List of defunct Canadian railways

Last updated

Most transportation historians date the history of Canada's railways as beginning on February 25, 1832, with the incorporation of British North America's first steam-powered railway, the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad. This line opened for traffic on July 21, 1836, although there are cases of animal-drawn mining tramways in Nova Scotia from the 18th century onward.

Contents

Thousands of railways followed the C&SL and were given a charter by the federal or provincial governments, although in most cases these charters never resulted in an actual line being constructed. Many of these charters were so-called "paper railways" and were absorbed into other railways, that is they existed on paper with the actual trains bearing the name of another railway or system of railways. For example, Canadian National Railways alone consisted of over some 400 railways (see Canadian National Railways-List of Companies).

The reason for these "paper" railways was the ease of getting a charter, this was often done by a major railway such as Canadian Pacific Railway or Grand Trunk Railway but, the true interests were kept hidden to keep attention away from the efforts of competing major railways to gain access to another's territory. In other instances local interests wanted a railway to connect their community with the main line of a major railway that did not enter their town, or to connect to another major railway for competitive reasons, to get lower freight rates, something that remains to this day. In many cases these local efforts were quickly taken over by a major railway to both expand its own network and to deny its competition access to traffic.

Streetcar and interurban railways were chartered provincially, in the case of Ontario under the Street Railway Act.

Non-common carrier railways did not require a charter under the Railway Act since they were used primarily for the owners own purposes, mainly logging and mining.

American railroads always operated in Canada under charters of subsidiary railways even though most had equipment lettered only for the parent company. Most U.S. railroads also operated in Canada through subsidiary railways with one exception: Wabush Railway which had not a mile of track in Canada as it crossed southern Ontario using trackage rights granted by the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. These rights still exist with present-day Canadian National and Norfolk Southern, which runs into Windsor and Sarnia, Ontario. It formerly ran through Montreal, Quebec, but service was stopped due to such services causing traffic congestion.

This list of defunct railways includes only those railways that actually came into existence. Many were taken over by other railways or had a name change and thus continued to operate trains over the same tracks. A few ceased to exist because they went out of business and were abandoned and dismantled.

For simplicity on this list, Canadian National Railways (CNR) (pre-1960), Canadian National Railway (CN) (post-1960), Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), Grand Trunk Railway (GTR), and Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) will be abbreviated for notations. Others will be abbreviated as required.

Also consult the list of active Canadian railways.

A

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Alberta Railway and Navigation Company Acquired by CPR.
Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Acquired by NAR.
Albion Mines Railway Pictou County, Nova Scotia1829-c.1890First railway and first use of metal rails in British North America; horse-drawn until 1838. Abandoned.
Algoma Central Railway Algoma and Cochrane Districts, Northeastern Ontario 1899–1995Acquired by WC.
Algoma Eastern Railway Algoma and Sudbury Districts, Northeastern Ontario1911–30Acquired by CPR on July 14, 1931 by 999-year lease.
Alma and Jonquières Railway 1912-37Merged into RS.
Atlantic and North-West Railway southeastern Quebec, central MaineAcquired by CPR.
Atlantic, Quebec and Western Railway Acquired by CNR.

B

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Bay of Quinte Railway southeastern OntarioAcquired by CNoR.
Berlin and Waterloo Street Railway Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario1889–1919Continued operations and renamed to Kitchener and Waterloo Street Railway.
Botwood Railway central Newfoundland ?-1956Subsidiary of AND. Sold to become GFC.
Brantford, Hamilton and Western Railway
British Columbia Electric Railway Owned by BCH. Sold to become SRY.
British Columbia Railway British Columbia1972–2004Acquired by CN.
Brockville and Ottawa Railway eastern OntarioAcquired by CPR.
Brockville, Westport and North-Western Railway eastern OntarioAcquired by CNoR.
Bruce Mines and Algoma Railway
Buchans Railway central NewfoundlandOwned by ASARCO. Abandoned.
Buctouche and Moncton Railway southeastern New BrunswickAcquired by CNR.
Burlington Northern Manitoba Limited central Manitoba1971–1999Subsidiary of BN. Renamed to BNSFM.
Bytown and Prescott Railway eastern Ontario1854–1884Leased by CPR for 999 years. Abandoned in 1995.

