PGE railway station at Whytecliff,
now Horsehoe Bay, in 1923
F-09945
The Pacific Great Eastern Railway (PGE) was envisioned early in this century to connect the south coast port of Vancouver to the northern half of the province, and to provide railway access to the coast for the Cariboo.

A PGE train near Squamish, 1928
F-06065

 

 

PGE railway station,
Squamish, 1936
F-06112

 

During the railway boom years prior to World War I Premier Richard McBride promoted the railway and committed government money to complete its construction to Fort George (now named Prince George). However, the war and post war financial difficulties prevented its completion until the 1950s.

Train pulling in to Williams
Lake in the 1940s
Detail of G-03440
Over the decades the line proceeded slowly towards Prince George and some people joked that the company's initials PGE stood for "Prince George Eventually". During World War I the railway was purchased by the B.C. government.

PGE freight train crossing a trestle
in the Peace River region, 1956
F-09359

The rail line finally reached Prince George in 1956 and was extended to the Peace River in 1958. In 1972 the government changed the name to British Columbia Railway, commonly called B.C. Rail.

A B.C. Rail self propelled
passenger car, between
Squamish and Lillooet, 1974
Detail of E-04209
Today B.C. Rail runs from North Vancouver to Prince George and north from there to tap the resources of the region, including the large coal fields in the north east.






We respect your privacy and the privacy of your children, and urge you to review the Privacy Policy for this Web Site.
 
Unless indicated otherwise, this page and all contents are Copyright © ,
British Columbia Archives, Royal BC Museum.