Regina & The Railway: Exploring The History of Locomotive #5093
The large train sitting proudly outside what is now Casino Regina is a valuable reminder of how Regina came to be. It’s safe to say the city was a product of the growing railway industry. Regina was built along the main line of The Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR), and Canadian National Railway (CNR). The first train to reach Pile O’ Bones Creek arrived on August 23, 1882, marking the establishment of Regina. The first train station was a humble wooden structure that sat just east of Broad Street. This station was built sometime around 1900 and functioned as a depot for the CPR. For most developing cities at the time, a newly erected train station acted as a central hub of activity. This activity made neighbouring locations valuable real estate for merchants and business owners to set up shop and contribute to the growth of Regina.
First Union Station front view.
C. 1925.
Regina’s second train station was built in 1892. However, it was replaced in 1911 when CNR and CPR joined forces, combining their passenger facilities into Union Station. The new ashlar stone-faced building sat stoically along what is now Saskatchewan Drive, where it remains today with much of its original architecture still intact. The building housed necessities for passengers like washrooms, space for baggage, and two ticket desks. One desk was designated for each of the founding companies. As railway travel continued to flourish it became apparent that upgrades to Union Station would be needed to accommodate the influx of traffic. Renovations to expand the building were undertaken in 1921 and again in 1927. However, it wasn’t until 1931 that more substantial renovations began. In June of 1932, the updated Union Station was unveiled, to the delight of travelling passengers and Regina citizens. The newly renovated building featured an extravagant marble staircase that connected the lobby with the offices above. Seating areas were finished with polished white oak and outfitted with custom seating for guests. The use of brass fixtures and marble countertops also added to the modernization of the building, providing guests with a first-class experience as they hoped from one train to the next.
“My father used to tell us stories about him and his twin brother taking cows to the Toronto Exhibition by train. They wouldn't get a ticket! They would sleep with the straw and everything where the animals were. I know it was three or four days on the train. He said that when they had a nice conductor, they would let them come and sit in the caboose sometimes. I thought that was real dedication to your cows!”
- Lauren Hume, Executive Director of The Rusty Relics Museum.
Right image: Regina’s Union Station. Mike Kostelniuk,1923.
For many years Union Station was bustling with passenger and freight trains zipping through Regina. The station was most often what visitors saw first of the city as they stepped out onto the platform. The station also transported troops for both the First and Second World Wars. It saw harrowing goodbyes as well as many joyous reunions upon return. During the depression years, the transportation of goods and leisurely passenger travel decreased substantially. This left the train cars to be occupied solely by those who have found themselves down on their luck, desperately in search of work. However, the station was also home to many years of fun and leisure. The 1950’s saw numerous New Year’s Eve and Christmas parties hosted for employees and their Families. Train cars were adorned with festive decorations and the already lavish lobby sported an enormous Christmas tree for these black-tie events. During the summer months a midnight train would run from the station to Regina Beach transporting partygoers to dances happening down by the water. Merchants would also arrive seasonally with trunks filled to the brim with the latest fashions, setting up showrooms in the Hotel Saskatchewan where customers were invited to browse the upcoming trends. From its completion, there is no doubt that Union Station saw the highs and lows of a time so heavily dependent on the railways. Passenger travel slowly decreased through the 1960s but it wasn’t until the year 1990 that the last passenger train rolled out of the station, bidding farewell to this extraordinary chapter of local history. The true significance of this era became solidified one year later when the building was deemed a heritage railway station by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board in 1991. Following this designation, many years of back and forth persisted to determine what was in store for the vacant building. In 1994 plans were approved to transform the building into a casino that would be run by the provincial government. Casino Regina opened its doors to the public in 1996 and continues to operate to this day.
Grand Trunk Pacific advertisement in The Leader Regina
June 16, 1913.
Locomotive #5093 exemplifies the type of train that would have hauled passengers to and from Union Station on countless occasions. Locomotive #5093 was built in 1918 by Montreal Locomotive Works Ltd. Coming in at 75 feet long and weighing 287,000 lbs., this steam engine is what's called a Pacific type of locomotive. Pacific’s were built primarily for passenger service and were the most predominant type of steam passenger locomotive in North America during the first five decades of the 20th century. Pacific locomotives were classified by their wheel arrangement. In English-speaking countries, the most common method of classification was called the light system. This system was developed by master mechanics for the New York Central Railway sometime near 1800. Pacific’s have a wheel arrangement which is described as a 4-6-2. The 4 signifies four small wheels on the front of the engine. These wheels are used to guide the locomotive through curves on the tracks. Locomotives with Four wheels were much more efficient than those with two wheels as they could maneuver curves at a much higher speed. This function made them suitable for passenger transport as it was a high priority for timely transportation for both passengers and rail companies for timely transportation.
