December 1994

Canadian Pacific's Western Depots The Country Stations of Western Canada

Published by south Plate Press, PO Box 163 David City Nebraska USA 68632, hard cover, 168 8 1/2" x 9" pages, available for $40.50 US or $49.95 Canadian.
 
Over the years, a considerable number of books have been published on many aspects of the Canadian Pacific Railway. This fascinating book, released in early 1994, provides extensive coverage of the numerous passenger stations of the CPR in Canada's four western provinces:  Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Fifteen years ago, the authors produced a book on Canadian National's western stations. This CP book follows a format very similar to that used in the CN book. The railway station was a vital feature of the new and growing communities throughout the west from 1875 to 1940. The CPR constructed no less than 1,447 stations, in a wide variety of styles and sizes, on its vast western rail network during this period. This compares with 946 stations constructed by its competing railways.
 
The book begins with an excellent historical perspective of railway development in western Canada. An analysis of CP station design follows. Design generally evolved from basic to more decorative over the years. In many locations, several stations were built in succession to meet the changing requirements of the community. The authors have developed a classification system of 16 standard styles, which together, account for 809, or 55 percent, of the total western CP stations. The most common style was No. 13 of which 197 were built. The authors further identify 17 special types as well as portables and passenger shelters. The reader may get the impression that these station styles were exclusive to western Canada. In fact, these station styles were generally common throughout the CP system, coast to coast. The following chapters describe station development through four time periods from 1880 to the 1940's. Next is a chapter on work and life in the stations, followed by a chapter on the country station today.
 
The book is profusely illustrated with 184 black and white photos, four maps, three rosters and seven drawings. The photos are well selected from numerous sources. They date from the 1880's to the present and are from wide geographic locations. Each has an informative caption and very few have been previously published. As the title indicates, large city stations are excluded. Frequent comparisons are made to contemporary station styles constructed by the competing Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Pacific.
 
The first half of the book prepares the reader to more fully appreciate the detailed rosters in 46 latter pages. Certainly a great deal of data has been analyzed and sorted to prepare the extensive rosters. One roster lists station alphabetically by province. Another lists by CP subdivision. The third lists by style in each province. Included in the rosters are the date built, cost, date of alterations, and disposition of most stations. The rosters list 1,447 stations, which the authors estimate to be at least 90 percent of all western CP stations. Only stations were listed for which the authors had firm data. Thus a considerable number of stations are omitted. Some that were noticed missing are at least 25 small stations on the Slocan Subdivision.
 
A chart shows the number of stations of each of the 16 styles, constructed during each year from 1879 to 1950. Modellers will appreciate the reproduction of seven drawings of CP standard stations. A bibliography is included. An index would also have been helpfull.
 
The black and white photos indicate numerous different paint schemes and lettering arrangements; however, the book does not include a description of the different standards that the CP used. Such a section would have been interesting, and especially useful for modellers.
 
This comprehensive book is highly recommended to readers who are interested in rural stations. It is a "must have" reference work for those interested in western Canadian railway geography and history - John Riddell