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ARCHIVED - Canada, by Train
Archived Content
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Introduction
Canada, by Train has three main sections. Ties That Bind provides a short history of railways in Canada and how they marketed their passenger services. It creates a context for the other two sections, Transcontinental Tour and Tracking Time.
The "Transcontinental Tour" section of this exhibit highlights Library and Archives Canada's (LAC) collection of railway advertising and some of the companies that created it. The collection contains brochures, timetables and posters, dating from approximately 1883 to 1952.
The "Tracking Time" section examines the contribution of railways to the growth of Canada, through themes ranging from urban growth to immigration. Important Canadian events such as The Depression and the Royal Visit of 1939 are also linked to railways and trains.
Audio
Sound effect of train wheels on the tracks
(running time: 14 s)
What was it like to ride or work on Canada's passenger trains? First-person accounts of train travel are included throughout the "Transcontinental Tour" and "Tracking Time" sections of the site. These accounts are also grouped together in the Travelogues section.
This site also offers a searchable database of LAC's Merrilees Transportation Collection, a primary source for many of the images and materials featured here. Click on "Search the Database" to access this database.
This site is intended for a general audience. For further reading, consult the Further Research page for selected sources and links to related websites.
Visit the website ARCHIVED - The Kids' Site of Canadian Trains