The 6 in the Pacific 4-6-2 wheel arrangement stands for the six large drive wheels. A rule of thumb adopted by those in the industry states that the top speed of a locomotive in miles per hour is equivalent to the driver's diameter in inches. If the locomotive featured 69-inch diameter drivers it could run comfortably at 69 miles per hour. Finally, the 2 represents the two small trailing wheels. Those wheels were used to support the area of the engine that was responsible for burning fuel known as the firebox. The bigger the firebox, the more powerful the locomotive was. Canadian National locomotives with the letter J were always a Pacific type of locomotive. However, Canadian National had several different designs of J locomotives. There were 77 J-4 locomotives in total and all were built to a similar design but with slight variances. Each order of locomotives was also given a sub-letter to further identify them. There were 10 locomotives in the J-4-C class that were originally built for the Canadian Government Railways. They numbered these locomotives from 468 to 477. However, Canadian Government Railways later amalgamated with the Canadian Northern Railways to form Canadian National Railways (CNR). After the formation of CNR these locomotives were renumbered from 468-477 to 5090-5099. This places locomotive #5093 somewhere in the middle of this new numbering system.
Locomotive #5093
Outside Casino Regina, 2024.
Before its retirement, Locomotive #5093 arrived in Regina on its final voyage from Swan River, Manitoba on April 25, 1960. The locomotive pulled along five cars occupied with only 35 passengers during its final trek. This marked an important shift in the industry as it was the last steam engine to arrive in Regina before the railways subsequently transitioned from steam to diesel. Only three years after this monumental voyage talk of Regina purchasing a steam engine for historical purposes began to arise. Many local citizens, city council members, and those working at the Regina Plains Museum worked tirelessly to facilitate the purchase of locomotive #5093. One such example is local politician and city councillor, Gordon B. Grant. Through countless correspondents with city and government officials, Grant was able to gather the required funds. Grant was so dedicated to the project he even made a personal donation towards the purchase of the locomotive. It was through the dedication of people like Grant, and other caring citizens that the Regina Plains Museum was awarded grants from the Saskatchewan Diamond Jubilee and Canadian Centennial Corporation in 1964 to go ahead with the purchase. The budgeted cost of locomotive #5093 totalling $8500 was finally able to be met and the locomotive was purchased from CNR in 1964. The Regina Exhibition Association also stepped up to provide a site for the locomotive to be displayed. The exhibition association also made a commitment to provide any needed maintenance over the years. Local companies that could aid in building a secure base and facilitate transportation were also brought on to ensure a smooth transition to the exhibition grounds where it had been decided the locomotive would be displayed. With a fresh coat of paint, the replacement of a few broken windows and decals, locomotive #5093 was officially welcomed to its new home on July 26, 1964, with a dedication ceremony.
Locomotive #5093
Outside Casino Regina, 2024.
It wasn’t until some years later that locomotive #5093 would come to rest in its current home in front of Casino Regina. In conjunction with the revitalization of Union Station in 1995, it was proposed that the locomotive be moved to the current site to honor both the building's heritage as well as the heritage attached to the locomotive itself. Together they act as a joint tribute to the vibrant history of rail travel in Saskatchewan. Locomotive #5093 memorializes the bygone era of steam travel that shaped our city’s beginning and influenced the lives of so many. Together, Union Station and locomotive #5093 act as a nod to the countless folks who worked tirelessly at the station to ensure the comfort of passengers or the safe transport of goods. Furthermore, it represents the passion of those who wish to breathe new life into historic spaces while still preserving their rich history for future generations. Locomotive #5093 invites guests of Casino Regina to take a step back in time and relish this exciting and spirited era.
References
Argan, William and Pamela Cowan. Cornerstones 2: An artist's history of the city of Regina. Betty K Books & Food, 2000.
City of Regina Archives. https://7070.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?lang=en-US. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Cowan, Pamela. The Milk Train, The Silk Train and The Skunk. The Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation, 1996.
Donald, Mcqueen. Canadian National Steam!: A Locomotive History of The People's Railway. DC Books, 2013.
“First Union Station front view.” Regina Public Library Archives, 1925. https://7070.sydneyplus.com/archive/final/Portal/Default.aspx?lang=en-US.
“Full Steam Ahead.” Yvette Moore Gallery, Accessed 20 June 2024. https://www.yvettemoore.com/artwork/full-steam-ahead-card/.
Grand Trunk Pacific. [Advertisement]. (1913, June 16). The Morning Leader, p. 17.
Kostelniuk, Mike. “Regina’s Union Station. Regina Public Library Archives, 1923.
Hume Lauren. Personal Interview. 17 July 2024.
Media, OH! History « Casinos Regina & Moose Jaw. https://casinoregina.com/about/history. Accessed 2 July 2024.
Sexsmith, Calvin. Personal Interview. 27 June 2024.