Melville, Saskatchewan
(2006)
The quintessential prairie railway terminal.
 Situated in eastern Saskatchewan and located
on the Canadian National main line between Winnipeg and Edmonton, Melville
has served as a railway divisional point since the completion of the Grand
Trunk Pacific Railway. Incorporated as a city in December 1908, Melville
was named for Charles Melville Hays, President of the Grand Truck who perished
in the Titanic disaster of 1912.
 As
an important railway terminal, Melville became home for train and engine
service crews working west to Watrous, Saskatchewan, east to Rivers, Manitoba,
south to Regina, and north to the Canora and Hudson Bay districts. In addition,
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway built a large roundhouse and servicing facilities
for its steam locomotive fleet at Melville. Today, rail car equipment continues
to be maintained at Melville to service the needs of nearby Potash customers.
Melville remains an important divisional point for CN, with technological
advances now allowing crews to work "extended-runs" from Melville to Winnipeg
and from Melville to Biggar, Saskatchewan. Each day, fast intermodal, coal,
grain, potash, and merchandise trains pass through Melville led by modern
fuel-efficient high horsepower locomotives. VIA Rail Canada also serves
Melville with its famed western transcontinental train known as the "Canadian."
 Visitors
to Melville can learn about Melville's railway heritage at the Melville
Railway Park that features the former Grand Trunk Railway depot from nearby
Duff, Saskatchewan, and a CN "Pacific" type steam locomotive, number 5114.
Besides its role as an important railway center, this community of 4600
residents provides services for nearby mixed farming and potash operations.
Photos: 1. CN 2. S.I. Smith 3. L. Kozma |
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Situated in eastern Saskatchewan and located
on the Canadian National main line between Winnipeg and Edmonton, Melville
has served as a railway divisional point since the completion of the Grand
Trunk Pacific Railway. Incorporated as a city in December 1908, Melville
was named for Charles Melville Hays, President of the Grand Truck who perished
in the Titanic disaster of 1912. 
As
an important railway terminal, Melville became home for train and engine
service crews working west to Watrous, Saskatchewan, east to Rivers, Manitoba,
south to Regina, and north to the Canora and Hudson Bay districts. In addition,
the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway built a large roundhouse and servicing facilities
for its steam locomotive fleet at Melville. Today, rail car equipment continues
to be maintained at Melville to service the needs of nearby Potash customers.
Melville remains an important divisional point for CN, with technological
advances now allowing crews to work "extended-runs" from Melville to Winnipeg
and from Melville to Biggar, Saskatchewan. Each day, fast intermodal, coal,
grain, potash, and merchandise trains pass through Melville led by modern
fuel-efficient high horsepower locomotives. VIA Rail Canada also serves
Melville with its famed western transcontinental train known as the "Canadian."
Visitors
to Melville can learn about Melville's railway heritage at the Melville
Railway Park that features the former Grand Trunk Railway depot from nearby
Duff, Saskatchewan, and a CN "Pacific" type steam locomotive, number 5114.