With the outbreak of World War II, the entire Canadian Pacific network was put at the disposal of the war effort. On land, CPR moved 307 million tons of freight and 86 million passengers, including 280,000 military personnel. At sea 22 CPR ships went to war where 12 of them were sunk. In the air, CPR pioneered the "Atlantic Bridge" – a massive undertaking that saw the transatlantic ferrying of bombers from Canada to Britain.
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Photo Gallery
Quebec Conference (WAR110)
During the Second World War, the Chateau Frontenac served as headquarters for meetings between U.S. President Roosevelt and Prime Minister Churchill of the U.K. to discuss Allied strategy. Canada's Prime Minister Mackenzie King (centre) was host.
Air raid unit (WAR75-2)
Members of one of Canadian Pacific's Air Raid Precaution units stage a mobile display of their contribution to civil defence.
Railway Corps (A4342)
Shortly after the beginning of WW1, CPR organized the first battalion of Canadian Overseas Railway Construction Corps volunteers. This wrecked railway bridge in France was replaced in only 20 hours by the CORCC.
National Defence (NS5477)
The inaugural meeting of the Special Committee on War and National Defence, the predecessor of the Railway Association of Canada, was held in the CPR boardroom at Windsor Station, Montreal.
Tank production (NS3004)
During WW II, CPR's Angus Shops in Montreal produced 1,400 of these "Valentine" army tanks for shipment to Russia to assist in their drive to force the German Army out of eastern Europe.
Troops depart (A15503)
During WW1, in a scene repeated hundreds of times at railway stations throughout Canada, soldiers prepare to depart from Windsor Station, Montreal, on their way to Europe and the "war to end all wars."
Torpedoed (NS863)
The Princess Marguerite of the CP Steamship Service sank in the Mediterranean, after being struck by a German torpedo while transporting troops from Port Said to Cyprus.
Churchill's Train (NS4646)
This train of CPR business cars and coaches was placed at the disposal of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the 1943 Quebec Conference to discuss Allied strategy during the Second World War.
War memorial (A17411)
In the 1940s, a group of Canadian soldiers gathered beneath the war memorial statue at CPR's Windsor Station in Montreal.