Prince Edward Island Railway
The Prince Edward Island Railway (PEIR) was a historic Canadian railway in Prince Edward Island (PEI). The railway ran tip-to-tip on the island, from Tignish in the west to Elmira in the east, with major spurs serving Borden-Carleton's train ferry dock, the capital in Charlottetown, Montague and Georgetown and the original eastern terminus at Souris. A major spur from Charlottetown served Murray Harbour on the south coast.
Typical of the narrow-gauge engines that served the PEIR, Engine Number 1 was a compact machine with a 4-4-0 layout. These engines proved unsuccessful, as they had been designed for use in warmer climates and lighter loads than those of PEI.
Diesel engine used in PEI in the 1950s. PEI had diesel service a full decade before the rest of Canada.
Train tracks. Part of the PEI Railway Museum, Elmira, PEI.
Prince Edward Island is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. While it is the smallest province in terms of land area and population, it is the most densely populated. The island has several nicknames: "Garden of the Gulf", "Birthplace of Confederation" and "Cradle of Confederation". Its capital and largest city is Charlottetown. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces.
Satellite picture of Prince Edward Island
The island's landscape is pastoral, with wooded areas and rolling hills.
Because the Gulf of Saint Lawrence freezes over, the island's climate is similar to a continental climate as opposed to an oceanic climate.
The Winter River in February 2014. The river provides about 92 per cent of Charlottetown's water supply.
