Proud of our History – the Newfoundland Railway

March 5, 2015 - Marine Atlantic

Marine Atlantic, its predecessor CN Marine, and pre-confederation Newfoundland coastal boats have a strong and proud history serving the people of Atlantic Canada through ferry terminals, passenger vessels and rail service.

The establishment of the Newfoundland Railway was vital to allow the first crossing between Port aux Basques, N.L, and North Sydney, N.S., in 1898. With no island-wide road network in place in Newfoundland, the railway was the only practical way to ship goods and people between Port aux Basques, St. John’s and all points in between. As highway networks and vehicle technologies expanded through the decades, new transportation and shipping options became available. A new focus was also placed on using the provincial highway network to allow commercial vehicles to ship goods versus the railway system. The last train operated in Newfoundland on September 20, 1988.

As always, we welcome your photos for posting in a future blog. Please email your photos to [email protected] including any facts such as the date and location.

In next week’s blog posting, we highlight the SS Random, a Newfoundland coastal boat that operated from 1942-1962.

Image: loading train car
Image: view of loading yard
Image: view of railway yard
Image: black and white, view of railway yard
Image: view of cars loaded on rail cars
Image: view of rail way yard
Image: view of rail way yard
Image: view of building being constructed in the rail way yard
Image: view of rail way yard
Image: aerial view of Port aux Basques
Image: view of railway yard
Image: view of railway yard
Image: view of shipping containers in Port aux Basques
Image: view of loading yard
Image: 6 men in the railway yard