The railways of Canada, like the network in the United States, hold a worldwide fascination for train enthusiasts and travellers alike. The mere mention of a rail trip across Canada conjures up ideas of an epic journey. The images in this book, of snow-laden firs and wild, open vistas, contrasted with full-length freight trains grinding through Union Station under the watch of the CN Tower, show that travelling by Canadian rail is such stuff as dreams are made on.

There are, however, distinctions between the Canadian network and that of the USA, due to the fact that in Canada it was largely projected and funded from Britain as part of the British Empire. The two major networks were The Canadian National (privatised 1995) and The Canadian Pacific (now Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd.), whose networks stretched out across this vast country. In addition to their rail operation, The Canadian Pacific owned and operated a sizable fleet of cargo and passenger ships which sailed between Europe and Canada. In addition to these major players, smaller operations such as The Prince Edward Island Railway and The Newfoundland Railway helped to transport passengers and cargo throughout the land.

David Cable has journeyed across Canada for a number of years, extensively photographing the network of both the large and small operators, often recording scenes in the most obscure and yet fascinating locations.