Augiust 16, 1991 - Order-in-Council - 1480 - Authority for the sale of the CNR Railway Station in Aurora, Ontario to GO Transit.
January 18, 1991 - Canadian National Railways Act - Approval of the entry into a sales agreement between Via Rail Canada Inc., Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Limited of the Ottawa Station Building.
The CN Commercialization Act of 1995 led to the demise of Canada's first Crown corporation, a major industry that throughout its history employed thousands of Canadians.
The mega-corporation is constantly removing railway lines, and train stations have been re purposed, abandoned or demolished...The other day, I saw a photograph in the newspaper of a train station being hauled away on a flatbed truck to a new location. At least the building was not vandalized, set on fire or left to rot (CN offered to give the Grand Trunk Railway Station in Kingston, Ontario to the City of Kingston, but the offer was turned down.)
Via Rail recently built a new station in Smiths Falls.
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| A Via Rail "stationette" in Smiths Falls, Ontario. |
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| Via is selling four acres of land surrounding the Halifax station. |
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| The Thunder Bay, Ontario train station. |
During the early 1970's I bought a CNR railway pass for only $120 dollars. The trip was unforgettable; my fellow travelers and I sang; knitted; talked endlessly; ate cheese sandwiches, granola (horse food) and potato chips; wrote letters and marveled at the scenery. I find it difficult to accept the fact that Bill Gates is a major CN Rail shareholder. Bill Gates even has the gall to appear on television programs and boast about how much he has profited from his investment. Our ancestors built the railway, physically and with their tax dollars. He, and Prince al Waleed bin Talal and Carl Icahn must think that Canadians are fools, to let a treasure like the CNR fall into their greedy hands.
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ReplyDeleteStarting from Vancouver, the Canadian begins at Pacific Central Station. It follows along the CN track to New Westminster, then crosses the New Westminster Bridge. The Canadian then goes on the east track and goes directly to Gifford. It then recrosses the Fraser River to Mission, switching to the CP track and continuing on it all the way to Basque (near Lytton). It is here that both the CP and CN are on the same side of the river and have crossovers to access each other's tracks, and here where the eastbound Canadian transfers from the CP onto the CN line. Shortly thereafter the CN line crosses back over to the west/north side of the Thompson River for the rest of the way to Kamloops. Actually the Canadian stops at the CN station, which is in North Kamloops, across the river from downtown Kamloops. The Canadian continues east on the CN to Toronto, making stops at Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Going west the Canadian does not switch to the CP track in Kamloops; instead it stays on the CN tracks all the way into Vancouver. Two of the highlights of the CN route include the ride through Painted Canyon in which the train clings about 200 feet (61 m) above the Thompson River and the crossing of CN's 800-foot (240 m) steel-arched bridge over the Fraser River and the CP mainine at Cisco.
Travel in comfort, enjoy world-class service, and experience a vacation that’s been planned ahead for you. All you have to do is take your seat. You’ll be whisked off on your journey, which may be a single-day trip to a multi-city journey over several days. We provide options for lodging and dinner at some of the best restaurants and hotels in your destination city in Canada. You’ll receive vouchers for hotels, meals, and any sightseeing attractions that are included on your trip. Everything is already planned. All you have to do is relax, sit back, and enjoy one of our many train travel vacation experiences.
Canada by train
Dear Jackie: Thank you for your comments--- travelling across Canada on the CNR was one of the highlights of my life, I vividly remember the train stations; seeing grain elevators in Western Canada; the vast expanses of land...I never really appreciated the majestic Dominion of Canada until my epic cross-country adventure. And I will "Stand on Guard" to protect the symbols, buildings, and historic sites that define this great land.
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