( Note: the book is no longer available but may be found on a few places on the Internet. )

This is the second printing of a book first released in 1996; the fact that a second printing has appeared so quickly gives a good idea of the quality and value of this fascinating history of the development of the railway telegraph in Canada. The book is exhaustively researched, is well laid out, and presents a number of historical photographs of early telegraph installations, CNR office fronts, telegraphers at work, and the like. Copies of early telegrams are included, as are diagrams of telegraphic equipment, photos of pole lines, copies of train order forms, and various other paper recipts, forms, etc., related to the use of the telegraph by Canadian National and Canadian Pacific.

Chapters cover the development and history of CNR's and CPR's telegraph companies, the equipment itself, the people who used telegraphy (operators and dispatchers). There are eight appendices, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index; and the work is extensively footnoted. In short, this is a scholarly work, yet quite readable, that deals not only with the historic development of railway telegraphy in Canada, but with the technical aspects of telegraphy as well. Although the historic presentation concentrates on Canada's two major rail systems, the technical principles and procedures presented would apply to all railways. Anyone interested in train operations before the time of radio will find this a valuable work.

Review by Brian Jennison, Vintage Rails(TM) Magazine.