Canada is the only country in the world with a constitution linking its formation to the building of a railway. British Columbia threatened to join the United States if it was not given its own line, so four thousand miles of iron road were driven from the Atlantic to the Pacific and trains have played a crucial part in Canada's history ever since.

On November 7th, 1885, the famous "Last Spike" was driven to complete the Canadian Pacific Railway's transcontinental line, formally linking Canada together as a nation. One of the steam locomotives that was used to build that line is South Simcoe Railway Heritage Corporation's #136, which still operates on special public excursions each summer on the South Simcoe Railway.

Canadian Railway History Links:

Important Dates in Canadian Railway History

Canadian Pacific Railway History Website

Canadian Museum of Civilization - Railway History