Cross-Country Train Trip

Cross-Country Train Trip craft

Ride the cowcatcher of a steam locomotive? Almost! Lady Susan Agnes Macdonald rode "from summit to sea" in a special box so she could truly enjoy Canada’s beauty!

  • 1.

    Building Canada’s Transcontinental Railway was a major feat! What a sight it must have been when it was finished to see Mrs. Susan A. Macdonald ride for miles on the cowcatcher of a steam locomotive as it traveled across Canada in 1886. (A cowcatcher was a V-shaped grill on the front of the train engine. It helped keep debris off of the tracks, including wandering wildlife.) Lady Macdonald was the wife of Canada’s first Prime Minister, John A. Macdonald. For part of every day of the trip she sat on a candlebox which was placed on the cowcatcher. From there, she could REALLY enjoy the scenery through the Rockies.

  • 2.

    Try to imagine the scene! A huge Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) steam engine, the Rocky Mountains with splendid trees, sparkling water, and clear blue sky. And Lady Macdonald on the cowcatcher! Use Crayola® Erasable Colored Pencils to outline a steam locomotive on a piece of construction paper. Add a cowcatcher on the front. Sketch train tracks, mountains, whatever scenery you picture!

  • 3.

    Color your drawing with Crayola Twistables. Highlight metallic areas such as wheels and rails with Crayola Metallic Colored Pencils. Air dry the glue.

  • 4.

    Lay a coffee filter flat. Draw and color Mrs. Macdonald on it. Use Crayola Scissors to cut her out. Trace her outline on another coffee filter and cut it out. Crumple a coffee filter and place it between the front and back pieces.

  • 5.

    Cover your art area with newspaper. Run a line of Crayola School Glue around the edge to seal your figure. Glue Mrs. Macdonald onto the cowcatcher of the train. All aboard!