From the archives: Grand celebration greeted Montreal-Toronto rail link

This story was first published on Nov. 10, 2002, in the Montreal Gazette.
The people of Montreal were stirring betimes yesterday morning, and at an early hour the streets presented an animated appearance. Flags were hung from many houses, and our city showed great signs of bustle. The streets were crowded with strangers.
The Gazette, Nov. 13, 1856
It was Montreal’s grandest civic celebration to date, in a decade that seemed filled with them. Hitherto, if you wanted to travel to Toronto, mo