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One hundred years ago,
a series of milestones opened up
Central Alberta to new settlement, prosperity and optimism
culminating in the incorporation of the City of Red Deer and the
city becoming the distribution centre of the region.
In
1908, Canadian Pacific had named Red Deer as the divisional point
for the railway between Calgary and Edmonton resulting in a great
economic boom and several improvements to the railway
infrastructure. A new roundhouse, elevated coal chute, stockyards
and heavier rail had already been completed the previous year. The
wooden bridge across the river was replaced by steel in 1909. There
was talk of the thriving town becoming a metropolis and the railway
centre of Alberta with plans being drawn up for railroads branching
out in nine directions.
The following year, a new impressive station became the focal point
of downtown and a new Red Deer-based railway started construction.
1910
August 10 -
Sir Wilfred Laurier lays the first spike for
the Alberta Central
Railway
Construction begins on Alberta Central Railway west
Fall - New CPR
railway station
opens in
Red Deer
1911
Construction east on Alberta Central Railway (station, yards,
trestle, bridge)
Construction begins on ACR Mintlaw trestle
Construction completed by Canadian Northern from
Camrose to Stettler, Big Valley and Drumheller
Construction begins on CN Brazeau subdivision
(Canadian Northern Western Railway) as far west
as Sylvan Lake
Construction begins
on Burbank wooden
trestle
July 1911 - spur line
constructed from North Junction to North Red Deer
Late 1911 - agreement for CPR to take over ACR
1912
 Fall
- completion of ACR Mintlaw trestle
Canadian Northern Western reaches Rocky Mountain
House (Lochearn station)
Canadian Pacific takes over operations and
construction of Alberta Central Railway
20 feet added to CPR station Red Deer
1913
March
25 - Red Deer becomes a city
Construction of Grand Trunk Pacific from Mirror to Three Hills
Dawe:
Region celebrating century of railroad
heritage
(Red Deer Express March 2010)
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