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.