In 1904 the first trains to Melfort arrived on the Canadian Northern Railroad from
Winnipeg. Many soft grades caused innumerable delays and derailments, and
dissatisfaction led to The Farmer's Railroad being approved by the Provincial
government in 1909. But that project fell through, and the Can. Northern, which
had continued its line to PA and beyond, operated until 1918. At that time the
struggllng line, along with a number of others, was taken over by the Canadian
government, and in 1922 the Canadian National Railway became a single
alternative railway operating from coast to coast. The CPR had joint running rights
on the CNR track through Melfort, as well as sharing a union station for passenger
traffic.
Before the CPR arrived, Melfort had a rail connection through The Pas, Manitoba
and on to Churchill, as well as lines to Carrot River, Humboldt and Saskatoon (via to
Carrot River, Humboldt and Saskatoon (via Aberdeen), and of course, Prince Albert.
Then in 1922, the Canadian Pacific Railroad extended a line from Regina and
Lanigan, running north-east to Spalding, Naicam and on to Melfort. Soon after it
was extended to Gronlid.
Though plans to build a roundhouse at Melfort never materialized, Melfort did
become a distribution centre for a number of farm machinery companies and
automotive dealerships throughout north-east Saskatchewan, all served by rail. An
oil refinery, bulk fuel outlets, several lumber yards, as well as livestock and grain,
mail, groceries and hardware, and all manner of other supplies were dependent on
the rail lines. Passenger services were also very important.