The historic Portage la Prairie Train Station, a once-bustling gateway for royalty, prime ministers, and generations of settlers, now stands quietly in the heart of the city, its grandeur fading into memory.
While Via Rail trains still stop at the platform, the station itself is a shell of its former self, a storage unit for which passengers no longer wait inside.
Local historian and teacher James Kostuchuk shares the rich history of the building and reflects on the profound role railways played in shaping the community and the nation.
From Grand Trunk Pacific to Via Rail
The station’s story begins at the dawn of the 20th century, a tangible link to Canada's expansive railway era. It was built in 1908 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway.
James Kostuchuk explains the station’s corporate evolution, saying, "It changed over the years. The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway basically went bankrupt in 1919, so the Canadian government nationalized it. And then in 1920, it was folded into a rail network that we know as Canadian National Railways."
That legacy continued when passenger services were transferred to the entity known today.
"VIA Rail, which appeared in 1978 when the CNR decided to turn over its passenger rail services, still operates today and has rail service across Canada."
A portal for royals and Prime Ministers
The station’s platforms have witnessed moments of great historical significance, hosting some of the most famous figures of the 20th century.
Kostuchuk recounts one particularly unexpected royal stop.
"King George the Sixth and the Queen coming here in 1939, they weren't scheduled to come to Portage, but they decided, as they were travelling on a train, this is just before the war, they went across Canada on a tour, and the king and queen decided they wanted to attend a church service. So, they ordered the train to stop, and the nearest place was Portage la Prairie."
This impromptu visit left a permanent mark on the city.
"They got off there and they went down Campbell Street, which is now named Royal Road. That's why there was a name change," Kostuchuk says.
The visit was commemorated at Trinity United Church, where a bible remains open to the page read by the king. The station also hosted a prime minister.
"This other photo, of course, was from 1952, which again shows a CNR train coming into town. But this time it's carrying Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent, who came to Portage la Prairie."
A personal connection and a quiet present
For Kostuchuk, the railway’s history is also a family affair, a common thread for many Manitobans.
"My family owes a lot to the Canadian National Railway, as it turns out. My great-grandfather came here from England at the turn of the 20th century, and he worked as a clerk in Winnipeg. And then my grandfather worked as a machinist in Transcona. And then my father worked in the railway yard and was a conductor in Dauphin, Manitoba. And even I, when I was 18 years old, worked for the railway on signal maintenance."
Today, the station is a stark contrast to its vibrant past.
"The building itself is now used locally as a storage unit. So if you want to get a train in Portage, there's no place to sit inside. You have to wait outside," Kostuchuk notes.
The modern travel experience is a minimalist one. Passengers are notified by app of the train's arrival time and show up just moments before it departs. The conductor places a stool on the platform, passengers step aboard, and the train continues its journey, leaving the silent, aging station behind once more.
It stands as a monument to a bygone era of travel, its weathered exterior hinting at the countless stories and famous faces that once passed through its doors.
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