Red Deer River Railway Bridge

Information and Findings From Alberta Register of Historic Places

Discussion of Bridge

HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE

The Alberta Central Railway (ACR) Company was incorporated in May 1901 by the Dominion Government. The president of the company, John T. Moore, was a Toronto chartered accountant, businessman and alderman. Among his various business interests was the Saskatchewan Land and Homestead Company that had extensive holdings in the Red Deer area. Originally the ACR was to run from 'Coal Banks', through Red Deer to a location near Rocky Mountain House. Its charter was later revised to permit extension west to the Fraser valley via the Yellowhead Pass and east to Moose Jaw. The purpose of the railway was to develop central Alberta in general and the land owned by the Saskatchewan Land and Homestead Company in particular.

Shortage of capital delayed construction until the spring of 1910 when surveys were done for the line between Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House. In 1911, a continued lack of capital and competition from the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) forced Moore and his associated to lease the railway to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). In 1914 the CPR completed the line to Rocky Mountain House. No further construction west of Rocky Mountain House or east of Red Deer was undertaken.

The Alberta Central Railway played a role in the economic development of the region west of Red Deer. Particularly in the agricultural settlement of this area, as was intended by its original promoters. It also played a limited role in the development of the coal reserves in the Nordegg area. A portion of the coal mined at Nordegg was transported to market via the Alberta Central Railway under an agreement with the Canadian Northern Railway.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes