Fort Saskatchewan railway station

Fort Saskatchewan railway station
Station building
Location	10030 - 99 Avenue Fort Saskatchewan Alberta
Coordinates	53°42′36″N 113°12′52″W / 53.7099°N 113.2145°W / 53.7099; -113.2145Coordinates: 53°42′36″N 113°12′52″W / 53.7099°N 113.2145°W / 53.7099; -113.2145
Line(s)	Canadian National Railway
History
Opened	1905
Closed	1988[1]

The Fort Saskatchewan railway station is designated as a heritage site^[2] and is now disused as a station. Located in Fort Saskatchewan Alberta), it was built by the Canadian Northern Railway along the east-west Canadian Northern Railway line. The one-and-a-half storey, wood-frame building is of a modified third class station design (100-19 plan) employed at some of the major stops along the line; it is longer than that of most third class designs. This included a vestibule, kitchen, living room, large general waiting room, separate ladies' waiting room, office and a small freight shed and was augmented with an expansion in 1911,^[3] In 1986 an agreement was reached by Canadian National and the town to remove the tracks into town and by 1988 the last train passed by the station.^[4] The station building has been restored and is rented out to community groups. ^[5]

The Canadian Northern Railway reached Fort Saskatchewan in 1905, placing the town on a transcontinental rail line.^[6] The first bridge across the river was also built at this time, with the rail company paying for it in exchange for free land for its station in Fort Saskatchewan.^[7] Prior to the bridge, the only method to cross the river at Fort Saskatchewan was via ferry.^[7]

References