Last spike (Canadian Pacific Railway)

The Last Spike was the final spike driven into the Canadian Pacific Railroad at Craigellachie, British Columbia on November 7, 1895. It was driven in by CPR railroad financier Donald Smith, marking the end of a saga of natural disasters, financial crises and even rebellion that plagued Canada's first transcontinental railroad since its beginning.

The Last Spike signalled the completion of the CPR, and remains today a symbol of national unity in Canada. At the time, it fulfilled an 1871 commitment made by the Canadian federal government to British Columbia which stipulated that a railroad be built joining the Pacific province to Central Canada. The promise of a transcontinental railway had been a major factor in British Columbia's decision to join the Canadian Confederation. Although construction of the CPR did not begin until 1880–resulting in threats of secession by some BC politicians–the railway was ultimately completed five years ahead of schedule.

In contrast to the ceremonial gold or silver final spikes often used to mark the completion of other major railroads, the Canadian Last Spike was a conventional iron spike identical to the many others used in the construction of the line. However, a silver spike was created for the Governor General who was to present it to the CPR, but he was required to return to Ottawa before the completion of the railway. The Last Spike was removed from the track shortly after the official delegation left because it was believed that souvenir hunters might attempt to tear it up in the future. Another normal spike was inserted in its place. The actual spike was given as a gift to the son of the patent office president at the time, and is still in their family, fashioned into the shape of a carving knife.

The most famous accounts of the construction and completion of the CPR are Pierre Berton's twin volumes The National Dream and The Last Spike.

Sources

The Last Spike, by Pierre Berton