On Track: A Photographic Tribute to Canada’s Rich Railroad History
Updated: Aug. 09, 2024
From the architectural wonder of an old trestle bridge to abandoned stretches of weed-strewn track, this gorgeous gallery captures the romance of Canada's railroad history.
A quiet moment
You can just sense the stillness in Jackie Gartner’s sensational photo of this old CP locomotive at sunset.
Engineering marvel
The Battle River Railway Trestle near Wainwright, Alberta, is an engineering marvel. Sharon Peters’ brilliantly composed shot captures the elegant cat’s cradle of the steel struts, along with an incredibly long freight train as it reaches the central span. Simply stunning!
Here are 10 of the most beautiful bridges in Canada.
A leaf-peeper’s paradise
Is it any wonder autumn is such a popular season amongst shutterbugs? The gorgeous fall foliage here would make for memorable ride on board this dinner train in Mont Orford, Quebec. Thanks to Russ Hayes for sharing.
Here’s why you need to take the Agawa Canyon fall colours train tour.
Just around the river bend
Sandra Harvey captured this scenic stretch of train track from Alberta’s Icefields Parkway.
Psst—you need to take these Canadian road trips at least once in your lifetime.
A study in greyscale
“While crossing the tracks leading into Gull Lake, Alberta, I had to stop and get this picture last winter,” writes Deb Sandau. The vintage vibe is given an added boost in black-and-white.
Check out more impressive black and white photography from across Canada.
Polar express
The contrast of the red locomotive against the marshmallow-white snowdrifts wouldn’t look out of place on a holiday card! Thanks to Edith Beerda of Smithers, B.C., for sharing this magical moment.
You’ll find more of Edith’s fantastic photos in this gallery showcasing “my happy place.”
Speeding through
On a trip to Banff National Park, Donna Barker stopped for the view—and got the added bonus of a train speeding through the shot. Talk about perfect timing!
Here are the best things to do in Banff on your next visit.
Vanishing point
We’re not sure what’s more dramatic in Alexandra Fontaine’s photo: the contrast of the colourful graffiti against the grey steel, or those eye-catching lines leading off into the distance. She snapped this striking shot over Norrish Creek in Mission, B.C.
Here’s more impressive perspective photography from the pages of Our Canada.
All aboard!
Linda Sweeney of Miramichi, New Brunswick, captured this postcard-perfect shot of a Via Rail passenger train pulling into Newcastle.
You’ll find more of Linda’s lovely snaps in this gallery of gorgeous doors across Canada.
End of the line
“Constructed around 1927, this caboose was last used on CN’s Montreal-Belleville run in 1976,” writes Ottawa’s Paula Brown. “It has been modified and painted to reflect the CNR caboose style of the 1920s. It’s on display at the Cumberland Heritage Museum in Cumberland, Ontario.”
Don’t miss these 10 awesome day trips from Ottawa.
Track level
Helena Bruder took her camera down to track level for a unique perspective on a freight car. What a fantastic photo!
Find out what it’s really like travelling through the Rockies onboard the legendary Rocky Mountaineer.
Tagged!
Alan Cheng captured an old rail car serving as the canvas for graffiti artists in Scarborough, Ontario.
Check out the most quirky roadside attractions across Canada.
Feel the chill
A blustery day at the Via Rail train station in Cobourg, Ontario, made a fantastic (and frigid-looking!) photo opp for Ann Lane. You can even see the snowflakes carried by the gusting wind… Brr!
Don’t miss this incredible photos showcasing the beauty of winter in Canada.
Four-legged friend
“Not a train in sight this afternoon when we were out for a drive in Rothesay, New Brunswick,” writes Rena Nixon. But they did meet this adorable little guy!
Here’s what it’s like photographing deer in rutting season.
Last frontier
Fred Allin took this train from Anchorage to Fairbanks while on a trip to Alaska. What a unique opportunity to admire all of that unspoiled wilderness!
Decisions, decisions…
George Vanderberg snapped this striking image at the marshalling yards in Kipp, Alberta. The switches on the track allow for trains to follow different routes, of course—a poignant metaphor for those defining moments in our lives.
Read the fascinating story behind B.C.’s historic E&N Railway.
Great train robbery
Stop, thief! Don’t worry, this isn’t a crime in progress that Joyce Stolte has captured on camera—it’s part of the Alberta Prairie Railway experience. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to travel by train during the days of the wild west, it’s well worth adding to your bucket list.
Here are the 10 places in Canada every Canadian needs to visit.
In the round
“Canada’s only 360 degree mural can be found in Pembroke, Ontario, located on the water tower from the old Canadian Pacific Railway train station,” writes Robbie Gorr. “It shows a steam train arriving in Pembroke, painted all around the old tower by artist John Ellenburger.”
Read the incredible story of how a group of young men took the train across Canada—for $150!
Full steam ahead!
Lynn Mabley captured this CN 6060 steam locomotive from the 1940s in Hinton, Alberta, back in 2001. “It was impressive to see this old engine still running,” she writes.
If you enjoyed this gallery of Canadian railroad pictures, don’t miss our roundup of 10 unique train rides across Canada.
