It first began as a summer service between Toronto, Ontario, and Vancouver, British Columbia, operating in 1931 and 1932.

Effective June 23, 1933, it replaced the Imperial Limited as the CPR's main transcontinental service and included a Montreal, Quebec – Sudbury, Ontario section.

It remained CPR's flagship train until the introduction of the stainless steel dome streamliner The Canadian on April 24, 1955.

This reduced The Dominion to a typical consist of four coaches and a baggage car.

[2] The service was eliminated officially on April 24, 1966, but continued on as the Expo Limited (serving the Montreal World's Fair) for much of 1967.