Vol. 17 No. 1
January, 1987
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Keep the Ball Rolling
Stay Safe in 87
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On Second Careers,
Governors General,
and the C&StL
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Omer Lavallee
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There is an old saying about old soldiers never dying, only fading away.
In my opinion, this observation applies also in many ways to a lot of writers: they never die, they
become columnists!
Consequently, when I was asked whether I was willing to contribute a column to CP Rail News, I thought about it
for a little while.
Having chosen early retirement in order to pursue my book-writing and many other activities with a
little more vigor, I was not sure whether I wanted to be tagged as one who had reached the stage of rocking
chair ruminations. However, I gave in, so here goes...
Consuming Passion
Since my consuming passion is history - particularly Canadian transportation history - readers can expect to see
quite a bit of content on this subject. (Of course, I don't want to compete in this field with my colleague Dave
Jones, whose history column "Heritage" also makes its debut in this issue.)
I invite readers to write in with comments, queries, or information, which can be addressed to me in care of CP
Rail News. I can't commit myself to answer letters individually, but topics of general interest will provide
themes in future columns.
Embarking upon my "second career"didn't have any noticeable effect upon my involvement in history
functions.
First Public Railway
For example, less than three weeks into retirement in July, I represented CP Rail President Russ Allison at the
official observance of the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Champlain & St. Lawrence Rail Road,
the first Canadian public railway.
The C&StL, 23 kilometres long, was opened between Laprairie and St. Jean, Quebec, on
21 Jul 1836. This event was sponsored by VIA Rail Canada, which operated a special LRC train from
Montreal to Laprairie and St. Jean and return on 19 Jul 1987.
On the original occasion 150 years ago, the guests of honor were headed by Sir Archibald Acheson, second Earl
of Gosford, Governor-in-Chief of British North America, and Hon. Peter McGill, the president of
the C&StL.
A century and a half later, the entourage was headed by their counterparts, the Governor General of Canada, Her
Excellency Jeanne Sauve, and the president of VIA, Lawrence Hanigan.
This year, the terminal towns vied with one another to provide bountiful meals. Unlike the original occasion
when the steamboat carrying everyone back to Montreal from Laprairie ran aground, the VIA special returned to
Montreal that night without incident.
Oldest Ancestor
The Laprairie-St. Jean line, today a constituent of Canadian National, also had an important role
to play in the building and opening of CP Rail's oldest ancestor, 14 years later.
Between 1846 and 1848, the Laprairie line replaced its original wood-and-strap-iron rails in
preparation for all-year-round operations and heavier locomotives and cars.
In 1849 and 1850, the original strap rail, as well as the C&StL's first two locomotives,
"Dorchester" and "Jason C. Peirce" and many of the original cars, were sold to the St.
Lawrence & Industrie Village Rail Road.
This line, chartered in 1847 and opened on 1 May 1850, is CP Rail's oldest operating constituent.
A contemporary newspaper noted approvingly that the railway was "built upon very economical lines";
what else should we expect of an ancestor of CP Rail? A section of it is still in use on the Quebec Division,
extending from Lanoraie to Joliette.
Until next month...
This CP Rail News article is copyright
1987 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with
their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway
Company.
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