Vancouver BC archives

Model Railroader Prototype information for the modeler
1

I don’t know if this has been posted before, but the City of Vancouver, British Columbia, has digitized a large chunk of its archives, including many public domain photographs, and made this available to the general public. The database is searchable in various ways.

I have found all sorts of railroad-related photographs including trains, locomotives, rolling stock and stations. There are also bridges, street scenes, industries… all sorts of inspiration for railroad scenes. I’ve only scratched the surface, so don’t know how much traction is available (there were streetcars and the B.C. Electric Railway).

Naturally most of the railroad pictures will be of CP, CN and predecessor railroads (found one from Canadian Northern), but GN also had a line into the city (still used by BNSF and Amtrak today). Also, Vancouver is a typical North American city, though the condos they have built in recent years make it look rather tacky, and small businesses do share similar looks over most of the continent regardless of time period.

Give it a try… you just might find the detail you’re looking for to make that scene stand out. Here is the link: http://www.vancouverarchives.ca/2015/11/19/giving-the-gift-of-history/

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Thanks for the link!

That is a pretty good site to explore. I found some good photos of passenger cars that I can use for reference!

Regards, Ed

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Not only does the City of Vancouver have great online resources, but so does the B.C. Provincial Government Archives. Thousands of RR pics only a click away. There are also lots of documents, including letters from all those involved in building the Canadian Pacific. Both sites should come with a warning that reads, “entering these sites will expose you to time shift” I often will sit down at 0630 with my morning cuppa and without even knowing it, lunch time has arrived.

Phil, if you ever get the chance, visit the actual home of the Vancouver Archives. Vancouver really embrasses it’s RR history. This photo covers a rather large wall as you enter the building.