1820 ‘s-1920 ‘s Canada’s Century On Line

1820s 1830s 1840s 1850s 1860s

A funicular The first RR in Canada The Depression of Great Western RR; Windsor-Niagara Falls Prince of Wales, son of
track up stretched from St. John’s (St. 1837-39 & Rebellions (1854). Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge, Queen Victoria, at the
from the Jean) on the Richelieu R to of 1837-38 delayed RR longest in world (1855). Victoria Bridge in Mtl.
St. Laprairie on the St. Lawrence construction.
Lawrence R. RR Guarantee Act:
River to RRs more than 75
the miles (120 kms) were
Citadelle at eligible for a gov’t.
Quebec guarantee of money
City when ½ of the line was
carried the completed (1849).
first steam Created the RR boom He opens the GTR
It was a portage between the First mail cars carry the post and
railway in of the 1850s. Sarnia to Portland,
Molson steamboat lines (1836). make letters much cheaper (1854).
NA. The Maine (ice-free port).
track This is the longest RR
lifted in the world (1860).
stone to The Canadian
build the Constitution
new of 1867 required the
fortress. Inter-Colonial RR to
Grand Trunk RR (GTR); Sarnia-Toronto,
connect the St.
Albion Mines RR, the first in Toronto-Montreal (1856). GTR
Lawrence R to
the Maritimes (1839). Hincks, Author of bridges St. Lawrence R at Montreal
the Maritimes.
Guar. Act (Victoria Tubular Bridge 1859).
 1870s 1880s 1890s 1900s 1910-20s
Inter-Colonial RR Canadian Pacific (CPR) starts 1881. St. Clair Tunnel, Sarnia to Michigan Tunnels & bridges improve GTR Pacific
from Halifax, (1890). the CPR lines in Western finished (1913).
Nova Scotia Electric streetcars create downtown Canada.
started (1872), urban areas (Toronto, Ottawa, Mtl.) WWI ends
finished (1876). immigration,
Linked Halifax to an important
Sarnia, Ont. RR revenue
Sir Sanford source.
Fleming, Engineer Canadian RRs
on the Inter Kicking Horse Pass were important
Colonial RR. Quebec RR Bridge, largest in the WW1
Fleming cantilever bridge in the effort.
CPR’s Last Spike, the completion
influential Victoria Tubular Bridge double world, collapses killing 75 GTR & several
of the line (1885).
in creating tracked & replaced by steel workmen, including 35 from RRs go
First CPR train from Montreal
World Standard trusses (picture: right) 1899. Kahnawake. bankrupt
arrives in Vancouver, 1886.
time & are taken
to aid over
international by the Gov’t
communications. to become
(Based on Canadian
Greenwich National
Meridian, CPR opens a 2nd line (Rockies through Railways,
London). CPR line extended to Saint John, Crowsnest Pass, 1899). Great hotels CNR.
New Brunswick completing built across Canada by CPR and the Before its opening in 1919,
Pacific to Atlantic route (1889). GTR. machines raising the centre
span of this bridge collapsed
killing 13 workers.

Windsor Station Mtl. CPR

headquarters opens 1888.