Canadian Pacific Railway Completion

On August 14, 1885, Donald A. Smith drove the last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway at Craigellachie in British Columbia, finishing the first Canadian transcontinental railroad. This monumental project, led by William Cornelius Van Horne, spanned over 3,000 miles through the Rocky Mountains and prairies, connecting eastern Canada to the Pacific coast. Engineers overcame extreme terrain with innovative tunneling and bridging techniques using steam locomotives of the era. The completion unified the nation, boosted immigration and trade, and supported broader historical events like westward expansion. Its lasting impact includes the CPR's role in Canadian economic development and tourism, inspiring model railroaders with its dramatic mountain routes.