The author, historian and geographer Derek Hayes discusses his new book Iron Road West: An Illustrated History of British Columbia’s Railway (Harbour Publishing, 2018), with Joseph Planta.

Iron Road West: An Illustrated History of British Columbia’s Railway by Derek Hayes (Harbour Publishing, 2018). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Iron Road West

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, British Columbia, at TheCommentary.ca.

Derek Hayes joins me again. He has just published a remarkable book, Iron Road West: An Illustrated History of British Columbia’s Railway. It is a striking book, comprehensive in its account of the railroads in this province, talking about the many factors in their creation, their history and future, political, social and economic. That the railroad shaped British Columbia, and the creation of Vancouver, let alone the country is without question. Derek’s book illuminates that for us with the detail and colour of history in this book that also features stunning photographs, archival as well as those that he shot himself. Derek Hayes is a geographer by training, and the author of the bestselling Historical Atlas Series, which includes the Historical Atlas of Canada, Historical Atlas of Vancouver and the Lower Fraser Valley, Historical Atlas of Toronto, and Historical Atlas of Early Railways. He was also a planner with the Vancouver City Planning Commission, and worked as a real estate consultant. He was first on this program in 2016 when his book Canada: An Illustrated History, Revised and Expanded was released. This new book, Iron Road West is from Harbour Publishing. He joins me from White Rock, British Columbia. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Derek Hayes; Mr. Hayes, good morning.

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