All Aboard - The Construction and Grand Opening of Calgary's CTrain (1981)

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.

legend has it Mayor Klein drove that C-Train right to the King Eddy for a beer.

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.

I was here in 1974 and went up in the Calgary Tower. Wow!.... the city sure has changed!

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

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).

In 1981, the first line of the C-Train line is the South One. 4 years later the Northeast line and 2 years later the Northwest line.

oh wow this is really cool, is there any kind of video for the 1985 Northeast leg?

The city seemed much more optimistic back then. Much more full of life.

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.

Look at how far we have come since 1980. And I live in Toronto.

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

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.

They are still running the same train cars from 1981.

I want to know why we are using new low floor train cars and just not keep using the ones we have

The bridge collapse over the elbow river late in construction. Should have buried it downtown like Edmonton did.

Super cool vid

ALL ABOARD!

time when the Calgary Tower was the tallest, talk about change.