CPR 1951 Banff & Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies

 

Banff Springs Hotel Postcards x5 +1

From the mountains to the underground. Here are four postcards which show successive modifications made to the original design of the CPR's Banff Hotel over the years. The message side of the first card appears first so it clears the links at the right. Even though the message sides are less interesting than the picture sides - you can get information on the postcard's origin and other details from them.

Perhaps this image may contain the original form of the hotel. Van Horne famously went out to the site during construction because he had the understanding that the builders were in the process of orienting the building 180 degrees from the intent of its design - i.e. showing the 'wrong views' on the 'wrong side'.

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The 'Tally Ho' is on its way to the station.

The fir trees are remarkably unchanged from the first image.

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Here is a 'growing pains' photo - between the complex's original and modern appearance.

Notice the large power plant stack at the left.

Whether the fuel was coal or oil, you can imagine that moving fuel from the Banff siding to the power plant would have kept someone quite busy.

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The view above looks roughly south-east from the small mountain shown on the topographic map below.

I think that low peak has had around five different names over the years. 

In 2021, it was officially renamed with a more modern sensibility. 

This is perhaps not the newest card of the five you have seen.

Notice the CPR line, station, and the heated water tank along the lower border of the photo.

(Westbounds would be moving to the right.)

The mountain mentioned is to the east of the switchback road up to that ski lodge.

After a trip to Lake Louise and Banff, I purchased a number of these maps to understand the railway and local features better.

Thinking again of Van Horne, notice famous 'Tunnel Mountain' which JHE Secretan was told to avoid.

Government of Canada topographic map, Scale:1:50,000; Sheet: Banff. 1981.

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The Bonus Card ...

Sometimes souvenir cards are used for local correspondence?

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from: John Ruth (via Jim Christie)

That's still down there under NYC City Hall.  There are occasional tours.  

The track is used to "turn" empty trains, so the public never sees this station.

There are a couple of disused subway stations in NY, and stubs of never-completed extensions.  The Hoyt-Schermerhorn station in Brooklyn has platforms which have never been used.

There was once a plan to tunnel under The Narrows to connect Staten Island into the main subway system. Some work was done, but it was mostly backfilled when the Verrazano Narrows Bridge was constructed. A stub tunnel still exists under a park in Brooklyn.

from: Paul Brezny (via Jim Christie)

I have not seen that postcard.  Rafael Guastavino, whose company did the tile work, had an estate in Black Mountain, NC, 15 miles east of Asheville.  I am a Guastavino nut and download everything I can find if his work.  He is in a crypt in the Basilica of St. Lawrence in Asheville.

https://www.romanticasheville.com/basilica.htm

I was stationed on Governors Island 1959 - 60.  Nice map.  So many RRs had their own piers for car floats from New Jersey.

Thanks to Jim Christie for passing on the additional information comments regarding this post!

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The source map for the extract below is about 14 inches by 20 inches. 

The map was drawn before the High Line Viaduct (1933-1980) was built by the New York Central.

If you locate Battery Park at the southern tip of Manhattan ... 

the City Hall subway station loop is under the next green space to the north.

Wall Street is midway between these two locations.

from: Descriptive-Historical Industrial Review of New York; 1912; George F Cram Chicago/New York.

The 1939 Royal Tour - Part 5 - Winnipeg to Victoria

Briskly, briskly we make our way across the broad prairies and travel into the foreboding mountain ranges, as the Royal Tour of 1939 completes its travel on the CPR system at Victoria, British Columbia. The following pages come from a presentation style book prepared by the railways for participants and the press. Earlier sections of this series can be found under the heading 'Royal Train of 1939' by pressing the "Railway Technology & Systems 04" index button above.

As usual, the standard railway maps are repeated and enlarged to better show detail.

The account begins before Winnipeg and at the end of this post, the first page of the return trip on the CNR is previewed.


As this is posted in early 2020, First Nations blockades of Canadian railways are in the news. Aspects of Canadian history as it was interpreted 80 years ago contrast with our greater historical literacy today.

This post contains fewer anecdotes from the trip, however one story gives us a perspective on life on the Prairies as it relates this event. Cast your mind back to early automobile or horse-powered transportation on Prairie dirt roads at the end of the Great Depression ...

After travelling for hours and hours some well-wishers would finally find themselves trackside along the CPR. After the tracks were unusually quiet for a while, the pilot train carrying the press and some officials would pass. Half an hour later, a headlight would appear down the tracks and excitement would build as the presence of the speeding Royal Train established itself. In seconds, the locomotive and cars roared and flashed by the small crowd. The King, Queen, Prime Minister, any recognizable politician or official ... none could be seen through the windows or on the rear platform of the train. The train quickly faded into the distance and everyone quietly began their long, long journey home.

I have always been interested in the following enterprise.
Finally, here are the photos which go with its mention on Page 75.

from: Commercial Canada; Ed: Fred Cook; circa 1913; Redman Book Co.

Commercial Canada; Ed: Fred Cook; circa 1913; Redman Book Co.

The plant was closed in 1957 and destroyed by fire in 1962.
However, here is the best 'current' Google view of the one surviving kiln in 2012.

Unused postcard, Calgary circa 1940.

Canadian Geographic Journal; July 1939.

Even though their day at the Banff Springs Hotel was supposed to be a well-earned day of rest,
the King and Queen still had to pose for photos, including some with Prime Minister Mackenzie King.

Apparently, the CPR 2850 deadheaded Banff to Calgary for
pre-planned shopping during this day or so that the consist didn't move.

An unused postcard circa 1920.

The CPR's odd assortment of tourist accommodations at Lake Louise can be seen.

Canadian Geographic Journal; July 1939.

The King and Queen tramp up the ballast and receive a floral presentation at Beavermouth.

Canadian Geographic Journal; July 1939.

Canadian Geographic Journal; July 1939.

Having hauled herself up into the cab, the Queen always conveys the idea
that you are making this the best day of her life.
It looks as if the King is behind her.

The royal couple rode in the cab of the Selkirk
up the helper grade from Beavermouth to Stoney Creek.

An unused postcard circa 1925.

The map is repeated above for your convenience and pleasure.

Canada - Descriptive Atlas; circa 1933; Minister of Immigration and Colonization.

The ornate map above can supplement some of the descriptive text.

Unused postcard.

Construction started on the Lion's Gate bridge in 1937 and it cannot be seen on this hand-coloured postcard.

Imperial Royal Canadian World Atlas; 1935; Geographical Publishing Co, Chicago.

Some 'ad wizard' must have come up with the name for that US-published atlas (image above).