Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian National Railway Water Tower (Portage Road West, Cranberry Portage, RM of Kelsey)

Formerly located along Elevator Road at Cranberry Portage, on the CNR Flin Flon Subdivision in the Rural Municipality of Kelsey, an cedar-covered octagonal railway tower sat atop a concrete foundation. Inside was a steel water tank having a capacity of 181,840 litres (40,000 gallons). Built around 1929, it was used to supply steam locomotives of the Canadian National Railway. A coal-powered boiler under the tank kept the water from freezing during cold weather. A ball above the tank indicated the water level inside.

The tower has been demolished and only the concrete foundation remains today.

Canadian National Railway Station at left and Canadian National Railway Water Tower at right at Cranberry Portage

Canadian National Railway Station at left and Canadian National Railway Water Tower at right at Cranberry Portage (no date)
Source: Cranberry Portage Heritage Museum

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N54.58526, W101.38175
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian National Railway Station / Cranberry Portage Heritage Museum (Cranberry Portage, RM of Kelsey)

Manitoba Business: Canadian Northern Railway / Canadian National Railway

Sources:

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 4 November 2025

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