Rails Across the Prairies
Follow the evolution of the rail legacy of the Canadian Prairies from the arrival of the first engine on a barge to today’s realities.
Rails Across the Prairies traces the evolution of Canada’s rail network, including the appearance 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.
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.