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The Canadian Railway Revolution: From Vision to Reality

Discover the fascinating journey of Canada's railway development from humble beginnings in 1850 to the emergence of the Grand Trunk Railway bridging colonies across British North America. Explore the ambitious dreams, setbacks, and ultimate triumphs that paved the way for a transformative trade network connecting the nation. Uncover the pivotal role of the railway in shaping Canada's destiny and national identity, from strategic defense to economic prosperity. Join us on this historical ride through the Canadian railway saga.

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The Canadian Railway Revolution: From Vision to Reality

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Presentation Transcript

  1. This Train Rolls On The Need For a Canadian Railway

  2. Until Now • If there was ever to be a viable trade network amongst the colonies there needed to be a good network of rail links. • As of 1850 there was only 106 km of track in total in Canada. This is less than the distance of Prince Rupert to Terrace. • The Americans were getting in on the railway business, so why not the Canadians?

  3. A Good Start • Between 1850 and 1867 there was a total of 3570 km laid amongst the colonies of British North America.

  4. An Emerging Power • The company that oversaw all of this production was the Grand Trunk Railway. • Oh by the way, the head of this railway company? A guy by the name of Charles Hays.

  5. A Major Setback • The hope was for the Grand Trunk to be an all-British rail line that extended from Canada West, over the Atlantic to Nova Scotia. • By 1860 the line reached from Sarnia, Ontario to Riviere du Loup, Quebec. The dream had not quite been realized.

  6. The Solution? • The railway was on the verge of bankruptcy, as it was a great expense for the company to take on by itself. • It was assumed that if all the colonies were joined together they could split the cost of a railway. • They soon realized how valuable a trade route amongst themselves could be.

  7. The Canadian Dream • Some dreamed that one day the railway would reach across the continent to British Columbia, and to the Pacific Ocean. • As mentioned before, one of these people was John A. McDonald, hence the slogan “sea to sea” • More on that later…

  8. Another Good Reason • The other advantage of having a train line was a question of national defence. • In the winter the St. Lawrence froze over, and that meant the Canadians would lose a huge trade route. • A railway would mean that both troops and supplies could be sent out to the Atlantic provinces should the Americans attack.

  9. The End?

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