A train engineer leans out of locomotive No. 2083 of the Better Farming Train. Four sets of railway tracks in foreground.

Bio/Historical Note: From 1914 to 1922 a Better Farming Train (BFT) toured the province providing lectures and demonstrations and presenting exhibits on matters pertaining to agriculture. Funded by the Agricultural Instruction Act, equipped jointly by the Department of Agriculture and the College of Agriculture, and staffed by the University of Saskatchewan, the BFTs were operated free of charge by the railways. Consisting of between 14 to 17 cars they toured the province for several weeks each summer. During part of one summer two trains operated. The train was divided into five sections: Livestock; Field Husbandry; Boys and Girls; Household Science; Poultry; and Farm Mechanics. A converted flat car acted as a platform for the display and demonstration of the "well-selected" horses, cattle, sheep, swine and poultry. Each section usually contained a lecture car accompanied by one or more demonstration cars.

An aerial view of Biggar, Saskatchewan from the Canadian National Railway (CNR) rail yard at the south end of town.

Rail yard showing tanker rail cars with several automobiles parked in distance

A train engine and a train car with "Canadian National" printed on the side

Three men in winter jackets, hats, and mitts stand outside a Canadian Northern Railway boxcar that has been pulled off the track. The sliding door to the boxcar is open. Snow covers the ground.

Canadian Pacific Railway steam engine No. 505 seen at Swift Current, pulling at least three passenger cars

A little boy and two girls wearing dresses on the grass near the railroad. Train boxcars and what looks like an outhouse can be seen behind them.

Crowds of people are standing and sitting on the hills watching men and a crane train car work among some train wreckage

A crane train car hooked to a piece of train wreckage and five men standing among a train wreck.

A train with a crane car hooked to a wrecked train car.

A man is in a crane train car which is hooked to a wrecked train car.

A crane train car hooked to a wrecked train car and ten men standing among a train wreck.

Canadian National Railway (CNR) freight cars, with men unloading railroad ties using teams of horses and wagons.

Canadian Northern Railways (CNR) railyards in Humboldt, Saskatchewan, looking east.