Day and they travelled on a pass.
When the Dayliner arrived in Lethbridge for the first time, I was in Lethbridge – having come in from Foremost for the day – Dad was CPR Agent there – Home. As I walked down 8th street toward the station I herd someone yell… “Jimmie Hurry down here”. I arrived at the Dayliner where I found engineer George Emmerson and Assistant supreintentand Tom Alexander. The ushered me into the cab of the unit and told me I was going for a ride. What an experience – across the Big Bridge and back to the station. I think I was 15 or sixteen years old. A new memory was created. Who needs to say much more.
How amazing would that be to be able to catch the train and go to Calgary for the day I wish today’s society was that simple life seems like it is advancing too fast.
Rode the Dayliner from Edmonton to Lethbridge in 1960…and yes the journey across the bridge was amazing…and then rode the Dayliner to Medicine Hat where we caught The Canadian to Toronto in 1963.
In the early 1980s I lived in Lethbridge and worked at Gotschna Ski Haus right across the street from the station. When I arrived, there was a sign on the station identifying it as “San Diego” It was being used as the setting for one of the early Superman films!
Very cool! Hmm, we looked and could find no entry mentioning Lethbridge as a filming location for any of the Superman movies. Perhaps something else? Thanks for commenting!
The locomotive used to be located across the street in Galt Gardens. It was in poor repair until the Lethbridge Health Unit arranged for it to be moved across the street and placed by the station which was already in use for their offices by that time. It used to be easier to see the loco from the street and mall but then the Chapters store was built in the late 90s next door, hiding the locomotive.
Until recently there was a caboose on the east side of the building but for some reason Alberta Health Services sold it last year and it was removed. No one knew about the sale until the crew showed up to remove it.
I’ve seen old photos showing it in that prior location. Glad it was fixed up, but yes it is sort of hidden. Saw the tracks the caboose sat on. Thanks for commenting!
In the 80’s as a kid I sort of remember how the highway used to look. Looking down at all the train tracks around the area where the mall is now and a bit east. I thought I remember a great big green bridge near where Stafford is. Does anyone have pictures of this?
It was the old 9th Street Bridge (aka Sage’s Bridge or Coutts Street Bridge), being dismantled when the railway yards were relocated in the early 1980s. There is photos of it on the Lethbridge Historical Facebook page.
No problem Chris, I am in the process of doing an article for Branchlines (with the Lethbridge Train Station) and had to replicate a Ken Hooper shot from the same bridge. Its as close as I can get, considering the same bridge is long gone. Thanks!
In the 50s, we’d come into Lethbridge from Foremost, where Dad was the CPR Agent. We lived in the station. Dad would drop me off here, in the dispatcher’s office where that dispatcher would look after me. He would strap the phone mic collar on me and teach me how to send orders and instructions to trains out in the sub. Yes, he let me read out the orders, sending them to the station’s who would “hoop” the trains. I think of those memories every time I get close to that building. I live in Edmonton now.
Way back in the early 50s, I spent several months in Nanton, AB (just down the road from Lethbridge) with my mom and sister visiting with my aunt and uncle, who was both the town doctor and the mayor. It was a wonderful time in my life. Best, Andy.
Actually there was two train stations in the beginning; a station for the Galt lines and one for CPR (which was built around 1893 when CPR entered Lethbridge officially). The Galt station was in the area of the existing CPR station, and the CPR station was located on the outskirts of Lethbridge near the present day Alberta Terminals Grain Elevator. When CPR became more involved in Lethbridge, the City said one of the land / tax deals they’d give CPR is that they would move the divisional point from Fort Macleod to Lethbridge. So in 1905 CPR did such a thing, and one of the results of the move was a new ‘Union Station’.
Local contractors Smith & Wilson began construction in the fall of 1905 utilizing local brick (from Medicine Hat) & sandstone (from Cardston), and was completed in 1906.
Why Union? Because it shared space with some other railway company’s; the Alberta Railway & Coal / Irrigation company, Great Northern Railway (through their purchase of the Great Falls & Canada Railway company – a Galt subsidiary), Grand Trunk Railway, and finally CPR. However with the purchase of the remaining Galt lines in 1912 by CPR, the remaining other tenants were removed from the Station.
It's a strange curiosity in south Kananaskis, there on a hillside and we have no idea who created it. We asked around and no one's completely sure about its history. In the past it showed the Canada 100 logo from 1967 but in 2017 someone changed it to reflect the country's 150th.
