TH ISLAND RAILWAY

Several years ago, I went to the Southland by rail and, as we sped through the Dixie countryside, memories of Prince Edward Island and the old Island Railway came to mind. It occurred to me that practically every- thing reminiscent of the Island has some connection with the railway. Although it may have been somewhat -antiquated, judged by modern standards, it provided the main public transportation service of the province over many years; moreover, it did a much more efficient job than do most of the highly-touted systems of today.

It had a narrow-gauge track that connected the central yard at Charlottetown with Tignish, by way of Summerside, to the west, and with Souris and Geor:jetown to the east. A morning train left the city for those points every day except Sunday, and returned to Charlottetown in the evenin. Travel in those days was a leisurely matter, by any mode of transportation. .To the average passengsr, a train trip, llke a boat trip, was.as much an outing as an affair of business; consequently it didn't make any great difference if he or she arrived at a destination a few minutes later than the time called for by the schedule. This is not to imply that there was anything casual or s}ipshod in the operation of the road; it merely reflects the attitude of the everyday local traveler. Actual arrival and departure times corresponded very closely to those set forth on the officia: timetables. |

The passenger coaches were either first or second class, with an appropriate fare differential. First class was distinguished by its ornately patterned plush upholstery, its highly polished brass hanging oil lamps, and by a general atmosphere of refinement that was lacking in second class. In second class, the seats were covered with a sort of

slippery black leather, or an imitation of leather, and were decidedly