Heritage Railway Station and Park
The 1911 Canadian Northern Railway depot, located in the heart of Camrose’s heritage district, forms the centrepiece for the Camrose Railway Park. On the park grounds you are able to walk through the bunkhouse with its communication and other displays. Visit the watchman’s shed, which was originally a passenger shelter in the Silver Springs area, and visit the Sparling Centre with its historical pictures of Camrose. View the track car storage shed, and read and hear the stories of the people who worked maintaining the track and their machines.
The depot houses unique displays of local railway heritage, the White Elephant gift shop, self-serve refreshments in the Community Room, as well as the Canadian Northern Society’s archives and library. The Library and Archives have paper archives including reference material and manuals, books on the history of the railways, local history, general railway subjects, Canadian National Railway books and articles, Canadian Pacific books and articles, railway regulation manuals, railway station books, GTP, CPR, CN and NAR forms, junior railway stories, historical educational manuals for railway employees, train and model magazines, time tables, maps and station plans. The public can access the library by visiting the station during opening hours or by appointment.
From May to September, the railway heritage displays within the depot, together with the historic section toolhouse, watchman’s shelter, Sparling Centre and maintenance of way display, are open to the public Tuesday through Saturday. Throughout July and August the Community Room has light, self-serve refreshments available.
Unique gifts are available from the station White Elephant Gift Shop, and special events are held throughout the year at the station. As a community centre, the Camrose depot is available for private bookings and events seating 35–42 persons. The Community Room, equipped with an audio-visual system and large-screen TV, and the King George Room can comfortably accommodate business meetings and general assemblies, and are available for use by the public. The garden park can be reserved as a wonderful backdrop to an outdoor event.
The Morgan Garden Railway features many types of flowers and plants including a rose garden. Watch G-scale trains, Thomas the Tank Engine, Percy, James or other trains from the early era as they travel along the track along the route of the old Canadian Northern Railway completed with historical buildings built to scale.
Commencing late spring till early fall, take a self-directed Heritage Flower Tour of the Railway Station Park, or book a guided tour. The gardens include a wide variety of old-fashioned plants and flowers, designed in the spirit of railway station gardens of a now bygone age. Meander through the magnificent gardens, including a Hummingbird Garden, Lupin Garden and the Children’s Secret Garden where children can dress up and play on a large wooden play train or in the sandbox. The Morgan Garden Railway features model buildings from Camrose, Meeting Creek, and Big Valley, from the early Canadian Northern Railway line. Children and adults of all ages are thrilled and fascinated by the Morgan Railway Garden. Heritage and native plants can be seen in the garden and throughout the park.
Our Victory Garden acknowledges the contribution made by citizens of Camrose towards World Wars I and II, when communities became self-sufficient so commercial production could be sent overseas to feed soldiers and allies. Our garden features companion planting, researched organic practices that result in healthy plants without the use of herbicides and pesticides. Adopt a small area of the garden for the summer and help make the park more beautiful. This is a great child-parent or child-grandparent project and an opportunity to learn hands-on.
The park opens Saturday of the long weekend in May and closes after the last Saturday of August. The station and park are open Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. during the summer months.
Children can ride on the Percy-like train vehicle when volunteer drivers are available. Call before you visit to ensure driver availability.
The Station is open by appointment during the off season, phone 780 672 3099 for more information.
Enjoy your visit and take a self- or interpretive-guided tour of our heritage station, park grounds or historic gardens. The railway park is part of the City of Camrose park system and welcomes visitors to the community and residents alike. The station park is a wonderful place to bring a book and read for a while or exchange a book from the Free Library onsite. Bring your camera and capture many unique flowers in bloom. Experience the feel of a railway yard as you watch the CN train role by the station. The Camrose Heritage Railway Station is located at 4407 47 Avenue, Camrose, Alberta.