The little engine that could

Upon the arrival of the CPR and settlers in what was to become Medicine Hat, a source of fuel was of vital importance. There were very few trees and natural gas was two decades in the future. Coal was the standard fuel for home heating and cooking and for industrial use.

Seams of coal were soon discovered on both sides of the river at Redcliff. In winter, it could be brought down the river on the ice, but by wagon across the prairie otherwise. The Medicine Hat Railway and Coal Company was incorporated in 1886 but it was not until 1912 that conditions seemed to warrant a rail line. The first phase of the spur was switched from the CPR yards and cut across the South Flats to the Ogilvie Mill. A cost-sharing deal between Ansley’s coal mine and the city provided for building the spur to the city limits and a planned industrial estate. The city wanted cheap coal available in Medicine Hat to attract farmers to bring their grain to the local mills, and buy goods and coal from local merchants.

Beyond Ogilvie’s, the tracks followed the Seven Persons Creek with a spur to the Hedley-Shaw mill (by Kipling Street), continued past the old cemetery, where it turned up the narrow ravine that separates SW Hill from Kensington. From there the line cut behind Hillside Cemetery through Tower Estates (a planned industrial estate) with a spur to the agricultural society fair grounds (today’s airport location). The war interrupted construction of the section beyond and council even contemplated pulling up the rails and selling them.

However, in 1918, the project was back on with Mr. Swan having taken over the coal mine. Contractor Mack Higdon was hired to build the railbed across the prairie then down a draw into the coal mine site. Remnants of the road bed and tipple can still be seen.

In 1927, Mr. Swan bought his own locomotive and leased coal cars from the CPR. In addition to coal, the train carried the employees to and from the mine. Its peak, five coal cars a day came from Ajax. The rail line to the mine continued in use until 1946 although the mill section is still in use today. Parts of the old rail line road bed form a walking trail so as you amble along, imagine a locomotive belching smoke crawling up up “Ajax Coulee” towards the Highway from Kin Coulee.

Malcolm Sissons is the Chair of the Heritage Resources Committee. Earl Morris compiled the research for this column.