The Railroad At A Glance
Planning
Surveyors are planning the best route for the railroad to take
The Canadian Pacific Railway took numerous years and needed thousands of workers to be completed. Before workers could start on the railroad there was 10 years of planning involved. During this time period multiple groups were surveying the land and finding the most cost efficient route for the railroad. This work was sometimes dangerous because of diseases like frostbite, scurvy (deficiency of vitamin C), grizzly bear attacks, drowning, and fires. Another problem they had was determining the location of the terminus, (end of the railway) on the west coast. At times there were 6 possible places for the West terminus in British Columbia, they chose Port Moody. There were this many locations for the terminus because the end station will always attract more visitors. To complete the railroad much planning had to be involved otherwise the railroad might have not been a success.
Sir William Cornelius Van Horn
SIr William Cornelius Van Horn
Sir William Cornelius Van Horne was the railway official while the Canada Pacific Railway was being built. Van Horne's formal education ended at age 14, when he began his railway career as a telegrapher with the Illinois Central Railroad in 1857. He worked for several American railways and by 1880 when he was 25, he was general superintendent of the Milwaukee Road. Van Horne was appointed general manager of the CPR on 1 Jan 1882, and he used his excellent managerial skills to improve the organization of construction on Canadian Pacific railway, which was complete from Winnipeg to Calgary. Van Horne's determination was responsible for the rapid completion of the railway between Montréal and Port Moody. When regarded the CPR as a transportation and communications system the company developed a telegraph service and entered the express business. He launched the famous Empress line of Pacific steamships in 1891. These ships were fast and luxurious vessels which ran between Vancouver and Hong Kong, that carried mail for the British government and increased tourist and freight traffic between Canada and the Orient. Van Horne was also the founder of CP Hotels as an amateur architect he helped plan the Banff Springs and Château Frontenac hotels. After his retirement from the presidency in 1899, he promoted the building of a railway in Cuba. Van Horne was, a brilliant railway manager, and a man with tremendous intellectual curiosity. To mark his passing, the CPR ceased operations for a day and Cuba held a day of mourning in his honour.
Terminus
Beginning of the construction of the railroad at Port Moody
Another important decision in addition with where to start building the railway. On September 27th, 1881 the construction of the railroad began at the West coast, at Port Moody and the East coast, at Montreal. Starting from both ends of the country gives many positive advantages. One example of this is if there is a land slide, or avalanche in the mountains they can chart another route avoiding natural disasters. The final piece of track was placed in Craigeellachie, British Columbia. The railroad was completed on Nov. 7th 1885. In order to make the railroad perfect and flawless many decisions needed to be thoroughly examined to find the best for the railroad.
Subsequent To The Finishing Of The Railway
First passenger car to travel across Canada on the CPR
When the Canadian Pacific Railway was finished all of the hard work that was put into it paid off. The first passenger train left from the east coast and arrived at the west coast in July 4th, 1886. It took 10 years to survey, 4 ½ years to build and 30’000 workers to create and perfect the Canadian Pacific Railway. After the railroad was completed in 1886 they decided to extend the west coast railway to Vancouver in 1887 making Port Moody no longer the terminus. To conclude, the Canadian Pacific Railway needed many weeks of planning, reasonable thinking for the railroad to succeed.