Opening of Montreal and Lachine Railroad

On June 23, 1847, the Montreal and Lachine Railroad inaugurated service with the locomotive 'The Stephenson,' built in England. This 8-mile line connected Montreal to Lachine, bypassing the Lachine Rapids on the St. Lawrence River and providing faster travel for passengers and goods. Key figures included engineer Alexander M. Ross and promoter John Molson Jr. The railway overcame significant engineering challenges like swampy terrain using wooden trestles. It laid the foundation for Canada's extensive rail network, later absorbed into the Grand Trunk Railway, and symbolized the shift from canal to rail dominance in North American transport.