Here is a public timetable for the Canadian National's western lines from September 1956. To help represent the era, some photos from the Canada Handbooks of the mid-1950s have been added.
Front cover of the timetable.
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| from: Canada Handbook 1954. |
Back cover of the timetable.
To find the CNR passenger train service to a particular western settlement,
check the station index ... which will be found in Part 2.
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| from: Canada Handbook, 1954. |
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| from: Canada Handbook, 1955. |
I believe (from previous research) samples were taken at country elevators and linked to particular car loadings. The samples raced ahead ('ahead' - assumes the grain boxcar was travelling east) to Winnipeg for grading.
The grading pronouncement on an individual car's contents would usually be available to the terminal elevator before the car arrived. This would ensure that grades were kept properly separated in the massive terminal elevator bins. Overseas purchasers of Canadian grain would be assured of receiving consistent quality when their ships came in.
Also see an article I posted from Railroad Man's Magazine:
The Big Grain Rush - 1930
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| from: Canada Handbook, 1955. |
The blogging software limits the size of individual images, so ...
The map above is reproduced, and enlarged, in two overlapping sections below ...
Here is a link to Part 2, which includes the station index.
1956 CNR Public Timetable, Western Canada, Part 2