CPR's Vancouver Waterfront Stations & Other Facilities, Postcards x5 +1

These postcards are not in chronological order. As railway corporate asset photos, the last two are probably the most interesting to look at.

Have a great vacation!

The Battle of the Somme will begin in a couple of weeks.

And it will bring about the observance of the first Memorial Day in Newfoundland, on 1 July 1917.

*  *  *

This old photo shows CPR's second Vancouver waterfront station.

*  *  *

It seems obvious that this image is from the early 1950s.

*  *  *

... The hotel is enlarged below.

This is the second CPR Hotel Vancouver.

They don't show up well on this 1/2 postcard photo,

but you should check out this area in other internet images 

to see carved moose (at the corners) and buffalo heads.

This hotel was opened just before the Great War and was demolished in 1949.

*  *  *

With a lifted safety valve, the Trans Canada Limited is ready to depart from the third CPR Vancouver waterfront station. 

Today this station is still used as a transportation hub.

After posting, Jim Christie found this valuable contemporary article which describes the construction of the third waterfront station and its position relative to the second - including photos! ...

Canadian Railway & Marine World, June 1914

*  *  *

This bird's eye view style map from 1927 shows the locations of the main railway terminals.

from: Vancouver, The Way It Was; Michael Kluckner; 1984; Whitecap Books.

*  *  *

The Wild Card ...

*  *  *

“History never repeats itself, but it does often rhyme.”

When absolute dictators get bored, they often start nibbling.

from: World War Atlas; circa 1940; Daily Mail.

1982 Hooping in Portage la Prairie & Photos from Points West

Here are a few photos from a 1982 run west on The Canadian. We flew back on CP Air. My new spouse only experienced northern Ontario by rail once on this trip. 

The round trips came later ... again and again ...

These photos come from 'the second camera' - and they never found their way into the zoom-lensed 'official account' of the trip because they were developed later. But they are interesting and they have been in a bit of a backwater for all these years.

Hooping up orders to an eastbound freight at Portage.

We patronized/travelled over three of CP Limited's five business units during this trip.

(But we didn't ship aboard CP Ships or use Fording coal to smelt any iron.)

Here is the (ground level) tea room at Chateau Lake Louise, where we stayed during a train travel layover.

We rented a car in Vancouver. 

Here, the second camera is handy when we encounter the Budd car on Vancouver Island.

We visited the museum at Duncan BC during this excursion.

Finally, here is a view in Vancouver's Chinatown. 

As of 2021, this is still the approved name for this business district (I checked to be on the safe side).

Vancouver Railway Landscape 1915-1930

Here are a few images showing Vancouver railways as other lines began to follow the CPR into the city.

Above is one version of the Second Narrows bridge crossing to North Vancouver. Apparently, autos were first to use it in 1925, followed by trains. The Pacific Gatherer collided with the centre span on September 19, 1930 and that was the end of getting across this bridge until June 1934 when it finally reopened. You can easily find some interesting photos of this collision elsewhere on the internet - the damage is quite impressive. 

Except for the map immediately below (from a Government of Canada Atlas from 1915) the other images are from: Vancouver, The Way it Was; Michael Kluckner; 1984; Whitecap Books.

The Great Northern terminal (left) was built 1915-1917 and demolished in the 1960s. The Canadian Northern terminal (right) was built 1917-1919 ... according to the book identified above. This view dates from the 1920s.

The illustrated map above (from 1927) shows a number of new railway features.

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).