Changes

[[Canada]] has a large and well developed [[railway]] system that today primarily transports freight.  

''''Canadian railways''' tie [[Canada]] together through a large and well developed [[railway]] system that today primarily transports freight. The railways have great political and symbolic significance in uniting the far-flung provinces.

==System in 21st century==

==System in 21st century==

There are two major privately owned transcontinental freight railway systems, the [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. Nation-wide passenger services are provided by the federal crown corporation [[VIA Rail]]. Commuter trains serve Montréal, Toronto and Vancouver. Smaller railways such as Ontario Northland and Algoma Central also run passenger trains to remote rural areas.

There are two major privately owned transcontinental freight railway systems, the [[Canadian National Railway|Canadian National]] and [[Canadian Pacific Railway]]. Nation-wide passenger services are provided by the federal crown corporation VIA Rail. Commuter trains serve Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Smaller railways such as Ontario Northland and Algoma Central also run passenger trains to remote rural areas.

Canada has 49,422 km total trackage, of which only 129 km is electrified. Canada uses standard gauge track for the majority of its railway system. The exceptions to this are small lines isolated from the main North American rail network used in resource industries such as mining or forestry, some of which are narrow gauge, and the broad-gauge streetcar and subway lines of Toronto.

Canada has 49,422 km total trackage, of which only 129 km is electrified. Canada uses standard gauge track, except for small narrow gauge lines isolated from the main North American rail network used in mining or forestry, and the broad-gauge streetcar and subway lines of Toronto.

==History==

==History==

According to den Otter (1997), as products of the [[Enlightenment]], Canadians believed in economic and moral progress, and shared the technological optimism of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Liberalism. Modernizers had upon a "mission" to "civilize" (or conquer) the wilderness for the expansion of British trade, commerce, and culture.  The Canadian market itself was always much cmaller than the nearby American market, which Canadians sought to exploit.  They adopted American technology to escape British financial and military control. At the same time, because they rejected [[Republicanism, U.S.|American democratic values]] and were content with Britain's elite social and political institutions, Canadians resisted incorporation into the U.S. and envisioned an independent transcontinental nation, one politically distinct and economically competitive with the United States, but never entirely independent from America's larger market opportunities. Unfortunately, metropolitan rivalries between Montreal, Halifax, and Saint John caused Canadians to build more railway lines per capita than any other industrializing nation, even though they had neither sufficient capital resources, nor freight and passenger traffic to make all of their schemes pay. Over time, internal competition for resources forced Canadians to demand centralization and state intervention to support their expansionist plans, a situation that pitted Canadian regions against each other as urban entrepreneurs sought closer ties with either Britain or the United States.  

According to den Otter (1997), as products of the [[Enlightenment]], Canadians believed in economic and moral progress, and shared the technological optimism of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century Liberalism. Modernizers had upon a "mission" to "civilize" (or conquer) the wilderness for the expansion of British trade, commerce, and culture.  The Canadian market itself was always much cmaller than the nearby American market, which Canadians sought to exploit.  They adopted American technology to escape British financial and military control. At the same time, because they rejected [[Republicanism, U.S.|American democratic values]] and were content with Britain's elite social and political institutions, Canadians resisted incorporation into the U.S. and envisioned an independent transcontinental nation, one politically distinct and economically competitive with the United States, but never entirely independent from America's larger market opportunities. Unfortunately, metropolitan rivalries between Montreal, Halifax, and Saint John caused Canadians to build more railway lines per capita than any other industrializing nation, even though they had neither sufficient capital resources, nor freight and passenger traffic to make all of their schemes pay. Over time, internal competition for resources forced Canadians to demand centralization and state intervention to support their expansionist plans, a situation that pitted Canadian regions against each other as urban entrepreneurs sought closer ties with either Britain or the United States.  

===Creating lines===

===Creating lines===

The first Canadian railway, the [[Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad]], was opened in 1836 near Montreal. Heavy expansion of the rail system did came after the Guarantee Act of 1849 guaranteed bonds on all railways over 75 miles. This led to rapid expansion of railways; there was excessive growth as uneconomic lines were built since the government guaranteed profits.  This proved disastrous for government finances, however, and the Canadas were all but bankrupted by the subsidies. The largest rail project of this period was also a disaster. The [[Grand Trunk Railway]] linking Montreal to Sarnia, Ontario, was finished in 1860, but was mired in debt. In exchange for bailing out the company the government escaped its guarantee on the railway bonds.

The first Canadian railway, the Champlain and Saint Lawrence Railroad, was opened in 1836 near Montreal. Heavy expansion of the rail system did came after the Guarantee Act of 1849 guaranteed bonds on all railways over 75 miles. This led to rapid expansion of railways; there was excessive growth as uneconomic lines were built since the government guaranteed profits.  This proved disastrous for government finances, however, and the Canadas were all but bankrupted by the subsidies. The largest rail project of this period was also a disaster. The [[Grand Trunk Railway]] linking Montreal to Sarnia, Ontario, was finished in 1860, but was mired in debt. In exchange for bailing out the company the government escaped its guarantee on the railway bonds.

[[Canadian confederation]] was made possible in part by the railways. The separate colonial governments had all but emptied their treasuries building railways, and a new and more stable method of financing them was required. It was also believed that union would allow for the needed construction of railways linking [[British North America]]. The Maritime colonies joined the Confederation in part because of promises to build the [[Intercolonial Railway]]. [[British Columbia]] was lured by the promise of a transcontinental railway.

Canadian confederation in 1869 was made possible in part by the railways. The separate colonial governments had all but emptied their treasuries building railways, and a new and more stable method of financing them was required. It was also believed that union would allow for the needed construction of railways linking [[British North America]]. The Maritime colonies joined the Confederation in part because of promises to build the [[Intercolonial Railway]]. [[British Columbia]] was lured by the promise of a transcontinental railway.

The government had learnt its lesson and these railways were not funded by guarantees. Rather, the construction of the Intercolonial was fully controlled by the government under the skilled direction of Sir Sanford Fleming.

The government had learnt its lesson and these railways were not funded by guarantees. Rather, the construction of the Intercolonial was fully controlled by the government under the skilled direction of Sir Sanford Fleming.