CP Railways; a piece of western history

By Brandie Majeau

When the final spike was set in 1885, the completed Canadian transcontinental

railway played a crucial role in connecting a nation and facilitating the settlement of the

Prairies by farmers. The railwayès necessity to promote agriculture in the West was

reciprocated by its dependence on farmers and ranchers for maintaining profitability

through the shipping and receiving of agricultural products.

Until the 1950s, the absence of all-weather roads meant that various goods were

ordered from catalogues and shipped via rail to local towns. The mutual relationship

between railways and agriculture was essential for Western Canadaès economic

development. The railway served as the primary mode of transporting goods and people

until the development of all-weather roads in the 1950s and 1960s.

The railway was vital for moving agricultural products in bulk, a role it continues

to play in many cases today. Historically, rail companies actively promoted settlement in

Western Canada to European audiences through advertising campaigns and

demonstration farms. In addition to its economic significance, the railway functioned as

the communication network for many communities. The local railway stations acted as

hubs for exchanging news in an era before the introduction of telephones and the

internet.

Railway companies held significant influence on the development of towns, often

determining their locations based on the positioning of railway stations. This resulted in

the standard layout of communities, with a railway thoroughfare running parallel to the

tracks and a main street intersecting near the station.

The need for many railway stations diminished as agriculture evolved from

smaller to larger operations. Following that change, many branch lines were dismantled,

resulting in population declines in various small towns. However, many small towns

have held on to those pieces of a time when the railway created bustling towns

throughout rural Alberta and beyond. Due to its significant role in shaping the history

and economy of Western Canada, these small towns and communities dedicate

considerable efforts to safeguard the remnants of the Canadian Pacific Railway, which

played a vital role in both rural and urban transportation. They strive to uphold the knowledge and significance of a railway, ensuring that it is never forgotten.