Narrow Gauge Railways in Canada - Alberta

Alberta

There were several 3 ft (914 mm) mining systems in the Drumheller area. An extensive narrow gauge line was built in the foothills to haul coal about 1890 but was soon re-gauged to standard and the equipment moved to the Kaslo and Slocan in BC.

The North Western Coal and Navigation Company, constructed an 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line which began operations from Lethbridge to Dunmore, Alberta beginning in the fall of 1885. In 1893 Canadian Pacific Railway, leased the line and later purchased it in 1897, and then converted it to standard gauge. Additionally the North Western Coal and Navigation Company constructed another 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge line which ran from Lethbridge to Great Falls, Montana, and was opened for use in the fall of 1890. The line was later converted to standard gauge in 1901, and was soon afterwards sold to two different buyers; Great Northern Railway (U.S.), for the American portion of the line, and Canadian Pacific Railway, for the Canadian portion of the line. That narrow gauge line included the International Train Station Depot North West Territories that sat half in Coutts and half in Sweetgrass. This unique structure was used by North Western Coal and Navigation Company, and later on after selling the railroad by Great Northern Railway (U.S.) and Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1915, Canadian Pacific Railway split the Train Station in half and hauled their portion north across the Canada – United States border and continued to use it until the late 1960s when it was closed. At the same time, Great Northern Railway (U.S.) hauled their portion of the station south of the Canada – United States border, and used it until the early 1930s. Currently the International Train Station Depot is located at the Galt Historic Railway Park, in the Warner County No. 5, Alberta, and is open to the public.