For a small railway, the TH&B was blessed with innovative management. The railway was notable for adapting technologies first, before either of the larger parent companies or the competing Canadian National. These innovations included:
First railway in North America to introduce "Absolute Permissive Block" signalling
First railway in Canada to use the technique known as "direct steaming"
Only Canadian railway to own and operate "Berkshire" locomotives: (2-8-4's)