Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.
Canadian National Railway Company, corporation created by the Canadian government in 1918 to operate a number of nationalized railroads (including the old Grand Trunk lines, the Intercolonial Railway, the National Transcontinental Railway, and the Canadian Northern Railway) as one of Canadaâs two transcontinental railroad systems. Headquarters are in Montreal.
In its early years Canadian National engaged in a fierce competitive struggle with the privately owned Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. This ended with the Canadian NationalâCanadian Pacific Act in 1933, which directed the railways to cooperate by eliminating duplication of services. In 1978 Canadian Nationalâs passenger services were taken over by VIA Rail Canada, a crown corporation set up to operate all Canadian passenger services except commuter services. In 1995, in what was at the time the largest privatization in Canadian history, the government sold off its stock in CN. Four years later the railroad acquired all the stock of the Illinois Central Railroad, thereby forming a rail network that reached from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada. In 1998 an alliance with Kansas City Southern Railway extended CNâs lines into Mexico, furthering CNâs goal of becoming âthe NAFTA railroad,â establishing itself as an important carrier of freight between Canada, the United States, and Mexico under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Canadian Nationalâs transcontinental line extends from several cities on Canadaâs east coast to Vancouver and Prince Rupert, B.C., in the west. CN ships coal, forest products (including lumber and newsprint), chemicals, petroleum products, automotive parts and products, and agricultural goods. In 1973â75 the company built Torontoâs CN Tower (opened 1976), which remained the worldâs tallest freestanding structure until 2007. Ownership of the CN Tower transferred to the Canadian government in 1995 as part of a streamlining of the company before privatization.