C

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Canada and Gulf Terminal Railway eastern Quebec ?-1975Acquired by CN.
Calgary and Edmonton Railway Acquired by CPR.
Campbellford, Lake Ontario and Western Railway Acquired by CPR.
Canada Air Line Railway Subsidiary of GWR.
Canada Atlantic Railway central, eastern Ontario, western Quebec1890–1914Acquired by GTR.
Canadian Atlantic Railway Quebec via Maine to New Brunswick1988–1994Part of CPR mainline east of Lac-Mégantic, divested 1994 as Canadian American Railroad (bankrupt 2001)
and later MM&A (bankrupt 2013). Portion east of Brownville is Irving's New Brunswick Southern Railway.
Canadian American Railroad Quebec to Maine1994–2002 Iron Road Railways segment of CP's former Canadian Atlantic Railway
from Lennoxville to Brownville, Maine, bankrupt 2001.
Canadian Pacific British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec1881–2023Acquired and Merged with the Kansas City Southern Railroad to form CPKC.
Canada Central Railway Acquired by Canadian Pacific.
Canada Coal and Railroad Company northwestern Nova Scotia1905–1906Sold to become MCR&PC.
Canada Coals and Railway Company northwestern Nova Scotia1892–1905Sold to become CC&RC.
Canada Southern Railway Acquired by MCRR, later NYC. Sold to CPR and CN. Abandoned.
Canadian Atlantic Railway eastern Quebec, Maine, western New Brunswick, western Nova Scotia1988–1994 CPR subsidiary created to operate lines east of Montreal including DAR.
Portions abandoned or sold by 1994 to NBSR, EMR, CDAC, and WHRC.
Canadian Government Railways Maritimes, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba1915–1918Entrusted to CNR. Corporate entity sold to CN in 1993 for $1.
Canadian National Electric Railways Division of CNR.
Canadian Pacific Electric Lines Division of CPR.
Canadian Northern Railway Nova Scotia, Quebec to British Columbia1899–1918Nationalized into CNR.
Canadian Northern Alberta Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Branchlines Company Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Consolidated Railways Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Manitoba Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Montreal Tunnel and Terminal Company Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Ontario Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Pacific Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Quebec Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Saskatchewan Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Canadian Northern Western Railway Constituent company of CNoR.
Cape Breton Development Corporation Railway Sold to SCR.
Cape Breton Railway
Cape Breton Eastern Extension Railway Stellarton to Sydney, NS1890Constituent part of IRC
Caraquet Railway northeastern New BrunswickAcquired by CNR.
Central Canada Railway
Central Maine and Quebec Railway Quebec, Maine, Vermont2014-2020Acquired by Canadian Pacific Railway
Central Ontario Railway Acquired by CNoR.
Central Railway of New Brunswick Acquired by CPR.
Central Vermont Railway Also a defunct U.S. railroad. Subsidiary of GTR, later CNR. Became NECR.
Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad southwestern Quebec1836–1857First common carrier railway in British North America. Acquired by M&CR.
Chatham, Wallaceburg and Lake Erie Railway Interurban railway.
Columbia and Kootenay Railway Acquired by CPR.
Columbia and Western Railway Acquired by CPR.
Cornwallis Valley Railway Kentville to Kingsport, NS1890-1892Acquired by W&AR.
Credit Valley Railway Toronto to St. Thomas, ONAcquired by CPR.
Cumberland Railway and Coal Company Springhill Junction to Parrsboro, NS1883-1962Abandoned.

D

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Detroit River Tunnel Company Subsidiary of CASO/MCRR.
Devco Railway Cape Breton, NS1968-2001Former DOSCO coal hauler, assets acquired by Sydney Coal Railway
Dominion Atlantic Railway western Nova Scotia1894–1994Acquired by CPR in 1912, after 1988 was operated as part of CAR. Sold to become WHRC.
Dominion Coal Company
Dominion Timber and Minerals Railway Laurentian Mountains (Western Quebec) Kilmar, Black Lake, Lachute, Marlean1916-1981Subsidiary of CRL.
Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway Minnesota to Winnipeg Manitoba / Port Arthur ONOriginally a CNoR railway by the name of Duluth, Rainy Lake and Winnipeg Railway. Now a subsidiary of CN - by way of GT and then merged with WC (both are CN companies). [1]

