First Railway in Canada

Canada's first steam railway, the Champlain and St. Lawrence, opened in 1836 to better facilitate trade with the United States. Built by promoters led by brewer John Molson and merchant-forwarder Jason C. Pierce, this 23-kilometre line expedited the movement of passengers and freight between Montréal and New York by linking La Prairie on the St. Lawrence River with Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Its wooden rails were replaced with iron in 1847, and in 1851 the line was extended to Rouses Point, New York, becoming part of a major international railway network.

Quebec · Canada