I really enjoyed this blast from the past! Especially seeing old landmarks, businesses, etc. that are now a distant memory. I liked that that there were a few tunnels and elevated portions to minimize interfaces with motor vehicle traffic (with the exceptions at 25/36/50/58/61 Ave). It's too bad they didn't spend the money to further reduce at-grade intersections. I can't count how many vehicle-vs-train accidents have happened over the years, especially in the NE along 36 Street. I'd love to see a documentary on the underground tunnel under City Hall and along Stephen Avenue, and the viability of that. I remember Mayor Bronconnier putting lots of energy/money into reviving/developing the tunnel for use on the west leg, before the floods of 2013.
It’s a shame the city did not truly see growth in the LRT only making the stations downtown and some other stations long enough for 3 cars, that really put a stranglehold on its ability to carry its potential to 5 cars. The city had to rebuild all new platforms 10 years ago unlike Edmontons who opened 4 years earlier and were all 5 car capable
I’ve always had a personal sense of pride in the C-Train. My dad was one of the Chief electrical engineers on that project. I‘m sure I logged a few thousand kilometres riding that thing as a teenager with my student transit pass… at least until I got my license and a 1981 Mustang in 1990.
It was later found that the wheel flange profile on the wheels supplied by Simmons were not compatible with the std AREA 100lb #8 switch points that were installed on the South leg. Many derailments were encountered when maintenance on the downtown tunnel, near Stampede Station, forced the use of single track running. Modified Samson style points were developed jointly between the City of Calgary, Pacific Northern Rail Contractors, and EGB Manufacturing of Cochrane Alberta. Many sets of these points are still in service on the South leg.
I was a bus driver for the City of Calgary in 1981 and saw a lot of issues with the C-train (Crash-train). Accidents, derailments, fire, that never made the news. Seems King Klein had a lot of pull with the local media (he was previously a journalist).
Calgary (and Alberta more broadly) were hit hard in 2009 when Obama opened up fracking in the US. Right after the already downturned market caused by the 2008 financial crash. Within about 2 years the price of oil went from over $100/barrel to less than $40. The oil sands projects all stalled as that stuff is too expensive to produce, and the traditional oil and gas was far less profitable than it had been only a couple years earlier. That finally started to recover by the mid-late 2010s, just in time for the next double-whammy of increasing climate awareness around the world and then covid. The former in particular is going to be challenging as it means the entire oil and gas industry is on a bit of a death spiral. It's not dead yet but it's only a matter of time. I've been saying for years that Alberta needs to diversify its industry, but as I'm just some nobody on the internet (who no longer even lives in the province), they've been stubbornly unwilling to listen to my pleas. Instead they just keep doubling down over and over again on trying to keep their singularly prioritized industry hobbling along in a world that is becoming less and less interested in the products they're selling, and doing irreparable harm to both the environment and their own economy in the meantime as they funnel more and more public dollars toward subsidizing no-longer-competitive businesses in the hopes that they will recover "some day".
How long after is opened did it take for the c-train to suffer it first derailment. About 15 seconds, The opening ceremony signaled the opening of the line by driving a train through a ribbon. the new Mayor Ralph Klein was at the control of said train and he was a little aggressive driving the train. The result was the moment he hit the first switch the train derailed. That incident was quietly swept under the rug.
Calgary Mayor Rod Sykes Council is to thank for the first leg of the LRT being approved in 1976. He’s still in Calgary at a youthful 94 years old. He also wants to #recallgondek
They couldn't, or it would have been "the sea train" It wasn't made very well known, but due to Calgary's very high water table, especially downtown, had they went underground with it ,it would have been constantly flooded.
I remember the 1st week of operation. I was downtown along 7th avenue, they had an accident with the trains, one rear ended another 1981. I heard the alarms going off. Here that...west germany! I liked the blue colour, not the red.
We have not come far at all. We pretty much stopped progress after this. And you should know, Toronto has a way more robust and large transit system. In Calgary you are screwed if you do not woke or live near a train and have no choice but to drive everywhere.