E

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia Railway Acquired by NAR.
Edmonton Yukon and Pacific Railway Acquired by CNoR.
Elgin and Havelock Railway central New BrunswickAcquired by CGR.
Erie and Ontario Railway Acquired by CASO.
Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Acquired by CPR. Sold 2006 to become Southern Railway of Vancouver Island.
European and North American Railway southern New Brunswick1857–1872Eastern extension merged into IRC. Western extension became part of NBR.
Englewood Railway Northern Vancouver Island1917-2017Sold to Western Forest Products 2006.

F

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Fredericton and Grand Lake Railway central and western New BrunswickAcquired by CPR.

G

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Galt and Preston Street Railway Cambridge, Ontario1894–1908Renamed the Galt, Preston, and Hespeler Street Railway after Hespeler line was built.
Galt, Preston and Hespeler Street Railway Cambridge, Ontario1894–1908Merged into the Berlin, Waterloo, Wellesley, and Lake Huron Railway.
Georgian Bay and Seaboard Railway Acquired by CPR.
Glengarry and Stormont Railway
Grand Falls Central Railway central Newfoundland1956–1977Abandoned.
Grand River Railway Waterloo Region, Ontario1914–1931Acquired by CPR, merged into CPEL.
Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia1914–1920Nationalized into CNR.
Grand Trunk Railway Ontario, Quebec, New England1852–1923Nationalized into CNR.
Great North West Central Railway Acquired by CPR.
Great Northern Railway (U.S.) A trans U.S. railway that had a railway in the BC Fraser Valley competing with CP for the natural resources.
Great Northern Railway of Canada [2] 1892-1907between Rivière-à-Pierre, Quebec, and Hawkesbury, Ontario [3]
Great Western Railway southwestern Ontario1853–1884Acquired by GTR
Guelph and Goderich Railway Acquired by CPR.
Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad Lakehead Region (Ontario and Minnesota)1902–1909

H

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Halifax and South Western Railway southwestern Nova Scotia1901–1918Merged into CNoR, nationalized by CNR.
Halifax City Railroad Halifax, Nova Scotia1866-1876Horse-drawn operations; assets acquired by Halifax Street Railway Company, 1886.
Halifax Electric Tramway Halifax, Nova Scotia1895-1917Acquired by Nova Scotia Tramways and Power Company, Limited in 1917.
Halifax Street Railway Halifax, Nova Scotia1886-1895Became Nova Scotia Power Company in 1889.
Hamilton, Grimsby and Beamsville Electric Railway Hamilton-Niagara Peninsula, Ontario1894 - 1931interurban railway.
Hamilton and North-Western Railway Acquired by GTR.
Hamilton Radial Electric Railway
Harpoon Logging Railway central Newfoundland
Hudson Bay Railway Charter acquired by CNoR, subsequently built by CNR.
Huntsville and Lake of Bays Railway Portage railway.

I

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Inverness Railway and Coal Company Acquired by CNoR.
Intercolonial Railway of Canada Quebec City to Halifax1872-1918Operated by CGR, entrusted to CNR.
International Railway Acquired by CPR.
Irondale, Bancroft and Ottawa Railway Acquired by CNoR.

J

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Joggins Railway northwestern Nova Scotia1883–1892Sold to become CC&RC.

K

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Kaslo and Slocan Railway Kaslo BC to Slocan BC, Central Kootenay Region1895-1955Acquired by CPR.
Kelowna Pacific Railway Okanagan Valley, British Columbia1999 - 2013Entered receivership July 2013. CN once again operates a portion of the line. The Vernon to Kelowna portion is under abandonment procedures.
Kettle Valley Railway Midway BC to Hope BC, Southern Interior Route1915–1961, all except Penticton area until 1989Acquired by CPR.
Kingston and Pembroke Railway Kingston to Renfrew 1884-1913Acquired by CPR, dismantled 1950s.
Kitchener and Waterloo Street Railway Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario1919–1927Continuation of Berlin and Waterloo Street Railway. Taken over and municipalized by the City of Kitchener under its Public Utilities Commission.

