Canada’s railways are a part of our national story and heritage — and so are the CN locomotives that have criss-crossed this country since 1919. From steam to diesel-electric engines, telegraphs to planes, CN’s legacy extends beyond the rails that still connect Canadians and keep our economy moving forward. CN’s red and black freight trains are a familiar sight on today’s tracks, which wrap around this coin’s rim. And while the rail map background hints at history, the engraved steam locomotive is a more nostalgic nod to the past, to a time when the sounds of these chugging and whistling engines first captured our imaginations.

The reverse design by Tony Bianco celebrates the 100th anniversary of Canadian National Railway (CN) by featuring two locomotives that represent the past and present. The coloured engine is CNR 2557, a GE C9-44CW (“Dash 9”) diesel-electric locomotive built in December 1997 and rated at 4,400 horsepower. Beneath the modern-day workhorse is CNR 6218, a steam-driven 4-8-4 Northern locomotive built by Montreal Locomotive Works in 1942. Instead of denticles, train tracks circle the rim and frame a stylized map that alludes to the railway’s impact across Canada. The reverse includes the face value “25 CENTS”, the commemorative dates “1919” and “2019”, and the word “CANADA”. The obverse features the effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Susanna Blunt.