The Royal Train Ride Tour of Alberta

On August 2, 1978, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip rode by train from Vegreville to Fort Saskatchewan, greeting Albertans all along the way. Ed Duliba worked at the Fort Saskatchewan station in preparation for this visit, and submitted the following captivating photographs that encapsulate the energy and enthusiasm of the day.

“Red carpet laid, place all cleaned,” he writes. “Excitement was in the air. Pilot car 92 had departed Vegreville at 12:50PM.” The royal family was aboard the next train, he remembers, following about half an hour behind. The growing crowd cheered as engine 9152 with the Royal Standard on top slowly passed the station. The Queen and the Prince slowly disembarked while a red-coated RCMP officer stood by and the conductor assisted the Royal couple in disembarking.

“They were met by Mr. Walter Buk, our MLA, and by Mr. Peter Loughead, the Premier, then escorted to a waiting limousine to be driven to Edmonton. Their expected arrival time in Edmonton was 4:00PM” he writes.

The following picture (front left to right) of Princess Elizabeth, King George, Queen Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret Rose was a Christmas gift from Lavoy, Alberta General Store owners Mr. Mazar and Mr. Dowhey. Ed Duliba fondly remembers family trips to town with his parents, William and Helen, in their 1928 Chev car. They would pick up their mail and make the necessary purchases.