L

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence Junction Railway Richelieu River valley of southeastern Quebec 1879–1880Leased to the South Eastern Railway 1880. Acquired by CPR 1887.
Lake Erie and Detroit Railway Subsidiary of PM, later CO. Abandoned.
Lake Erie and Northern Railway Acquired by CPR, merged into CPEL.
Lake Manitoba Railway and Canal Company Acquired by CNoR.
Laurentian Railway Lower Laurentian acquired by Great Northern of Canada, later by CNoR.
Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Pontypool Railway Acquired by CPR by 999-year lease.
London and Lake Erie Railway and Transportation Company Southwestern Ontario1909–1918Abandoned - Formerly South Western Traction Company.
London and Port Stanley Railway southwestern Ontario1853–1965Acquired by CN.
Lotbinière and Megantic Railway Saint-Jean-Deschaillons, Sainte-Philomène and Lyster (Mégantic)1889-1909Merged to Quebec Railway, Light, Heat and Power Co (QRLHP), [4] acquired by CGR.

M

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Maine Central Railroad southwestern New BrunswickSold and renamed GRS/ST.
Manitoba Great Northern Railway Subsidiary of GN.
Manitoba and North Western Railway Acquired by CPR.
Manitoulin and North Shore Railway Northeastern OntarioReorganized as Algoma Eastern Railway, subsequently largely abandoned.
Maritime Coal Railway and Power Company northwestern Nova Scotia1906–1961Abandoned.
Massawippi Valley Railway Eastern Townships of Quebec1870-1990Leased by Quebec Central Railway (CPR) 1926–1990, abandoned, tracks removed 1992.
Metropolitan Electric Railway
Michigan Central Railroad Operated in Canada as CASO.
Midland Railway of Canada Acquired by GTR.
Midland Railway (Canada) Hants County NS1901-1905Acquired by DAR.
Midland Railway of Manitoba Subsidiary of GN.
Millertown Railway [5] [6] Subsidiary of AND. Abandoned.
Montreal and Champlain Railroad 1857–1872Acquired by GTR.
Montreal and Ottawa Railway Acquired by CPR. CP operates to Rigaud, line from Rigaud to Ottawa abandoned and sold to Via Rail.
Montreal and Vermont Junction Railway Acquired by CNR.
Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway Farnham, Quebec/Brownville, Maine 2003-2013Sold in bankruptcy to Fortress Investments as Central Maine and Quebec Railway
Montreal Tramways Company
Montreal Suburban Tramway and Power Owned Dominion Park
Morrissey Fernie and Michel Railway Subsidiary of CPCC.

N

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Nakusp and Slocan Railway Acquired by CPR.
Napierville Junction Railway Rouses Point, NY to Delson Jct. QCSubsidiary of DH.
National Transcontinental Railway Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick1912–1918Operated by CGR, entrusted to CNR.
Nelson and Fort Sheppard Railway Troup BC to Ft Sheppard BC1893-1993Acquired by GN Fruitvale to US border still in use for Atco Forest Products.
New Brunswick Coal and Railway Acquired by CPR.
New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island Railway Acquired by CGR.
New Brunswick Railway Acquired by CPR.
New Westminster Southern Railway Company Subsidiary of GN.
Newfoundland Railway Newfoundland1892–1949Entrusted to CNR.
Newfoundland and Northwestern Railway NewfoundlandAcquired by NR.
Niagara Falls Park and River Railway
Niagara, St. Catharines and Toronto Railway Acquired by CNR, merged into CNEL.
North Shore Railway Acquired by CPR.
Northern Alberta Railways northern Alberta1929–1981Acquired by CNR.
Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Subsidiary of NP.
Northern Railway of Canada Acquired by GTR.
Nosbonsing & Nipissing Railway Abandoned.
Nova Scotia Central Railway Acquired by CNoR.
Nova Scotia Southern Railway Acquired by H&SW
Nova Scotia Railway central Nova Scotia1853–1867Merged into IRC.
Nova Scotia Tramways and Power Halifax, Nova Scotia1917-1928Became Nova Scotia Light and Power Company, Limited, 1928
Nova Scotia Light and Power Halifax, Nova Scotia1928-1949Rail operations ceased 1949; converted to electric trolley coaches

