Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental construction and early expansion (1881–1900)

1. Canadian Pacific Railway Company is incorporated

   Feb 16, 1881Labels: Canadian Pacific

   • TRHA
   • UBC DCHP

2. Construction begins at Bonfield, Ontario

   Jun 1, 1881Labels: Bonfield Ontario

   • Britannica

3. Rogers Pass is chosen for the Selkirk crossing

   Nov 1, 1881Labels: Rogers Pass, A B

   • The Canadian Encyclopedia
   • Britannica

4. Ottawa approves the route through Kicking Horse Pass

   Jan 1, 1882Labels: Kicking Horse

   • Parks Canada

5. CPR reaches Winnipeg, strengthening Prairie connections

   Dec 1, 1882Labels: Winnipeg

   • The Canadian Encyclopedia

6. CPR traffic and troop movement intensify during the North-West Resistance

   Mar 26, 1885Labels: North-West Resistance, CPR

   • The Canadian Encyclopedia
   • Britannica

7. Last Spike ceremony completes the main line at Craigellachie

   Nov 7, 1885Labels: Craigellachie, Last Spike

   • LAC
   • TRHA

8. Snow sheds expand to keep Rogers Pass open

   Apr 1, 1886Labels: Rogers Pass, snow sheds

   • Rogers Pass
   • OKthePK

9. First scheduled through passenger train reaches Port Moody

   Jul 4, 1886Labels: Port Moody

   • Leg BC
   • The Canadian Encyclopedia

10. CPR shifts its Pacific terminus to Vancouver

    May 23, 1887Labels: Vancouver, Granville

    • Leg BC
    • KnowBC

11. International Railway of Maine opens a winter route to Saint John

    Jun 1, 1889Labels: International Railway

    • IRM
    • Maine Lines

12. CPR leases the New Brunswick Railway network

    Jul 1, 1890Labels: New Brunswick, CPR

    • E NA Railway
    • Fredericton Br

13. Columbia & Western Railway connects Kootenay mining districts

    Jan 1, 1891Labels: Columbia &

    • KnowBC
    • The Canadian Encyclopedia

14. Crow’s Nest Pass Agreement launches a southern mainline expansion

    Sep 6, 1897Labels: Crow's Nest, CPR

    • LAC Exhibit
    • Britannica

15. Crowsnest Pass Railway is completed to the south Kootenay region

    Jan 1, 1898Labels: Crowsnest Pass

    • KnowBC
    • The Canadian Encyclopedia

16. By 1900, CPR operates a coast-to-coast system with key branch expansions

    Jan 1, 1900Labels: Canadian Pacific

    • Britannica
    • The Canadian Encyclopedia