End of an era in Standard

Times Contributor

 

The train whistle stopped blowing in Standard well over a decade ago but the tracks had always remained as a reminder of the beginning of the community and its roots.

This past July the Canadian Pacific Railway finally contracted out the removal of the tracks, rails and ties from Brooks all the way through Standard and well west of its town limits.

Next year would have been the 100th Anniversary of the rail-line CPR tracks that were started in 1912, the tracks running from Rockyford to Standard. 

Here is a little history lesson about the CPR in rural Alberta. In the early 1900’s approximately every eight miles a new settlement and small villages with elevators scattered the countryside along the rail-lines. Standard (back then known as Danaview) was no exception in its settlement. Farmers used to have to travel great distances with their harvested crops by horse and wagon and the creation of the rail lines lessened the load, so to speak. Farmers now had a 4-5 mile maximum to draw their full wagons by horse, from harvesting their crops to the closest village or settlement that the trains went through. Farms used to be small with many of them being no larger than quarter section.

Andy Schulthess is a man of all trades and hobbies including a hot air ballooner, Standard’s current Fire Chief, an instructor for Hunter Education but among all these things very proudly considers himself a “train enthusiast.” 

When Schulthess moved to Standard with his wife Connie he specifically wanted to live on an acreage so that he could build his own tracks in the yard.

Schulthess had a friend who had a garden railroad in his yard and knew that it was going to be an expensive venture. He went on a “speeder” trip with his buddy and was hooked on the bigger picture. Schulthess bought his own Speeder from Lethbridge and it took him three months to restore it back to its original state with nothing upgraded. Schulthess took his Speeder on its inaugural trip in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan which took a couple of days.

This summer while the CPR was removing the rails, ties and spikes, Schulthess took many opportunities to get out on his Speeder and ride the rails. He took along anyone who wanted to go and see a different view of East Wheatland.

Schulthess’s hobby has only increased with age and now that he is retired, he devotes a lot of time in his acreage building his own track. What started out to be a lawn ornament in the front of his house is rapidly developing into a small track that will go around his house. His wife Connie’s only stipulation was that “there would be no railroad crossing in front of the driveway,” she said jokingly.

He is fascinating to listen to and knows the history of the ties and rails and the specific markings on the pieces of equipment. Agrium in Standard owned the rail removal of rail line that was purchased by Schulthess. He proceeded to remove its 1125 ft plus the switch track that has now made it to his yard to become part of his railroad.

Schulthess is constantly looking up facts and figures so as to be authentic in laying his track, right down from preparation of the land to the distances apart of each tie and rail.

When driving through Standard you will eventually be able to spot his track just West of Hwy 840. Who knows, maybe he will upgrade his Speeder for a Railcar one day.