Hanging Out at the Hanna Roundhouse

We recently had the fortunate opportunity to shoot a few frames at the historic CNR Roundhouse in Hanna. It was a chance to meet up with fellow area photographers, while basking in this amazing site.
The roundhouse dates back to 1913 when a 10-bay facility was constructed. In 1921, five more bays were added, but by the 1960s, trains ceased using the building. While there were once several such places across the prairies, the vast majority have since been abandoned and demolished. 

Some of the remnants of the 1921 addition.

Hope of a new life for the Hanna Roundhouse came in 2009 when a local non-profit group - the Hanna Roundhouse Society - began raising funds to restore and preserve this rare piece of history. They acquired the roundhouse and turntable in 2013, and is working hard to make their dreams a reality. 

View from the turntable facing the roundhouse.

While the 1921 addition had a major collapse back in 2007, the original 100+ year-old facility still remains. The bones of this building are in surprisingly good shape, considering how long the building has not been used.

One claim to fame is that the Hanna Roundhouse is where local band Nickelback filmed part of their video for Photograph (just before the three-minute mark). 
The Hanna Roundhouse is certainly much like several hidden gems on the prairies - a treasure nestled in plain sight.

Inside the roundhouse.