The Rail System of Portage La Prairie: A Brief History

By Rhys Fletcher

Portage la Prairie, Manitoba is home to a unique railway site. The two major transcontinental railways – the Canadian National Railway (CNR) and the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) – cross each other at what is known as a “diamond junction.” Portage la Prairie, as a result, is home to two major historic railway stations. Each showcases architectural achievements and highlights the significance of the railway to community prosperity.

The diamond junction in Portage la Prairie facilitated the growth and development of the community and is nearly unique across Canada.

At the height of the rail boom in the Canadian west, the CPR station saw a lot of action.

Plans are underway to turn the station into the Canadian Pacific Railway Heritage Park and Interpretive Center.

Meanwhile, graffiti and boards now cover the CN Station. Once it was a prosperous symbol of the town’s economy; today it serves as an example of history disappearing.