08-06-2009, 08:27 PM
Canadian National Railways was formed 1919 - 1923 from the Intercolonial, Grand Trunk, Canadian Northern, and Canadian Government Railways (itself a collection of railways that didn't quite work out...). The Grand Trunk and CNor were an "unsuccessful" competitors to the Canadian Pacific. CPR was the first trans-Canada road, itself acquiring competitors both defunct and competitive as it "fleshed out" its routes beyond the track from Montreal to Vancouver.
Part of the reason that there was so much available is that it was often more profitable to build a railway than to run it. It was (as Ed says) the age of the Robber Baron, and railways were the "dot com" of the time.
However, both CNR and CPR continued to acquire rights throughout the early 20th century to roads built by others, a practice that has lead them to be two of the biggest roads in North America today.
So whatever your scenario, it is entirely possible, and probably likely, that there is a similar prototype story out there.
Andrew
Part of the reason that there was so much available is that it was often more profitable to build a railway than to run it. It was (as Ed says) the age of the Robber Baron, and railways were the "dot com" of the time.
However, both CNR and CPR continued to acquire rights throughout the early 20th century to roads built by others, a practice that has lead them to be two of the biggest roads in North America today.
So whatever your scenario, it is entirely possible, and probably likely, that there is a similar prototype story out there.
Andrew