The deepening financial crisis in Canada 's railway industry toward the end of the First World War saw the majority of major railways across the country nationalized by the federal government . The CGR played a vital role in Canada 's wartime effort , moving vast numbers of troops and supplies . A notable role was the relief and reconstruction in Halifax after the 1917 Halifax Explosion and one CGR employee , Vince Coleman became a celebrated hero in the explosion
Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
Canadian Government Railways