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Transportation Development and Impact in Northern BC

This guide highlights Northern BC Archives collections on railways, highways, and other methods of transportation across Northern BC.

Digital Collections

Opening of Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) Line in Fort St James

2017.5 - Pacific Great Eastern Railway Film Collection

The Pacific Great Eastern Railway Film Collection (1954-1971) consists of three original color film reels that compile footage clips from various dates. See finding aid for details on specific subject matter.

Digital Extent: 16 videos; YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnk3B0EUXMzPzm36WFEyJ66BRYKhhLcIb

Image: 2017.5.2.2 - Opening of Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) Line in Fort St James with Premier Bennett

2013.6 - David Davies Railway Collection

The David Davies Railway Collection (1899-2013) encompasses all facets of railway history in British Columbia and the Yukon.

Digital Extent: 3369 photographs

Image: 2013.6.36.1.056.13 - "Dunrobin" locomotive and saloon coach

Steam locomotive, track and a building in an unknown location

2002.1 - Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum Collection

The Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum Society Collection (1894-1999) contains materials relating to related to regional developments of Canadian National, Pacific Great Eastern, BC Rail, and Grand Trunk Pacific Railways in Northern BC.

Digital Extent: 282 photographs

Image: 2002.1.9.7.021 - Steam locomotive, track and a building in an unknown location

Archival Speaker Series: Dr. Frank Leonard

"This Never-ending Treadmill": Axel Wenner-Gren's British Columbia Project public lecture by Dr. Frank Leonard

On February 27, Dr. Frank Leonard, Adjunct Associate Professor, Dept. of History at University of Victoria will provide a presentation on The Axel Wenner-Gren BC Project, 1956-61, which proposed a massive development in the Rocky Mountain Trench between Swedish financier Wenner-Gren and the W.A.C. Bennett Government. Drawing on archival research undertaken in Sweden, Dr. Leonard suggests that the misfortunes of the "Swedish Midas" in British Columbia offer a fascinating case study in a much larger story of business failure.  

Dr. Leonard is a historian of infrastructure development in western Canada and the United States. His book, A Thousand Blunders: The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and Northern British Columbia (1996), has received several awards. For eight years, Dr. Leonard taught at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, and during the 1970s, he was a Visiting Scholar in the Department of History at Uppsala University.

Special Collections Related Reading