O

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Okanagan Valley Railway Okanagan Valley, British Columbia1998 - 2009Shut down due to lack of business.
Ontario and Quebec Railway Acquired by CPR.
Ontario and Rainy River Railway Rainy River, Ontario1886 – 1900Acquired by CNoR.
Ontario L'Orignal Railway eastern Ontario1996–2001Acquired by OCR.
Orford Mountain Railway Acquired by CPR.
Oshawa Railway Acquired by CNR.
Ottawa and New York Railway Eastern Ontario1898–1957Subsidiary of NYC.
Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway Acquired by CAR.
Ottawa Northern and Western Railway Acquired by CPR.

P

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Pacific Great Eastern Railway British Columbia1913–1972Renamed BCR.
Parry Sound Colonization Railway Ontario1887–1892Acquired by OA&PS.
Pontiac Pacific Junction Railway Quebec1880–1903Merged with Ottawa Northern and Western Railway.
Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway Ontario1889–1938Abandoned
Preston and Berlin Railway Waterloo Region, Ontario1857Short-lived line connecting the city of Berlin (Kitchener) to the town of Preston. Line was later sold to GTR and became part of the Galt Subdivision.
Prince Edward Island Railway Prince Edward Island1871–1918Operated by CGR, entrusted to CNR.

Q

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Quebec and Lake St. John Railway Quebec to Roberval1880-1906Acquired by CNoR.
Quebec and Saguenay Railway Acquired by CNR.
Quebec Central Railway Eastern Townships and BeauceAcquired by CPR 1911. Dormant 1994–2000, and again from 2006.
Quebec, Montreal and Southern Railway Subsidiary of DH, acquired by CN.
Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway Acquired by CPR.
Quebec Oriental Railway Acquired by CNR.
Quebec Railway Light and Power Company (Quebec, Montmorency & Charlevoix Railway) Quebec-La MalbaieAcquired by CNR.
Quebec Southern Railway

R

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Red Mountain Railway Rossland to Paterson BC1897–1921Subsidiary of Great Northern Railway. Also named Columbia and Red Mountain Railway in Washington State.
Rutland and Noyan Railway Subsidiary of RUT. Abandoned.

S

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Shaw Logging Railroad Prairie River, SK area1907-1917
St. Eustache Railway Acquired by CPR.
St. John and Quebec Railway Acquired by CNR.
St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad southwestern Quebec1853-1853Acquired by GTR.
St. Lawrence and Hudson Railway Ontario, Quebec, New England1996–2001Subsidiary of CPR created to operate lines in eastern North America. Merged back into parent company.
St. Lawrence and Ottawa Railway Acquired by CPR.
St. Mary's and Western Railway Acquired by CPR.
St. Maurice Valley Railway Acquired by CPR.
Schomberg and Aurora Railway
Shawinigan Falls Terminal Railway
Smoky Falls Railway Subsidiary of SFPPC.
South Ontario Pacific Railway Acquired by CPR.
South Western Traction Company Ontario1902–1908Became London and Lake Erie Railway and Transportation Company.
Sudbury and Copper Cliff Suburban Electric Railway Greater Sudbury, Ontario1915–50Converted to bus operations.
Sydney and Louisburg Railway Cape Breton Island1895–1966Acquired by DEVCO, line to Louisbourg is now defunct.

T

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Temiscouata Railway eastern Quebec, northwestern New Brunswick1870–1949Acquired by CNR.
Terra Transport Newfoundland1977–1988Division of CN. Abandoned.
Thousand Islands Railway Eastern Ontario1884–1958Acquired by GTR.
Thurso and Nation Valley Railway Thurso to Duhamel, Quebec 1927–1986Subsidiary of SC.
Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway Northeastern Ontario1902–1946Renamed to ONR.
Tillsonburg Lake Erie and Pacific Railway Southwestern Ontario1896-1958Acquired by CPR in 1904 and entity ceased to exist by 1958.
Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway South-west Ontario1871–1883Acquired by O&Q.
Toronto and Nipissing Railway south-central Ontario1871–1883Amalgamated into Midland Railway of Canada.
Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway southwestern Ontario1892–1987Acquired by CPR.
Toronto Suburban Railway Southwestern Ontario, Southern-Ontario1891–1931Acquired by CNoR.

