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).

CPR 1950 Connaught Tunnel to Victoria - and Seattle

LC Gagnon's Company pass trip west reaches the coast with this installment. 

Additional CPR assets take him over to Victoria and then it's off to Seattle!

The first view is the Columbia River, west of Golden BC.
The characteristic steam locomotive smudge is produced by the heavy oil burning in the firebox.

What seems to be a disused sawmill is seen near Rogers, BC.

Usually I plumb up the photos, but detail would be lost on this one.

To the right, the absolute block signal semaphore arm is rising to provide a clear signal into the Connaught Tunnel ...
now that this train has cleared the circuit.

Left-hand (back then it was double tracked) running gave engineers a view ahead of trains or railway personnel in the tunnel.

The tunnel ventilation fans (two 'squirrel cages' between the white buildings) were operated by diesel motors.
Perhaps there is a tank car on the short spur at the right which was used for fuel cars.
The back of a searchlight signal can be seen. It would have governed movements returning to the main track.

If Number 7 is on time ... you can confirm on the employee timetable, below, that these are shadows from about 1700hr.

With one of the Connaught Tunnel's white fan buildings still visible around the curve, the train is departing Glacier.
A local citizen is leaning against the baggage wagon.
A water standpipe can be seen at the end of the platform.

A nice piece of tangent track west of Glacier.

If you've ever spent many hours at a time in a dome car
or at an open dutch door in a vestibule ...
you'll probably remember a point at which you experienced 'sensory overload'.

As rare and wonderful as the experience is, you just want to hole-up in your accommodation and rest for a while.
... Maybe get some hot food too.

My 23 year old (future) father has been hanging out, off and on, in the hayrack observation car since Calgary.
The next photos are from Vancouver.

The Princess Kathleen and Princess Marguerite were the finest of the CPR's coastal steamers.
With a displacement of 5875 tons, they were completed in 1925 and could steam at 22 knots.
They were designed for the fast 'triangle' run connecting Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle.

My father travelled from Vancouver (shown above) on the Princess Marguerite to Victoria.

... probably enough lifeboats to hold everybody.

Private sector coastal services existed before the establishment of the provincial BC Ferries in 1960.

'Entering the inner harbour at Victoria.'

If you look at the flat white warehouse to the right of the terminal elevator,
I think you'll see 'Canadian National ... ' written on it.

LC Gagnon stayed overnight at the Empress Hotel ... within walking distance of the dock!

At the left, in the distance, you can see a Hudson's Bay Company store - it did have a sign like that.
It is not clear home many of the sidewalk people are 'computer generated'.

The photo above was taken on September 14, 1950 ...
as the Princess Marguerite approached Vancouver's Lions Gate Bridge.

It looks like a good example of a box camera manual time exposure.

When in Vancouver, you too can stay at the Hotel Georgia.
In front is the BCE trolley bus for the Davie Route.
That is not advertising on the front, it is the red BCE logo and the bus' road number.

This sight was seen from the Great Northern train my father took between Vancouver and Portland, Oregon.
It remains slightly askew to get as much of that tower's detail as possible.
The chain link fence seems to have extra strands of barbed wire mounted at an angle.

The photo is captioned 'Coastal fog'.

Seattle, Washington and Mount Rainier.

'I did not see Mount Rainier because of the fog.'

LC Gagnon snapped this Northern Pacific locomotive through a coach window near the Seattle station.

I think it is a Baldwin VO-660.