Calgary Alberta - History comes to life daily at Heritage Park Historical Village during the summer.
 
But on 22 and 23 Sep 2018 the park's large array of trains and rail equipment will puff into action as well, taking centre stage during Railway Days.
 
"Our mandate is connecting visitors to the settlement of Western Canada, and a huge part of that settlement happened with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885," says Barb Munro, spokesperson for the park, where educators dress and act according to the historical era they represent.
 
Visitors will see a lot of history regarding trains, including very rare artifacts and memorabilia related to Canada's railways and locomotives, she says.
 
And this year a very special new feature was added to the lineup.
 
"One of the exciting additions to this year's event is that the Colonist Car will finally be on display," says Munro, about the rare 1905 train car that was part of the fleet that brought hundreds of thousands of immigrants to the West.
 
"We have been restoring it for two years, with over 10,000 hours of work, and it will finally be open to the public."
 
Starting at 10:00 on 22 Sep 2018 guests will be able to go on tours to learn about the car's painstakingly faithful restoration, including how 3D printing technology was used to replicate the Pintsch lamps that lit the cars.
 
Visitors can also walk through the Colonist Car, one of only two in existence, to get a sense of the cramped and bare-bone conditions travellers endured, often during hot summers or frigid winters.
 
"Passengers sat on a wooden seat, cooked their own meals, and could be on the train for days on end without getting off," Munro says.
 
Crowded and fragrant, it was no joy ride.
 
Nor was life afterward.
 
"They would arrive, get off the train, and then face the challenge of living in a new, often unforgiving land."
 
While the Colonist Car is a highlight of this year's 32nd annual Railway Days, the weekend offers many more sights and experiences often not available the rest of the year.
 
For instance, it's the only time Heritage Park has both of its steam engines in operation.
 
These will be double-headed in the mornings, meaning both locomotives will pull the same train cars.
 
In the afternoon, the engines will pull separate trains, including a caboose that will be opened for rides, on the two kilometre track running throughout the village of historical buildings that replicate life in early Calgary.
 
It's also an opportunity to see an old-fashioned turntable in use, which separates the two engines on the track, Munro says.
 
"If you're a train fan and are used to only seeing the toy-sized turntables, this is your chance to see a real one in operation."
 
Other notables include demonstrations of a 1920 rail crane, the only 100 ton rail steam crane in operation in Canada, and tours of the inside of a steam engine.
 
And then there's all the other fascinating and fun exhibits, demonstrations, and activities at the park, like storytelling, photo contests, and even serenades from hobo singers.
 
"What's more, it's a beautiful time of year to visit with the fall colours, not to mention everything else is open, so although, the focus is on trains, the midway and wagon rides, and all other exhibits are open as usual," she says.
 
"Its' really a great family outing."
 
Joel Schlesinger.