Grand Trunk Pacific Last Spike Ceremony

On July 19, 1914, the last spike of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway was driven near Fort Fraser, British Columbia, completing a transcontinental line from Prince Rupert to Winnipeg. This engineering feat crossed the Rocky Mountains with challenging tunnels and bridges, using steam locomotives like the 4-6-0 types. Promoted by Charles Melville Hays, it aimed to open western Canada for settlement and trade. Though the company later faced bankruptcy, the line boosted resource extraction and immigration. It connected remote areas to global markets, impacting Canadian economic history profoundly.