V

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Vancouver and Lulu Island Railway Acquired by Canadian Pacific subsequently leased to British Columbia Electric Railway.
Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern Railway
Vancouver, Westminster and Yukon Railway ran from New Westminster to Vancouver along the Brunette and Still Creeks on modern CN alignment. Owned by lumberman John Hendry, it wanted to bridge the Second Narrows and go north.
Victoria and Sidney Railway Subsidiary of Great Northern Railway. Known as "the Cordwood Limited"
Victoria Terminal Railway and Ferry Company later acquired by the Great Northern Railway

W

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Wabash Railroad Operated over running rights on CAL, later CN. WAB merged into NW, later NS.
Walkerton and Lucknow Railway Acquired by CPR.
West Ontario Pacific Railway Acquired by CPR.
Western Counties Railway Merged with W&A into DAR.
Windsor and Annapolis Railway Nova Scotia opened August 18, 1869Merged with WCR into DAR.
Windsor and Hantsport Railway Nova Scotia1994 to 2011
Windsor, Essex and Lake Shore Rapid Railway
Winnipeg Transfer Railway Manitoba formed 1889, charter issued March 31, 1890Operated in Winnipeg's Exchange District. In 1987 City of Winnipeg acquired spur lines in Exchange District to convert to roads. [7] [8]

Y

Railway nameLocaleOperating yearsComments
Yarmouth and Annapolis Railway Renamed WCR.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National Railway</span> Canadian Class I freight railway company

The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I freight railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, which serves Canada and the Midwestern and Southern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Trunk Railway</span> British-owned railway in Canada and New England

The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system that operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario and in the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec, with corporate headquarters in London, United Kingdom. It cost an estimated $160 million to build. The Grand Trunk, its subsidiaries, and the Canadian Government Railways were precursors of today's Canadian National Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Canada</span>

Canada has a large and well-developed railway system that primarily transports freight. There are two major publicly traded transcontinental freight railway systems, Canadian National (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC). Nationwide passenger services are provided by the federal crown corporation Via Rail, and three international services to the US by Amtrak. Three Canadian cities have commuter train services: in the Montreal area by Exo, in the Toronto area by GO Transit, and in the Vancouver area by West Coast Express. These cities and several others are also served by light rail or metro systems. Only one (Toronto) has an extensive streetcar (tram) system. Smaller railways such as Ontario Northland Railway also run passenger trains to remote rural areas. The Rocky Mountaineer and Royal Canadian Pacific provide luxury rail tours for viewing scenery in the Canadian Rockies as well as other mountainous areas of British Columbia and Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian Northern Railway</span> Former railway company

The Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) was a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its 1923 merger into the Canadian National Railway, the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.

The National Transcontinental Railway (NTR) was a historic railway between Winnipeg and Moncton in Canada. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Trunk Western Railroad</span> American railroad

The Grand Trunk Western Railroad Company was an American subsidiary of the Grand Trunk Railway, later of the Canadian National Railway operating in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Since a corporate restructuring in 1971, the railroad has been under CN's subsidiary holding company, the Grand Trunk Corporation. Grand Trunk Western's routes are part of CN's Michigan Division. Its primary mainline between Chicago and Port Huron, Michigan serves as a connection between railroad interchanges in Chicago and rail lines in eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States. The railroad's extensive trackage in Detroit and across southern Michigan has made it an essential link for the automotive industry as a hauler of parts and automobiles from manufacturing plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad</span> Railroad in northern New England

The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad, known as St-Laurent et Atlantique Quebec in Canada, is a short-line railway operating between Portland, Maine, on the Atlantic Ocean, and Montreal, Quebec, on the St. Lawrence River. It crosses the Canada–US border at Norton, Vermont, and Stanhope, Quebec, and is owned by short-line operator Genesee & Wyoming.

