The Northern Line out of Mattawa - History Before Contact

The railway played a key role in the development of the northern territories along the Ottawa River . Mid-north and north Ontario/Quebec were still part of the Northwest territories at Confederation 1867 .

People often believe that the CPR was built in one great push westward , and that was the beginning . But , this is not entirely true . Talk of railways started earlier by twenty years before the push . After 1870 , many small railway lines had been built in what now would be considered small runs throughout Upper and Lower Canada and the Maritime Provinces .

One of these lines , The Canada Central Railway