|
"History is who we are and why we are the way we
are." - David McCullough
"If you would understand anything, observe its
beginning and its development."
- Aristotle
Current Railway Heritage Preservation in Central Alberta
The Forth Junction Project
envisions collaboration with existing heritage groups and nurturing
an appreciation for the evolution of built ground transportation
heritage by
 -
nurturing a passion
for the
continuous evolution of trails,
trains and transit;
- collaborating
with various
organizations and museums to
preserve the existing built ground
transportation heritage assets of
Central Alberta;
 - promoting tourism
by
integrating existing rail-themed
heritage attractions of Central
Alberta, as a marketing package,
with organized or self-guided tours;
- expanding the railway theme
to create a representation of the
settlement
and economic
development of Western Canada;
 -
creating a
unique
world-class focal point
in the Red Deer area
that celebrates the impact of
the railway on the economic
and social fabric of
Western
Canada;
- creating a unique
interpretive
railway
and transit heritage,
family activity and
nature park
close to Red Deer near the CPR rail corridor or
significant heritage
railway site with replicated railway stations as well as a rail, trail
and transit-themed family entertainment park
Preservation and
Integration
The preservation and integration of existing built ground
transportation heritage capital and rail-themed attractions and
features includes:
- ACR Mintlaw trestle southwest of Red Deer,
- ACR pier along Taylor
Drive Red Deer,
- CPR Red Deer river bridge historic site,
- CPR Red Deer station historic site,
- the 'Arches' and fountain Red Deer,
- station replications at Penhold and Lacombe,
- Delburne GTP station museum, water tank,
- CPR Bowden station and display at Innisfail,
- Alberta Prairie Stettler steam train
tours,
- CNR 6060 Mountain locomotive Stettler,
- CNor stations Stettler and Big Valley,
- Restored grain elevators Stettler, Big Valley,
 - Big Valley roundhouse interpretive centre,
- Canadian Railway Hall of Fame Big Valley,
- Meeting Creek CNor station and elevator
- Mirror museum, CN caboose and boxcar
- CPR Didsbury railway station historic site
- Three Hills museum, CN caboose, station
 - the Nordegg Colleries National Historic Site,
- Alberta Central Museum near Wetaskiwin,
- CPR Tees station at Paskapoo Park Rimbey
- Camrose railway station musuem and park,
- Centennial railway museum Beiseker
Expansion of Railway
Theme
- Historically designate and restore the former
Alberta
Central Railway Mintlaw steel
river trestle with a complimentary
interpretive centre and repurpose the bridge
and former rail right of way as part of a regional
trail and park system
in collaboration with Central
Alberta Regional Trails Society and neighbouring
municipalities.
 -
Replicate the unique CPR F1a
Jubilee 4-4-4
streamlined steam locomotive
3001 'The Chinook' in 1:8 scale;
- Acquire a
historically-significant
locomotive as a display at the Forth
Junction Transpo Park;
-
Relocate, restore or replicate several
historic rail stations for the Rail and
Transit Heritage, Family Activity and
Nature Park;
(eg. restore ACR Red Deer, GTP Ardley, ACR/CPR Benalto,
replicate CNR Red Deer, ACR/CPR Mintlaw,
original 1891 C&E/CPR Innisfail, Red Deer, Lacombe,
ACR/CPR
Sylvan Lake, CNR Sylvan Lake)
- Create Canada's largest historical model
railway interpretive centre showing the
historical evolution of the railway in Red Deer and Central Alberta
representing the
settlement and development of Western Canada
|