The history of rail transport in Canada began in the early 19th century. The Canadian railway system saw several expansion "booms" throughout history, as well as a major change from broad to standard gauge which occurred in the 1870s. An initially disconnected system was gradually integrated with the American railway network, as Canadian and American railway companies built lines and bought smaller companies in each other's country. The Intercolonial Railway, a product of Canadian Confederation, was Canada's first major experiment in railway nationalization, and following Confederation, several transcontinental railways were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway</span> Subsidiary railroad of Canadian National Railway

The Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway is a subsidiary railroad of Canadian National Railway (CN) operating in northern Minnesota, United States. A CN system-wide rebranding beginning in 1995 has seen the DWP logo and name largely replaced by its parent company. The DWP line is CN's connection between International Falls and Duluth, Minnesota, where the railroad connects to a short stretch of the former Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Railway before following the former Wisconsin Central to Chicago, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Clair Tunnel</span>

The St. Clair Tunnel is the name for two separate rail tunnels which were built under the St. Clair River between Sarnia, Ontario and Port Huron, Michigan. The original, opened in 1891 and used until it was replaced by a new larger tunnel in 1995, was the first full-size subaqueous tunnel built in North America. It is a National Historic Landmark of the United States, and has been designated a civil engineering landmark by both US and Canadian engineering bodies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Western Railway (Ontario)</span> Historic railway in Ontario, Canada

The Great Western Railway was a railway that operated in Canada West, today's province of Ontario, Canada. It was the first railway chartered in the province, receiving its original charter as the London and Gore Railroad on March 6, 1834, before receiving its final name when it was rechartered in 1845.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Central Railroad</span> US railroad established 1846

The Michigan Central Railroad was originally chartered in 1832 to establish rail service between Detroit, Michigan, and St. Joseph, Michigan. The railroad later operated in the states of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois in the United States and the province of Ontario in Canada. After about 1867 the railroad was controlled by the New York Central Railroad, which later became part of Penn Central and then Conrail. After the 1998 Conrail breakup, Norfolk Southern Railway now owns much of the former Michigan Central trackage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Railway of Canada</span> Defunct railway in Ontario

The Northern Railway of Canada was a railway in the province of Ontario, Canada. It was the first steam railway to enter service in what was then known as Upper Canada. It was eventually acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway, and is therefore a predecessor to the modern Canadian National Railway (CNR). Several sections of the line are still used by CNR and GO Transit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belleville station (Ontario)</span> Railway station in Ontario, Canada

The Belleville railway station in Belleville, Ontario, Canada is served by Via Rail trains running from Toronto to Ottawa and Montreal. The station is staffed, with ticket sales, vending machines, telephones, washrooms, and wheelchair access to the station and trains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National Police Service</span> Private railroad police force

The Canadian National Police Service is a private railway police force protecting the property, personnel, and rail infrastructure of the Canadian National Railway in Canada and the United States.

The Canada Atlantic Railway (CAR) was a North American railway located in Ontario, southwestern Quebec and northern Vermont. It connected Georgian Bay on Lake Huron with the northern end of Lake Champlain via Ottawa. It was formed in 1879 through a merger of two separate railway companies that John Rudolphus Booth had purchased, and reached its full extent in 1899 through a third company that he had created. The CAR was owned by Booth for several years after its completion until he agreed to sell it to the Grand Trunk Railway (GTR) in 1904.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bay of Quinte Railway</span>

The Bay of Quinte Railway was a short-line railway in eastern Ontario, Canada. It was formed as the Napanee, Tamworth and Quebec Railway (NT&QR), chartered in 1878 by Edward Rathbun and Alexander Campbell, with plans to run from Napanee through Renfrew County and on to the Ottawa Valley. Lacking funding from the governments, development never began.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canadian National 6400</span> Canadian streamlined steam locomotive

Canadian National Railway No. 6400 is a preserved 4-8-4 “Confederation” or “Northern” type locomotive built in June 1936 for the Canadian National Railway (CNR).

References

  1. "CN merges three US subsidiaries".
  2. Hinshelwood, N. M. (1902). Amidst the Laurentians. Montréal, Canada: The Herald Press. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  3. "Great Northern Railway of Canada".
  4. "Bilan du siècle - Création de la Quebec Railway, Light, Heat and Power Co".
  5. "Millertown Railway photo".
  6. "Old Time Trains". www.trainweb.org.
  7. "Manitoba Laws".
  8. https://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/Heritage/ListHistoricalResources/Market-145-long.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]