On April 26th 1955, the ‘Canadian’ arrives in Brandon for the first time.
4/26/2010 at 7:55 AM
The first transcontinental passenger train had arrived in Brandon almost seventy-one years after the arrival of the first passenger train, which comprised of stove-heated carriages with slat or cane seats and colonist cooking conveniences.
In contrast the “Canadian” transcontinental passenger train was a sparkling fifteen-car stainless steel dieselised giant reaching Brandon on this mid twentieth century morning on its way to Vancouver.
This was the first time this luxurious entity used scenic dome coaches, plush lounges, ultra comfortable roomettes, spacious suites, dazzling dining rooms and other deluxe amenities.
Alas this historic happening was entirely ignored by the citizens of the Assiniboine Valley centre.
This event had signalled the end of the Steam era, and unconcerned, thousands of local habitants did not hold any type of ceremony at the Canadian Pacific Railway, (CPR) Depot, or were they later concerned when the Prince Edward Hotel was sold by the Canadian National Railway, (CNR) to a western syndicate, which was the beginning of the end of this never to be heritage building.
Source: Brandon a City by G. F. Barker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Canadian