About this Walk
If you’re a frequent user of Calgary’s Bow River pathway, then there’s a good chance that you’ve seen a run-down railway line next to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Ever wondered what it’s doing there?
This walk will answer that question, and at the same time, we’ll bring forth the forgotten stories of the 25 rail lines that used to span the city of Calgary. And no, I’m not talking about streetcar lines. They were full-on tracks for freight trains, and only a fraction of them still exist. Using a forgotten railway line through Inglewood as a case study, I’ll also answer questions such as why an abandoned rail line crosses Blackfoot Trail, or why there’s a railway bridge in Lindsay Park. So please, join me as we take a deep dive into the forgotten railways that snaked through alleyways, neighbourhoods, and in some cases, right down roads. After a nice walk along the Bow River, you’ll know a lot more about the railways that once served as the lifeblood that connected all of Calgary’s businesses and communities.
Please note that this walk may be about 5km long, as it is a round trip. If you only want to walk half, this is how I plan to run it: On the first half of the walk, we’ll follow the route of the line through Inglewood and discuss its history, and on the way back, we’ll explore other examples of similar rail lines throughout the city, using the one we’re following as a case study.
And… if you really care enough to stick around 20-30 minutes after the walk is over, we can take a little detour southward on the Bow River path, to learn about how a 1976 classic Gene Wilder film was filmed on the very rail line we’re going to follow.
Quadrant: SE
Meeting Place: Inglewood Bird Sanctuary Parking Lot
Walk Duration: 2 hour(s)
Areas of Interest: History | Getting Around | Neighbourhoods |
Accessibility: Steep Slopes, Uneven Terrain
Led By: Alec Hamilton
Inner City: No
About the Walk Team
Jane's Walks wouldn't exist without the help of our dedicated team of volunteers.
Walk Leader(s): Alec Hamilton
Alec is a Calgary high school student and a local railway historian, but a more accurate term is an all around train nut. He’s spent most of his life learning about the railways of Calgary (and the whole country, for that matter) and the fascinating histories behind them, and he’s working to bring some of Calgary’s most unique rail stories, past and present, into the spotlight. Alec has contributed his expertise to The Sprawl’s Curious Calgary project and his community newsletter, and more of his railway-related work can be found on his website.