First Train on the Canadian Pacific Railway's Western Section

On October 10, 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway achieved a milestone when its first through passenger train departed from Winnipeg toward the Rocky Mountains. This event followed years of grueling construction across vast prairies and challenging mountain passes under the leadership of William Cornelius Van Horne. The line used powerful 4-4-0 steam locomotives to haul immigrant trains and freight, connecting eastern Canada to the Pacific coast. It played a pivotal role in national unity after Confederation and spurred settlement in the west. The engineering feats, including the Spiral Tunnels later added, remain iconic for rail historians and enthusiasts building large-scale layouts depicting mountain railroading.