Old Canadian National rail yard
Encyclopedia
The old Canadian National rail yard in Edmonton
was once the centre of economic activity in that city. Its redevelopment
has fundamentally altered the appearance of the city. The former yard occupied a long, narrow strip from 103 Avenue to 105 Avenue north to south and from 101 Street to 116 Street east and west.
was delayed because the Canadian Pacific Railway
's decision in the 1880s to shift the route of its planned main Winnipeg
–Vancouver
line south through Calgary
. It was further hampered when in 1891 the planned Calgary and Edmonton Railway
choose to build its terminus south of the North Saskatchewan River
, in what soon became the rival settlement of Strathcona
.
In 1903, the Canadian Northern Railway
opened a short spur across the Low Level Bridge, linking Edmonton with Strathcona, but Edmonton's major introduction to the rail age came in 1905 when the CNoR's main transcontinental line reached it from Winnipeg. The CNoR's station was located at what is now 104 Avenue and 101 Street, and its yard to the west. Around this yard, Edmonton's warehouse district
developed.
In response, the Canadian Pacific extended its C&E line over the river and expanded its station in Strathcona. In 1910, the CNoR station began accepting trains from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
(GTPR) which had also reached Edmonton. The CNoR and GTPR had rival plans to link Edmonton to the Pacific Coast, CNoR at Vancouver
and GTPR at Prince Rupert, British Columbia
. The companies were not able turn a profit during the lean years of the Great War, and by 1919 both had been nationalized by the federal government and made part of Canadian National Railways (CNR).
As a major centre for the CNR, Edmonton became one of the most important rail hubs in Canada. In 1928, a new station was opened at 101 Street and 104 Avenue, and was expanded in 1948. In 1964, it was demolished to make way for Edmonton's first skyscraper
, the Canadian National Tower
. In 1968, CN announced plans to build a massive 800 feet (243.8 m) "pylon" on the site, but this was never acted on. The yards functioned until 1988, and the last freight sheds were destroyed in 1996.
for private sale. The former yards are now almost completely covered with new buildings, and redevelopment has spread into the former warehouse and industrial areas that once lined the tracks.
From east to west the buildings now on the former rail yards are:
This area has also been touted as possible location for a new arena
to replace Rexall Place
.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
was once the centre of economic activity in that city. Its redevelopment
Redevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...
has fundamentally altered the appearance of the city. The former yard occupied a long, narrow strip from 103 Avenue to 105 Avenue north to south and from 101 Street to 116 Street east and west.
Railway era
Edmonton's transition from a frontier outpost to a railway townRailway town
A railway town is a settlement that originated or was greatly developed because of a railway station or junction at its site.In Victorian Britain, the spread of railways greatly affected the fate of many small towns...
was delayed because the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
's decision in the 1880s to shift the route of its planned main Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
–Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
line south through Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
. It was further hampered when in 1891 the planned Calgary and Edmonton Railway
Calgary and Edmonton Railway
The Calgary and Edmonton Railway was an early pioneer railway in what was then the Northwest Territories, now Alberta, Canada. It connected the towns of Calgary and Strathcona and opened in 1891...
choose to build its terminus south of the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
, in what soon became the rival settlement of Strathcona
Strathcona, Alberta
Strathcona was a city in Alberta, Canada, located on the south of the North Saskatchewan River opposite of the City of Edmonton. It amalgamated with Edmonton on February 1, 1912....
.
In 1903, the Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
opened a short spur across the Low Level Bridge, linking Edmonton with Strathcona, but Edmonton's major introduction to the rail age came in 1905 when the CNoR's main transcontinental line reached it from Winnipeg. The CNoR's station was located at what is now 104 Avenue and 101 Street, and its yard to the west. Around this yard, Edmonton's warehouse district
Warehouse District
-Canada:* Distillery District is located in Toronto, Ontario and is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.-United States :...
developed.
In response, the Canadian Pacific extended its C&E line over the river and expanded its station in Strathcona. In 1910, the CNoR station began accepting trains from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway
The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was a historical Canadian railway.A wholly owned subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway , the GTPR was constructed by GTR using loans provided by the Government of Canada. The company was formed in 1903 with a mandate to build west from Winnipeg, Manitoba to the...
(GTPR) which had also reached Edmonton. The CNoR and GTPR had rival plans to link Edmonton to the Pacific Coast, CNoR at Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
and GTPR at Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Prince Rupert is a port city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is the land, air, and water transportation hub of British Columbia's North Coast, and home to some 12,815 people .-History:...
. The companies were not able turn a profit during the lean years of the Great War, and by 1919 both had been nationalized by the federal government and made part of Canadian National Railways (CNR).
As a major centre for the CNR, Edmonton became one of the most important rail hubs in Canada. In 1928, a new station was opened at 101 Street and 104 Avenue, and was expanded in 1948. In 1964, it was demolished to make way for Edmonton's first skyscraper
Skyscraper
A skyscraper is a tall, continuously habitable building of many stories, often designed for office and commercial use. There is no official definition or height above which a building may be classified as a skyscraper...
, the Canadian National Tower
CN Tower (Edmonton)
CN Tower is an office tower in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It stands at or 26 storeys tall, and was built and formerly owned by the Canadian National Railway Company. At the time of its construction it was the first skyscraper in Edmonton, and the tallest building in Western Canada...
. In 1968, CN announced plans to build a massive 800 feet (243.8 m) "pylon" on the site, but this was never acted on. The yards functioned until 1988, and the last freight sheds were destroyed in 1996.
Redevelopment
Since the early 1990s the area has seen increasing redevelopment. CN donated some of the land to Grant MacEwan University for its new campus, and some of it was taken by the government-owned Canada Lands CompanyCanada Lands Company
Canada Lands Company Limited is an arms length, self-financing Crown corporation reporting to Parliament through the Honourable John Baird, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons...
for private sale. The former yards are now almost completely covered with new buildings, and redevelopment has spread into the former warehouse and industrial areas that once lined the tracks.
From east to west the buildings now on the former rail yards are:
- Station LandsStation Lands (Edmonton)Station Lands will be a multi-use development in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is being built in a 9.15-acre site north of CN Tower once occupied by the old Canadian National rail yard in the downtown of the city. Expected to be completed in 2019 to 2022, it will include four high-rise towers, a...
and EPCOR TowerEPCOR TowerEPCOR Tower is an office tower currently under construction in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that is part of the Station Lands project. The tower is capped by two spires that top out at 137.3 m and these capped with four flagpoles each. When flagpoles are taken into account, it is currently... - CN TowerCN Tower (Edmonton)CN Tower is an office tower in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It stands at or 26 storeys tall, and was built and formerly owned by the Canadian National Railway Company. At the time of its construction it was the first skyscraper in Edmonton, and the tallest building in Western Canada...
- Bacarat Casino
- Grant MacEwan University City Centre Campus
- Square 104 (condos)
- Oliver Village (a mixed strip mall and condo development)
- Longstreet Mall
- Oliver Square (a strip mall)
This area has also been touted as possible location for a new arena
Arena
An arena is an enclosed area, often circular or oval-shaped, designed to showcase theater, musical performances, or sporting events. It is composed of a large open space surrounded on most or all sides by tiered seating for spectators. The key feature of an arena is that the event space is the...
to replace Rexall Place
Rexall Place
Rexall Place is an indoor arena in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada situated on the north side of Northlands. It is currently the home to the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League, the Edmonton Rush of the National Lacrosse League and the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL...
.