The All Aboard Capital Campaign wants to ensure the preservation of Edmonton and areas rich rail history at Fort Edmonton Park through the revitalization of the train station, the capital reinvestment into Locomotive 107 and the purchase of a dining car.
There has been a fantastic transformation at Fort Edmonton Park over the last few years, but our collective work is not done. We are excited to launch our capital campaign that will see the revitalization of our beloved Train Station, including the addition of a dining car – a new culinary experience from the golden age of rail, and continued investment in Locomotive 107!
– Andrew Otway, All Aboard Capital Campaign Chair
When looking how to represent the significance of the railway in the 1920’s we looked no further than the expansive collection of rail travel posters that are now an iconic part of Canadian Rail and travel history, particularly in western Canada.
The posters, created by Canadian Pacific and Canadian National Railway enticed settlers and tourists to come west and used art to “sell” the idea of settling Western Canada to Europe. These posters were, and still are iconic representation of travel from the end of the 19th century to the 1960’s.
Taking these iconic train images into consideration the Fort Edmonton Foundation worked with local artist Crystal Driedger, to recreate a similar style of poster using our beloved Locomotive 107, 1919 Baldwin Engine and Tender and the train station to represent rail travel in Alberta in the 1920’s.
Crystal Driedger explains the process of creating this one of a kind piece for the All Aboard Campaign:
For the actual creation of the painting, I spent hours agonizing over accuracy and lighting while also striving to be true to the illustration style of that time period – using similar colour palettes for the sky and ground and keeping the 107 engine as accurate as I could. What a joy to recreate in a style I’ve admired for so many years, and to depict such an iconic piece of Edmonton!
It’s such an honour to have been asked to paint not only a piece of our history, but a place that I’ve deeply connected with since a child (and continues to be as I now bring my own children to the park). Painting our train is a particularly special honour because the moment you step onto the platform and see the train rolling up, you feel like you get to take a magical portal into the past. For me, the train is the most iconic and memorable element of the park!
The Fort Edmonton Foundation is thrilled to have an original piece of art that depicts the train station at Fort Edmonton Park which will be the home of the Fort Edmonton Foundation as well as Rotary District 5370 office, as well as our iconic Locomotive 107.
Want to know how you can get a copy of this piece of art to commemorate rail history at Fort Edmonton Park?
Stay tuned for more information!
