Book description
Rails Across the Prairies
traces the evolution of Canada's rail network, including the arrival of
the first steam engine on the back of a barge. The book looks at the
arrival of European settlers before the railway and examines how they
coped by using ferry services on the Assiniboine and North Saskatchewan
Rivers. The work then follows the building of the railways, the
rivalries of their owners, and the unusual irrigation works of Canadian
Pacific Railway. The towns were nearly all the creation of the railways
from their layout to their often unusual names.
Eventually, the rail lines declined, though many are experiencing
a limited revival. Learn what the heritage lover can still see of the
Prairies' railway legacy, including existing rail operations and the
stories the railways brought with them. Many landmarks lie vacant,
including ghost towns and elevators, while many others survive as
museums or interpretative sites.
“… a must have for anyone with a connection to or interest in
railways, trains, or Canadian history.”
Ron Brown is a freelance
travel writer and photographer who has published over 20 books,
including The Lake Erie Shore, The Train Doesn't Stop
Here Anymore, and Ontario's Ghost Town Heritage. Brown
is past-chair of the Writers' Union of Canada and is active with the
Travel Media Association of Canada and the Book and Periodical
Council. He lives in Toronto.
