RISE AND FALL OF THE CATTLE TRAIN: HISTORY AND LOCATION IN THE CATTLE AND CATTLE TRANSPORT INDUSTRIES IN CANADA

During the first half of the 20th century, vast numbers of cattle were shipped by rail from the western prairies to central Canada for processing. Today, some western cattle are still shipped live to central Canada (principally Quebec), but exclusively by trucks. This paper deals with the impact of inter-modal competition on long-haul cattle transport. The effects of greater competition in transport on the location of the beef packing industry are also examined. There are at least three reasons to examine the history of cattle trains. First, the experience illustrates the effect of transportation on regional development. Second, this case is an example of inter-modal competition where the trucking industry was able to replace the railways in the market. Finally, it presents an interesting part of our history that has received scant attention.