This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881 edition. Excerpt: … AMERICAN & CANADIAN RAILWAY SYSTEMS No. II. THE GRAND TRUNK OF CANADA REVISITED. Sarn1a, Ocl. 4. F1fteen years ago your correspondent travelled over the Grand Trunk Railway. The journey was commenced with some feeling of trepidation, and it was completed, not without many delays and some disappointments, and probably with more risks than were brought to his knowledge by the officials of the line. A transformation scene at a pantomime could not bring out a more striking contrast of incidents and characters of the opening and closing scenes than are afforded by the condition of the road and its management in the present and in the time to which reference has been made. Then, the condition of the permanent way was deplorable; accidents were of almost daily occurrence; punctuality was unknown; and the arrival of a train at anything approaching the time specified in the time-bills was regarded as an event in Grand Trunk history comparable only with those greater achievements in the outer world, for which Te Deums are occasionally sung. Now all is changed. The trains make excellent time, the expresses run between the stations at an average of forty miles an hour, and reach their destinations with a punctuality not exceeded by that of the best managed lines in the Old Country. The passenger trains, instead of being made up of two or three passenger and a contingent of freight cars, are long, heavy, and crowded. On some parts of the line between Montreal and Toronto, just passed over, there were eleven cars in the train, every seat was occupied, and a score or more passengers were standing inside and on the platforms of the carriages. Fifteen years ago the road had little or no ballast, the light iron rails were continually breaking, and it was a daily…
