Ticket To Ride

Twin Bridges

Early morning just after sunrise, the temperature sitting at -5 Celsius, coating the rail ties with frost, this CP oil train makes its way out of Calgary on the Laggan subdivision headed for the Pacific coast.

This oil train had two locomotives up front, one mid locomotive, and a tailend remote locomotive bringing up the rear.

I spent two days scouting throughout west Calgary in the Bowness area to find this location where I hiked in just after sunrise, so that I could capture this photo.
Something of interest is the old telegraph line still standing although long obsolete. In the lower right area of the photograph, you can see poles with cross-ties and reflectors, and wires still in place.

History Lesson.....

The sign "Brickburn" seen on the nearest girder bridge describes some of Calgary's early history associated with brick manufacture that took place between 1905 to 1931 in an area that would ultimately become part of Calgary.

Brickburn Kiln's was operated from 1905 to 1931. Many Calgary buildings were built from this brick including Mewata Armoury. Shipped to distant places via the Canadian Pacific Railway, the bricks were used, for example, at the University of Alberta.

At its height, Brickburn produced 80,000 bricks each day.
Up to 100 people worked at Brickburn, where there were dormitories, a whistle stop, a post office, a school and a small church. Faced with increased fuel costs and railway tariffs, Brickburn ceased operating in 1931.

Expand the photo for a closer look......