| The site is divided in
six sections, each one corresponding to one of the six companies which have
been retained to appear in this corpus. Those companies, brought together
throughout this century, have formed what we all know today as the CN. For each, you will find a brief historical description enabling you to follow the evolution of Canadian Railway history through time. Here are the six companies available on this site :
You may, whenever you wish to, have access to a detailed description and to a small photo archive of each company by clicking on the buttons located at the bottom of each page. They indeed, are very easy to identify, their name appearing in big bold characters on every button (If you have difficulty identifying Intercolonial Railways, keep in mind that it is the icon with the big moose on it...).
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| Terms and Definitions |
| Steam Locomotive | A steam powered vehicle running on parallel rails that generate and converts energy into motion for the purpose of hauling railway cars. The first railway steam locomotive was developed by the Englishman R. Trevithick in 1804. They were introduced into Canada in 1836 and continued until 1960. |
| Diesel-Electric Locomotive | A locomotive powered by a diesel engine connected to an electric genenrator. The generator produces electric current that powers multiple-geared electric motors on the locomotive trucks. While introduced in the 1920's, diesel-electric locomotives only appeared in large numbers on Canadian railways in the 1950's. They completely replaced steam locomotives by 1960. |
| Freight cars | Railway freight cars are designed specifically for the transportation of produce, merchandise and natural resources. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Originally freight cars were built of wood, but since the 1920's they have been built of steel. The movement of freight, particularly bulk commdities like wheat, has always been the manin source of revenue for Canadian railways. |
| Passenger Cars | Cars designed specifically fior the movement of people or the use in passenger trains. As railway networks expanded, so too did the need for specialzed passenger cars. from 1914 onwards, passenger cars were built of steel to provide greater safety and reduce maintenance costs. |
| Structures/Operations | Railways were one of the first modern corporations. With operations covering enormous distances railway require a complex organization involving engineering, communications technology and a substancial support structure. Ranging from the early railway station, that provided communities with a link to the outside world, to the modern railway commucations centre, they serve as an important link in Canada's economic life. |
| And now, dare to click! |
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