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Canadian Pacific's Western Depots
The Country Stations of Western Canada
Charles W. Bohi and Leslie S.
Kozma
Published by south Plate Press, PO Box 163
David City Nebraska USA 68632, hard cover, 168 8 1/2" x 9" pages,
available for US$40.50 or $49.95 Canadian (1994).
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
 
Carstens Publications Inc. PO
Box 700 Newton NJ USA 07860
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