1898 Toronto Lithographing View and Map of the Quebec and St. John Railway

This is an 1898 Toronto Lithographing Company View and Map of the Quebec and Lake St. John Railway in Canada. Running from Quebec City to Roberval on Lake St. John, the 'Quebec and Lake St. John Railway' was the first railway constructed on the north side of the St. Lawrence River. A pictorial tourist view occupies the front of this fold-out, illustrating Quebec on the left and Lake St. John on the right. Towns, clubs, game clubs, and lakes dot the landscape between the railroad's two termini. Enticing views, meant to encourage tourism line the top and bottom and detail the Chateau Frontenac in Quebec, club houses and fisherman's huts, picturesque waterfalls and luxurious hotels. On the verso, aside from the practical information which includes time tables and extensions, is a clever railway map in the form of a fish, meant to further reinforce the region's wealth of outdoor activity.

The Quebec and Lake St. John Railway

The 'Quebec and Lake St. John Railway' was founded in 1869 as the 'Quebec and Gosford Railway'. The railway's name was officially changed to the 'Quebec and Lake St-John Railway' on December 24, 1870 and originally connected Quebec with the canton of Gosford. The railway did not receive authorization to extend to Lake St. John until 1875 and construction began in 1880. The railroad reached Roberval on Lake St. John in 1888. The 'Quebec and St. John Railwa'y was bought by the 'Great Northern Railway of Canada' in November 1906.

Publication History and Census

This map was created and printed by the Toronto Lithographing Company in 1898. Two examples are cataloged in OCLC and are part of the institutional collections at McGill University and the Library and Archives Canada/Bibliothèque et Archives Canada.