Summerside in Prince County, Prince Edward Island — The Atlantic Provinces

Salute to the Prince Edward Island Railway

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019

1. Salute to the Prince Edward Island Railway Marker

Inscription.

Salute to the Prince Edward Island Railway. . The Prince Edward Island Railway began operating in 1875. Its establishment was accomplished largely through the efforts of two Summerside brothers, James Colledge Pope, who was Premier when the Railway Bill was passed in 1871, and William Henry Pope, a Father of Confederation. The narrow guage track ran from Tignish to Souris. The routing through Summerside, bypassing the more established communities of Bedeque and St. Eleanor’s, reflected the town’s growing prominence as an important center of commerce and trade., The massive and controversial debt incurred during construction was the single most compelling factor in forcing the island to abandon its strong anti-Confederation position and join Canada in 1873. The Terms of Confederation were negotiated for P.E.I. by Premier J.C. Pope and included a guarantee of a continuous steam connection with the mainland. This became a significant factor in Summerside’s early development since freight and passengers were transported from Summerside by steamship to Point Du Chêne, New Brunswick., This rail connection continued until the Borden, P.E.I. – Cape Tormentine, N.B. ferry service was introduced in 1917. The last train rolled out of Summerside in 1989, ending more than a century of railway tradition., Mural (left to right): , Panel 1 . P.E.I. railmen pose proudly with hand-fired steam engine #4. Driver David Pound is at the throttle. , Panel 2 . Summerside engineers Ernie Deighan and Freddie MacKinnon in front of engine #1119. , Panel 3 . Summerside freight shed crew – 1910 , Panel 4 . Oiler stands by narrow gauge steam engine. Note the large cowcatcher. , Panel 5 . The 1913 “Million Dollar Train” transporting breeding foxes from Tignish. Among those shown is Charles Dalton, co-founder of the Silver Fox Industry. , Panel 6 . Freight train carrying dehydrated potatoes destined for military forces overseas – 1945. , Mural Artist: Greg Garand - 1998 . This historical marker is in Summerside in Prince County Prince Edward Island

The Prince Edward Island Railway began operating in 1875. Its establishment was accomplished largely through the efforts of two Summerside brothers, James Colledge Pope, who was Premier when the Railway Bill was passed in 1871, and William Henry Pope, a Father of Confederation. The narrow guage track ran from Tignish to Souris. The routing through Summerside, bypassing the more established communities of Bedeque and St. Eleanor’s, reflected the town’s growing prominence as an important center of commerce and trade.

The massive and controversial debt incurred during construction was the single most compelling factor in forcing the island to abandon its strong anti-Confederation position and join Canada in 1873. The Terms of Confederation were negotiated for P.E.I. by Premier J.C. Pope and included a guarantee of a continuous steam connection with the mainland. This became a significant factor in Summerside’s early development since freight and passengers were transported from Summerside by steamship to Point Du Chêne, New Brunswick.

This rail connection continued until the Borden, P.E.I. – Cape Tormentine, N.B. ferry

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service was introduced in 1917. The last train rolled out of Summerside in 1989, ending more than a century of railway tradition.

Mural (left to right):
Panel 1 • P.E.I. railmen pose proudly with hand-fired steam engine #4. Driver David Pound is at the throttle.
Panel 2 • Summerside engineers Ernie Deighan and Freddie MacKinnon in front of engine #1119.
Panel 3 • Summerside freight shed crew – 1910
Panel 4 • Oiler stands by narrow gauge steam engine. Note the large cowcatcher.
Panel 5 • The 1913 “Million Dollar Train” transporting breeding foxes from Tignish. Among those shown is Charles Dalton, co-founder of the Silver Fox Industry.
Panel 6 • Freight train carrying dehydrated potatoes destined for military forces overseas – 1945.
Mural Artist: Greg Garand - 1998

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.

Location. 46° 23.464′ N, 63° 47.318′ W. Marker is in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, in Prince County. Marker is at the intersection of Water Street (Prince Edward Island Route 11) and Granville Street, on the right when traveling east on Water Street. Marker is located beside the sidewalk at the southeast corner

Prince Edward Island Railway Marker<br>(<i>wide view from Water Street • marker on right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 17, 2019

2. Prince Edward Island Railway Marker
(wide view from Water Street • marker on right)

of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Summerside PE C1N 1B1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Railway Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Georgina Fane Pope (about 210 meters away, measured in a direct line); The Summerside Armoury (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); Former Summerside Post Office / L'Ancien Bureau de Poste de Summerside (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); James Colledge Pope (approx. 6.7 kilometers away); Les Dix Conventions Nationales Acadiennes (approx. 7.5 kilometers away); La fondation de Miscouche (approx. 7.5 kilometers away); Les Acadiens de la baie de Malpèque (approx. 7.6 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Summerside.

Also see . . . Prince Edward Island Railway (Wikipedia). The railway ran tip-to-tip on the island, from Tignish in the west to Elmira in the east, serving Borden-Carleton's train ferry dock, Summerside, Charlottetown, Montague and Georgetown and the original eastern terminus at Souris. A major spur from Charlottetown served Murray Harbour on the south coast. By 1872, construction debts threatened to bankrupt the colony. The United Kingdom had consistently encouraged the small colony to enter into Canadian Confederation, something which it had been avoiding. The railway construction debts pushed the colony into reconsidering Confederation, and following further