Inauguration of the Canadian Pacific Railway Section

On June 5, 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway opened its line through the Fraser Canyon in British Columbia, a critical segment of the transcontinental route. Led by William Cornelius Van Horne, the project overcame treacherous mountain terrain with tunnels and trestles. This milestone connected eastern Canada to the Pacific, facilitating immigration, resource transport, and national unity post-Confederation. The engineering feats, including the use of heavy Consolidation locomotives, set standards for North American mountain railroading.