The Confederation Train

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The Confederation Train
By Eric Model |
2 Min Read

A Journey into '67

A recent feature on the CP Holiday Train had us thinking back to a similar national train from back in 1967.

The Confederation Train of 1967  was dedicated reacquainting Canadians with their history during that centennial year of celebrations.

The train included a diesel locomotive and eight coaches coaches loaned by Canadian National Railway. The exterior facades of the coaches were walled over and given a colourful "super graphics" treatment. The diesel had the Centennial symbol emblazoned on its nose under the headlight and the locomotive horn sounded the first four notes of O Canada. The train made its public debut in Victoria on January 9. It crossed the nation, arriving at the Atlantic coast in Nova Scotia by October and ended its itinerary in Montreal on the evening of December 5.

Over the intervening months, some 60 cities and towns, and hundreds of thousands of Canadians, visited the train. The Confederation Train was funded by the Government of Canada through the Centennial Commission. It operated under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. The project was designed and coordinated by the Canadian Government Exhibition Commission, an agency of the then Department of Trade and Commerce.

The website for the Canadian Railroad Hall of Fame, from where this info came (thank you), also has a great link to a train whistle from the Confederation Train. You can hear the first notes of Canada in the train whistle.

The Confederation Train
Tags
1967 / Canada's Centennial / Journeys into '67 / The Confederation Train