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PA029
Canadian National Railway fonds. - 1904-1997.
Biographical sketch :
The Canadian National was incorporated in 1923 as
a result of the amalgamation of several private or
government railways. These included the
Intercolonial, the National Transcontinental
Railway, the Grand Trunk Railway, the Grand Trunk
Pacific and the Canadian Northern. In 1917 the
government adopted a law to allow it to acquire
the Canadian Northern, and in 1918 the government
took over management of the Canadian Government
Railways. In 1919 it was the turn of the Grand
Trunk to become government property, as well as
the Grand Trunk Pacific in 1920. The government
thus took over the biggest network of railways in
the country, with 35,000 km of tracks and 3,200
locomotives. The Canadian National, like the
Canadian Pacific, became owner of a communications
network, a chain of hotels, and had its own plants
for the manufacture of locomotives. The CN
gradually improved its rail network, closing lines
that were unprofitable or dangerous. The first
director was Henry Thornton. During the 1920's it
was he who had the idea for the first radio
network in Canada. Later, the CN acquired a fleet
of ships to facilitate immigration and settlement
on government lands. During the 1940's the CN
encountered strong competition from automobiles
and trucks and brought in Donald Gordon to put the
company back on its feet. He moved ahead with
dieselization in 1949.
Custodial history :
The fonds was transferred to the Association
archives by several departments of Canadian
National. The Canadian National Railways fonds
deals with the manufacture, maintenance and
movements of locomotives.
The fonds consists of
technical and engineering drawings, photographs,
topographical maps, maintenance manuals for
rolling stock, operating instructions, train
schedules, rule books, employee bulletins and
annual reports.
Physical description :
15 m of textual materials. - 8000 engineering and technical drawings. - Approx. 3000 photographs: the photographs are on working index cards.
General note :
Title based on the contents of the fonds. The documents in the fonds are in English and French. See Montreal Locomotive Works fonds (P001) and Bombardier fonds (P002).
Last update
: 2006/10/23