Collection search - Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company [textual record]

Record information – Brief
1
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company [textual record]

Hierarchical level:

Sub-series

Date:

1902-1942

Reference:

R231-169-7-E, RG30-I-E-1

Type of material:

Textual material

Found in:

Archives / Collections and Fonds

Item ID number:

162865

Context of this record:

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Canadian National Railway Company fonds

Predecessor companies

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway System

Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company
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Record information – Details

Sub-series includes:

19 lower level description(s)
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Date(s):

1902-1942

Bilingual equivalent:

Click here

Place of creation:

Canada

Extent:

m of textual records

Language of material:

English

Scope and content:

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Sub-series consists of records created and maintained by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company and includes administrative, fiscal, legal, personnel and land records as well as clippings.

Additional name(s):

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Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company

Biography/Administrative history:

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Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company : The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Company was an endeavour by the Grand Trunk Railway Company to participate in the growth and development of western Canada and to obtain a share of the traffic enjoyed by the Canadian Pacific and Canadian Northern Railways. Incorporated under Dominion Act, 3 Ed. VII, Cap. 122 of 24 October 1903, the Grand Trunk Pacific (also known as the Western Division) was to run from Winnipeg to the Pacific and the National Transcontinental (or Eastern Division), incorporated on the same date under Dominion, Cap. 71, from Moncton to Winnipeg. The latter was built by the Dominion Government, the former at the expense of the Grand Trunk Pacific, which planned to lease the Eastern Division and operate the entire line. Construction of the Grand Trunk Pacific began in 1905, the entire 1,940.46 miles opening to traffic on 24 August 1914. The Pacific terminal selected was on an uninhabited part of the northern British Columbia coast which became Prince Rupert.

The railway was not the success that had been anticipated. Increasing construction costs and competition from the Canadian Pacific and Canadian Northern (which had become a transcontinental line) were factors as was the failure of Prince Rupert to become a major port. Ultimately the lease of the Eastern Division was not taken up and the Government was forced to undertake its operation.

The Grand Trunk Pacific's financial situation deteriorated with the outbreak of the First World War, despite Government assistance. The parent Grand Trunk Railroad Company could not give assistance and under Dominion Orders in Council P. C. 517 of 7 March 1919 and P. C. 547 of 13 March 1919, the Government appointed the Minister of Railways and Canals as receiver to take possession and operate the entire Grand Trunk Pacific System. On 12 June 1920 the operation and management of the system was entrusted to the Board of the Canadian Northern Railway, which was operating both the former Canadian Northern and Government owned lines under the title of Canadian National Railways. Thus, the Grand Trunk Pacific effectively became part of Canadian National though its corporate existence continued until 11 June 1956 when it amalgamated with and took the name the Canadian National Railway Company. RG30 General Inventory

Additional information:

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Source of title:

Title is based on the contents of the sub-series.

Accruals:

No further accruals are expected.

Source:

Government

Former archival reference no.:

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RG30-I-E-1
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Textual records

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Date modified:: 2024-05-10