The author is never one to shy away from huge tasks. Following his immensely impressive study of the liner Normandie - that ran to no less than five hardback volumes - he has turned his attentions to the shipping firm, Canadian Pacific, of which this is the first volume. His approach to the subject is a chronological one and this volume covers the years 1889 - 1939. Initially the Canadian Pacific Railway entered into shipowning to operate Great Lakes services and in 1891the company's own "Empress" Ships were introduced to provide regular passenger routes between Toronto, Montreal, Chicago and Vancouver. Transatlantic passenger sevices commenced in 1903 when the fleet and North Atlantic interests of Elder Dempster & Co, and their subsidiary Beaver Line, were taken over. Most of CPR's fleet was requisitioned for war service in 1914. In 1921 the company became Canadian Pacific Steamship Ltd. On the outbreak of war in 1939, Canadian Pacific placed all its ships at the disposal of the government and several were taken over as troopships. This fascinating story is beautifully told here in tremendous prose, great photographs and high production values



Volume 1 covers the years 1889 when the Canadian Pacific Railway Co. entered into shipowning to operate Great Lakes services up to 1939 when on the outbreak of war in 1939, Canadian Pacific Steamships Ltd placed all its ships at the disposal of the government and several were taken over as troopships. (2009).



Volume 2 completes the history.