The CPR’s Lacombe Subdivision parallels Highway #12 for a fair distance east of the QE11. This track begins in its namesake community (with a connection to the firm’s N/S mainline) and terminates in Stettler where it connects with Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions (the Stettler to Big Valley tour train). A sleepy little branch it see a few movements per week but a giant new grain terminal built put in after these photos were captured should result in an increase in traffic.
On our visit, the odds of randomly capturing a train on the line were pretty slim so imagine our surprise when off in the distance it’s a headlight approaching. There we were driving home and boom. Slam on the brakes, jump out like a madman, fire up the camera, and seconds later it arrives. It’s a short one and so quickly gone.
A horse and donkey take interest in us, briefly, then it’s back to munching grass. Not clearly seen in the photos, due to the distance, a dog greeted the train and its enthusiasm suggested it does this with each one that passes. It was barking wildly and running this way and that out there in the field.
This stretch of track dates back to the early 1900s and once went all the way into Saskatchewan. Present day, traffic is a mix of petroleum related and agriculture products mostly and it’s also the tour train’s only connection to the outside world.
This may seem like a nothing event, but given the timing needed for it to happen, it was made something special. We’ve seen another train on the line, years back, but given how many times we’ve been beside it, that’s all. With that new grain traffic perhaps it’ll happen more and since we’re often in the area we look forward to more Lacombe Subdivision action.
Short Subjects: reports that are short and sweet in nature. It’s stuff interesting enough in itself, but not deserved of the full on BIGDoer.com treatment. Think silly little snippets, vignettes and likewise things of that sort and you’ll be in and out in no time.
Yes, that’ll change everything. Word on the street says the grain trains should be running soon or maybe they already have. We were watching them upgrade the track last time we were in the area and they put in some heavy rail. Quite the contrast to what was!
It’s actually quite scenic in places, more so than many prairie branchlines. With that new grain terminal near Stettler coming on line, it should be busier now. They can run the big power now that they’ve put in heaver rail.
We used to do something called the "pointless challenge" 🤪 and miss those days. It was so much silly fun and often frustrating as heck. In these we'd invite people to send in random photos of obscure locations, but not give any information, and then we'd track where it was and shoot something similar.
Most of these came from old family collections, as was the case here. Anyone up to resurrecting the series?
In hindsight, why didn't we pose someone in our shot?
Pointless: “Devoid of meaning (or) senseless” Merriam-Webster.
If you like what we do and want to support this ongoing project (12 years now), go here: https://www.BIGDoer.com/help-the-society/ Thanks to Connie for making this post possible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: ca1970 and 2014. Posted by Connie.
Captured on a cold, cold day many years ago. We've been passing this old house for decades and it's little changed in that time. At some point we expect to drive by and it'll be gone.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
When retired old railway cars usually get cut up for scrap. Sometimes, however, they find their way into the hands of the general public or whomever. Flat cars make good bridges, and boxcars can be transformed into storage buildings and the like. Case in point here. We see them used like this often enough and in this case, it's part of a corral.
Incidentally, this boxcar dates from 1950 and this was found by tracing the old road number, which is still visible.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2017. Posted by Connie.
This central Alberta racetrack was never a commercial operation but instead just a fun place for car enthusiasts in the area to get together. Early '70s or thereabouts and it only lasted a few years. Even thought it's been abandoned for that long, there is no doubt what was here.
You know we like the the obscure stuff and this one fits the bill perfectly. Found by accident while backroad cruising and the history comes thanks to local car guy Mike.
Exploring history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
On top of little Myrtle Mountain in the Kimberley (BC) Nature Park.
There's some good wilderness fun to be had here and nice views as you can see, but the real reason we came is mining history. The whole area near the ski hill was extensively worked over a century ago and we were looking for evidence of this. We didn't find much in the area searched, but it's a big chunk of property and we hope to return to cover more ground again soon. Of all the subjects we cover, mining related is a favourite.
Still, it was a good hike and that can't be bad. Look to the comments for more info 👇.
Exploring nature and history with Off the Beaten Path with Chris & Connie. Photo: 2022. Posted by Connie.
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.
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That dog was so excited to see the train!
I can relate.
With that new grain terminal trains on the line should be more frequent and longer.
Yes, that’ll change everything. Word on the street says the grain trains should be running soon or maybe they already have. We were watching them upgrade the track last time we were in the area and they put in some heavy rail. Quite the contrast to what was!
Nice! Looks like an interesting line to railfan!
It’s actually quite scenic in places, more so than many prairie branchlines. With that new grain terminal near Stettler coming on line, it should be busier now. They can run the big power now that they’ve put in heaver rail.