Fort Fraser in Bulkley-Nechako, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Grand Trunk Pacific

B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

1. Grand Trunk Pacific Marker

Inscription. The last spike in Canada's second trans-continental railroad was driven near this site on April 7, 1914. The Grand Trunk Pacific became the most important factor in the dvelopment of Central British Columbia. However, financial problems plagued the company, forcing it in 1923 to amalgamate with the expanding Canadian National Railways system.

Erected 1966 by Province of British Columbia.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1914.

Location. 54° 3.547′ N, 124° 32.231′ W. Marker is in Fort Fraser, British Columbia, in Bulkley-Nechako. Marker is on Fourth Avenue/Yellowhead Highway (Provincial Highway 16) west of Telegraph Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is in a pullout with ample parking on the eastbound side. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Fort Fraser BC V0J 1N0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Also see . . . Last Spike (Grand Trunk Pacific Railway). Wikipedia entry on the history of the railroad's construction and the ceremony. (Submitted on December 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

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Grand Trunk Pacific Railway — Last Spike image. Click for full size.

Unknown via British Columbia Archives (Public domain), April 7, 1914

2. Grand Trunk Pacific Railway — Last Spike

Edson Chamberlain, the railroad's president, drove a standard black iron spike to complete the railroad. The festivities that day included two track laying crews, starting at opposite ends of the last unfinished mile, racing to see who could reach the midpoint first. The eastern crew beat the western crew by a few minutes.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 132 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 10, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on December 12, 2021, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.