TSarnia’s success stems from its status as a central transportation hub. It acts as a stop-over point between Canadian and American cities. Long ago, it was a trading place for the Native people of the area. The first shipping company to prosper in Sarnia was owned by the Beatty’s. The Beatty boats played an important role in the opening up of the Canadian West. Companies were also able to send products via rail to Sarnia, where they could be transferred to boats and shipped across the Great Lakes. Ferries also took railcars across the water. It was decided that a tunnel had to be made for travel across the river. The St. Clair tunnel was approximately two storeys high and went under the St. Clair River. Because of the suction caused when steam trains were leaving the tunnel, sometimes connectors between railcars broke. This caused three substantial accidents, totalling ten deaths between them, one of which was that of a superintendent. It was clear that an electric engine had to be implemented.