14

The first Hudson Bay Railway station building in The Pas
20th Century
The Pas, Manitoba

Credits:
Roy Easton
PP2001.6.20

15

The Pas benefited from being the "end of steel." Men flowed through the town to work on building the Hudson Bay Railway. Most of the workers were immigrants from Russia, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Western Europe, as well as Canadians and Americans. Manpower was essential in order to lay tracks over muskeg and permafrost. Aside from dealing with the extreme climate and challenging working conditions, workers also had to contend with low wages. They were charged inflated rates for room and board, transportation to the work site, and goods bought from the subcontractors. In this way they would be kept working in order to pay off their debt to their employers. For example, the McMillan Brothers (the subcontractors) would charge workers 50 cents for a loaf of bread that they could have bought for 6 cents in The Pas. Building the Hudson Bay Railway could also cost workers their life. Many men died because of dangerous working conditions, overwork, poor food, or epidemic diseases brought on by living in cramped work camps.

16

Building the railroad across Armstrong Lake
20th Century
Armstrong Lake, Manitoba

17

People laying railway tracks by Armstrong Lake.
August 1916
Armstrong Lake, Manitoba

Credits:
PP94.2.26

18

Men working on building the Hudson Bay Railway.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.1

19

Loading gravel for the Hudson Bay Railway.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.3

20

Workers laying tracks for the railway.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.4

21

Construction supplies on the bridge.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.8

22

Railroad bridge construction.
1927
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.12

23

Men on railroad bridge over Nelson River.
c. 1920s
Gillam, Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.17b

24

Workers shoveling and laying tracks.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.23

25

Workers setting ties under the tracks.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.24

26

Hudson Bay Railway construction workers.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.27

27

Men clearing snow in front of a plow.
c. 1920s
Northern Manitoba

Credits:
E.S. Barker & E.M. (Coan) Barker Collection
PP2011.5.42