Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Initiative - Wiki
Use of this site is subject to our Terms & Conditions.
Graham, George E.
George E. Graham (1870-1953)
George Graham ran the DAR during its golden years. General Manager of the DAR from November 1915 [1] to 1940, he modernized and expanded the railway, building apple exports to record heights and launching a large expansion of tourism infrastructure which still shapes the tourism landscape in Nova Scotia. Graham was born in Markham, Ontario. He began as a night operator at a small station and worked his way up the ranks of the CPR. By 1915 he was a CPR Superintendent in British Columbia when the leadership of the DAR became vacant following the retirement on November 1,1915 of Percy Gifkins. Graham became Vice President and General Manager shortly after the CPR purchase of the DAR. He was welcomed to the area by the Middleton Board of Trade on his arrival. He brought in a vigorous modernization plan, building the Kentville Roundhouse, introducing heavier locomotives and advanced operational techniques from the CPR.[2] He oversaw major investments in DAR tourism traffic building the Grand Pre Historic Park (later to become a National Historic Site) and construction the DAR's chain of hotels, several of which still remain tourism landmarks in Nova Scotia. Graham retired in 1940 and was replaced by H.J. Humphrey of Montreal.[3] An article was published in the Montreal Gazette about his career and retirement. He died on March 25 1953[4] at the Cornwallis Inn, the landmark railway hotel that he created. He is buried in Saint John, New Brunswick.[5]
Gallery
References and Footnotes
- ↑ History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway Pg. 140
- ↑ Jim Simmons, History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway (DAR: 1900 - 1990)
- ↑ Locomotive Engineers Journal, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (1940) p. 584, Reference courtesy Jay Underwood, Nova Scotia Railway Heritage Society
- ↑ The Railway Gazette, Volume 98 (1953) p. 461, reference courtesy Jay Underwood
- ↑ Nova Scotia Genealogy - Death Certificate