That's our friend Emily from DanOCan.com having a look.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
April 13th 2024, the Beer Parlour Project visited the Viking Hotel, Viking Alberta and it too was an awesome time. There's Rob Pohl with his curious view camera and in the other photo Chris is seen interviewing local character Doug.
The Viking dates back to the 1930s and replaced a hotel on this same lot, which had earlier burned down.
Incidentally April 13th is also Chris and my 28th anniversary. Chris said he forgot this when scheduling this but that's fine and it doesn't matter where we celebrate but that we celebrate.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2024. Posted by Connie.
April 12th 2024, the Beer Parlour Project visited the Warspite Hotel, Warspite Alberta and it was a great success. They put up our sticker and look for it if you ever drop by. This will be another chapter in what will be a multi-year adventure documenting small town hotels all over the west. We chat with owners, patrons, old timers, local characters and we learn about the building too.
It's believed this one is 100 years old in 2024 and we'll confirm details during the research phase done later.
When we're done we'll have a huge collection of digital and film photos, plus voice recorded interviews for an art exhibit and a book is likely.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2024. Posted by Connie.
This little stone house was built in the 1910s and while it's not exactly clear when last occupied, research suggests it was empty only a couple decades later. This is a dry area of the Alberta and most settlers moved out by the '30s. Trees in back were planted by the folks that lived here and there's no others around as far as the eye can see. In fact, there's nothing but natural prairie in every direction. When the word "remote" comes up, this is the place they're speaking of.
Look to the comments for more info and to see a stone smokehouse also on the property 👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
The hardware business is long gone but their old sign from about a century ago remains. We were doing a little walk-about in Three Hills and had a tip to look here. It's little things like this that we love the most, hidden reminders of things that came before and clues to the past that aren't so obvious.
More info in the comments👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2023. Posted by Connie.
The Canadian Pacific Railway at Summit Lake Crowsnest Pass in 1983 and 2023. The trains still run, but the railyard and associated infrastructure is a distant memory. Haze in the now photo is from distant forest fires. The old Summit Hotel can be seen in back in both and it's one of the few things still standing here from earlier times.
The Then photo come thanks to the John Bjorklund collection at the Center for Railroad Photography & Art and is used with permission. They sent us others and we'll hopefully be putting them to use later this year.
Go to the comments for more info 👇
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Posted by Connie.
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I remember going on the Dayliner to Calgary back in the late 1960’s. I think I was one of only a few paying customers, most passengers were the station agents wives from each town going to Bay Day and they travelled on a pass.
It was a sad ending how it played out. A service no one wanted.
When the Dayliner arrived in Lethbridge for the first time, I was in Lethbridge – having come in from Foremost for the day – Dad was CPR Agent there – Home. As I walked down 8th street toward the station I herd someone yell… “Jimmie Hurry down here”. I arrived at the Dayliner where I found engineer George Emmerson and Assistant supreintentand Tom Alexander. The ushered me into the cab of the unit and told me I was going for a ride. What an experience – across the Big Bridge and back to the station. I think I was 15 or sixteen years old. A new memory was created. Who needs to say much more.
Incredible! Those are the memories that’ll stay with you forever. What a lucky kid! Thanks for sharing.
How amazing would that be to be able to catch the train and go to Calgary for the day I wish today’s society was that simple life seems like it is advancing too fast.
Agree, if only it could be done. Yes, the world is spinning too fast…
Rode the Dayliner from Edmonton to Lethbridge in 1960…and yes the journey across the bridge was amazing…and then rode the Dayliner to Medicine Hat where we caught The Canadian to Toronto in 1963.
Back when train travel was an option. Wow! And yes, that bridge crossing must have been something.
Wow! What a change!
The one constant! Amazingly the station looks much as it did even if it doubled or tripled in size.
That’s the train station my dad would have disembarked at back in 1952 as a young immigrant farm worker.
Wow, that’s so cool!
I remember going to that station to catch the DAYLINER to go to Calgary with my mom
A long time ago.
So many Dayliner memories today!
Remember taking the dayliner to calgary then edmonton in 1961 or 62.
I so wish they had intercity trains in Alberta today. I know the money’s not there, but only if they could do it like in Europe.
I remember going to that train station to meet my grandmother when she came to visit.
Such amazing memories.
