Barcaly & Sir John A. Macdonald

 My latest book, Barclay of the Mounted, tells the story of a young man’s western adventures with the newly-formed North-West Mounted Police. The chapter, The Missing Prime Minister, recounts the historic journey of Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald’s first cross-country trip on the newly built transcontinental railway. 

The journey took place in the summer of 1886. The train left Ottawa on 13 June. There were many stops along the way and Sir John would greet his constituents from the platform of his car, The Jamaica.

Outside of Calgary, Sir John met with the chiefs of the Western tribes. 

At Laggan, Alberta, Lady Agnes Macdonald decided to get a better view of the landscape by riding on the cowcatcher of the engine.

On 27 July, the train pulled into Port Moody, BC, the most western terminus of the CPR.

Finally, on 30 August, the Macdonalds arrived back home in Ottawa.

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John A. Macdonald's Trip Through the Rockies by the Newly Completed CPR, July 1886
Charles William Jefferys
Glenbow Museum, Calgary