• 1974
The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway

Summary A dramatized documentary about the political and engineering struggle to build Canada's first trans-continental railway. View more details

  • 1974

The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway

Directed : Unknown

Written : Unknown

Stars : Pierre Berton William Hutt Gerard Parkes Joseph Shaw

All cast & crew

8.8

Details

Genres : Drama History Documentary

Release date : Mar 2, 1974

Countries of origin : Canada

Language : English

Filming locations : Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Production companies : Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Summary A dramatized documentary about the political and engineering struggle to build Canada's first trans-continental railway. View more details

Details

Genres : Drama History Documentary

Release date : Mar 2, 1974

Countries of origin : Canada

Language : English

Filming locations : Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Production companies : Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC)

Photos

The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway (1974) The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway (1974) The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway (1974) Pierre Berton in The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway (1974)

Episodes

View All Seasons
Episode 1 • Mar 02, 1974
The Great Lone Land
The government of Sir John A. Macdonald announces its intentions to build a railway to the Pacific, bring British Columbia into Confederation and preserve Canadian sovereignty from sea to sea.
Episode 2 • Mar 16, 1974
The Pacific Scandal
The prime minister delivers an impassioned defence in the House, but independent MP Donald Smith breaks a Commons deadlock and Sir John resigns.
Episode 3 • Dec 31, 1969
The Horrid B.C. Business
Canada reels in the throes of a depression as Prime Minister Mackenzie vainly tries to cope with inherited Pacific Railway frustrations. Mackenzie's health wanes as surveyors squabble, contractors milk the public purse and B.C. clamours for the promised railway. If the railway is to be salvaged, Sir John A. Macdonald must rise from the political ashes.
Episode 4 • Mar 23, 1974
The Great Debate
Sir John A. Macdonald, now back in power, reluctantly agrees to name Donald Smith, Jim Hall and George Stephen as heads of the syndicate that will build the railway. Though capable, resourceful capitalists, they are tainted by U.S. railway connections. After an exhausting marathon debate, the House passes the government's railway bill.
Episode 5 • Mar 30, 1974
The Railway General
Intrigued by the project's immense challenge, American railway giant, Cornelius Van Horne, signs on to oversee the railway's construction.
Episode 6 • Apr 06, 1974
The Sea of Mountains
Construction in B.C. is painstakingly slower than on the Prairies. Suave contractor Andrew Onderdonk lures thousands of workers from China to help hack and tunnel through the Rockies. As the CPR creeps over the continental spine, trouble looms on the horizon.
Episode 7 • Apr 13, 1974
The Desperate Days
Slow, arduous construction in the mountains and north of Superior sends costs soaring as the CPR faces financial calamity. Sir John A. Macdonald is distracted by mounting troubles in the West as farmers, Indians and Métis cry for redress. In a desperate gamble, Van Horne offers to transport 9,000 troops from the East to quell the rebellion.
Episode 8 • Apr 20, 1974
The Last Spike
Eastern militiamen begin the cruellest journey in Canadian military history and the national crisis is averted. The CPR faces riots, strikes and bankruptcy before an 11th-hour government loan saves the day. In November 1885, Donald Smith drives the last spike in the CPR to link Canada from sea to sea.
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