I did the Dayliner run to Calgary, too. Many years ago. Best part was going over the high level bridge.
I can just imagine how spectacular that’d be!
In the early 1980s I lived in Lethbridge and worked at Gotschna Ski Haus right across the street from the station. When I arrived, there was a sign on the station identifying it as “San Diego” It was being used as the setting for one of the early Superman films!
Very cool! Hmm, we looked and could find no entry mentioning Lethbridge as a filming location for any of the Superman movies. Perhaps something else? Thanks for commenting!
Some scenes from the 1984 movie “Finders Keepers” were shot at the Lethbridge Station (thanks Jason). I suspect it may that one.
The locomotive used to be located across the street in Galt Gardens. It was in poor repair until the Lethbridge Health Unit arranged for it to be moved across the street and placed by the station which was already in use for their offices by that time. It used to be easier to see the loco from the street and mall but then the Chapters store was built in the late 90s next door, hiding the locomotive.
Until recently there was a caboose on the east side of the building but for some reason Alberta Health Services sold it last year and it was removed. No one knew about the sale until the crew showed up to remove it.
I’ve seen old photos showing it in that prior location. Glad it was fixed up, but yes it is sort of hidden. Saw the tracks the caboose sat on. Thanks for commenting!
In the 80’s as a kid I sort of remember how the highway used to look. Looking down at all the train tracks around the area where the mall is now and a bit east. I thought I remember a great big green bridge near where Stafford is. Does anyone have pictures of this?
If anyone can help him, let us know…
It was the old 9th Street Bridge (aka Sage’s Bridge or Coutts Street Bridge), being dismantled when the railway yards were relocated in the early 1980s. There is photos of it on the Lethbridge Historical Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/LethbridgeHistoricalSociety/posts/1126049577422630
Thanks for helping Jason. Nothing sadder than an old truss bridge in pieces.
No problem Chris, I am in the process of doing an article for Branchlines (with the Lethbridge Train Station) and had to replicate a Ken Hooper shot from the same bridge. Its as close as I can get, considering the same bridge is long gone. Thanks!
Love then & nows! It makes us feel like we’re time travellers. We’ll keep an eye open for that issue.
In the 50s, we’d come into Lethbridge from Foremost, where Dad was the CPR Agent. We lived in the station. Dad would drop me off here, in the dispatcher’s office where that dispatcher would look after me. He would strap the phone mic collar on me and teach me how to send orders and instructions to trains out in the sub. Yes, he let me read out the orders, sending them to the station’s who would “hoop” the trains. I think of those memories every time I get close to that building. I live in Edmonton now.
Oh my gosh, that’s some amazing memories! Lucky you!
Virtually identical to the 1910 Red Deer station.
Yes, very similar. Nice bit of architecture.
Oh, need to check this one out. I was at the one in Saskatoon a couple months back. So neat when the keep the original look.
Yes, it’s retained all the character it once had.
Way back in the early 50s, I spent several months in Nanton, AB (just down the road from Lethbridge) with my mom and sister visiting with my aunt and uncle, who was both the town doctor and the mayor. It was a wonderful time in my life. Best, Andy.
Sounds like a wonderful memory!
Nice pics. My dad worked at the station for many years.
I can just imagine how it was back then! Thanks for commenting.
Actually there was two train stations in the beginning; a station for the Galt lines and one for CPR (which was built around 1893 when CPR entered Lethbridge officially). The Galt station was in the area of the existing CPR station, and the CPR station was located on the outskirts of Lethbridge near the present day Alberta Terminals Grain Elevator. When CPR became more involved in Lethbridge, the City said one of the land / tax deals they’d give CPR is that they would move the divisional point from Fort Macleod to Lethbridge. So in 1905 CPR did such a thing, and one of the results of the move was a new ‘Union Station’.
Local contractors Smith & Wilson began construction in the fall of 1905 utilizing local brick (from Medicine Hat) & sandstone (from Cardston), and was completed in 1906.
Why Union? Because it shared space with some other railway company’s; the Alberta Railway & Coal / Irrigation company, Great Northern Railway (through their purchase of the Great Falls & Canada Railway company – a Galt subsidiary), Grand Trunk Railway, and finally CPR. However with the purchase of the remaining Galt lines in 1912 by CPR, the remaining other tenants were removed from the Station.
Admittedly, I didn’t dig too deep in regards to the earlier station and so thank you for adding to the story. This type of comment we really like.