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Canadian National Railways
World War I and the Consolidation of Rail Line in Canada
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Rail Consolidation in Western Canada
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World War I and the Consolidation of Rail Line in Canada

Rail Consolidation in Western Canada

Rail Consolidation
Rail Consolidation
A
n appeal by the British Government for rails to be used for military purposes in France during World War I resulted in the consolidation of rail lines in Canada. The first request was granted by the Canadian Government on December 19, 1916 (Order-in-Council P.C. 3143) and was met with a little over 300 miles of rail and other track materials taken from sidings and yards of the eastern division of the National Transcontinental Railway (NTR).

Consolidation Scheme Proposed June 4–5, 1917
Consolidation Scheme Proposed June 4–5, 1917

A further request for rails and fittings was granted on May 18, 1917 (Order-in-Council P.C. 1395). In response, approximately 200 miles of rail from the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP, the western division of the NTR) between Imrie, Alberta, and Resplendent, British Columbia were lifted. Those parts of the GTP roadbed that were retained for the consolidated line were relaid with rail from the adjacent Canadian Northern Railway line, the latter’s roadbed being abandoned.

In retrospect, Mr. K.C. Biggar, President of the GTP, in a letter to the Minister of Railways and Canals, dated January 2, 1919, asserted “that very little rail, if any, went to France, but remained in Canada and was disposed of by the government of Canada."

Public Archives of Canada, RG 2.1, Vols. 1157, 1168; RG 43, Files 18648BT, 3323.