Intercolonial Railway

Surveys proposed by the government of Canada in

1863. Three engineers were to be appointed, one by the Imperial

government, one by Canada, and one by the Maritime Provinces. They all

nominated the same man, Sandford Fleming, by whom the surveys were

accordingly carried out. The railway was made a condition of the union

of the Maritime Provinces with Canada, and the work of construction was

pushed forward, the line being formally opened July 1, 1876. In 1871 the

Prince Edward Island Railway was begun, and in 1873 it became a portion

of the Intercolonial system. Other extensions and branches were built or

acquired, the line finally running from Sydney and Halifax to Montreal.