TRANSPORTATION IN THE EARLY DAYS
Settlers from Europe began their voyage to Canada by crossing the Atlantic Ocean. It took nearly two weeks by steamboats and much longer on sailing ships. Either way was not a pleasant and enjoyable trip. Many people had to sell everything they owned in order to purchase tickets to come to Canada. The boats were overcrowded and dirty. Many of the passengers became seasick, and many became ill from diseases which spread quickly among the passengers.
The Red River cart was made of wood and had two large wheels. Wooden pegs and strips of buffalo hide held the parts together. Strips of rawhide were wrapped around the wooden wheels. The carts squeaked loudly and could be heard for miles. The cart was usually pulled by oxen, so it was also called an ox-cart.
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Contestoga wagons were strong heavy wagons made of wood and iron, and pulled by a teams of horses or oxen. To protect the cargo, the wagon was covered with a tarp. These large wagons could carry alot of supplies. Smaller "covered wagons" were used by immigrant families to haul all their belongings. |
| Homesteaders who came to western Canada also used an open wagon (called a buckboard) to carry their furniture, food, extra clothing and tools. The wagon held everything they needed to build a home and to start farming. | 
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Stagecoaches were heavy and didn't have springs. They gave a very rough ride and were uncomfortable. Roads were just paths and there were rocks on the road. In rainy weather it was easy to get stuck. |
Many of the settlers travelled west by train. Train travel was faster than travel by wagon and trains could carry large loads of heavy goods. It took from four to six days to travel by train from Quebec to the west. The trains were often overcrowded and cold in the wintertime. In November of 1885 the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed all the way to British Columbia and Canada was linked from east to west. Many train stations sprang up alongside the tracks.
In the winter time when snow covered the ground, covered sleighs were used to carry passengers, baggage and mail. Horses pulled the sleighs. Travellers had to bundle up to stay warm and used warm bricks or stones wrapped in cloth to keep their feet warm.
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