New Brunswick Railway
Encyclopedia
The New Brunswick Railway (NBR) was a historic Canadian
railway operating in western New Brunswick
. Its headquarters were in Woodstock
.
The original NBR lines were built to the narrow gauge of 42 in (1,066.8 mm). These tracks were converted to standard gauge
in 1881.
commissioned a survey in 1866 for a railway line extending from his mill facilities in South Devon at the junction between the Nashwaak
and Saint John Rivers opposite Fredericton, north to Edmundston to service timber lands which he leased from the Crown. A charter for the railway was received from the provincial government in 1870 and the New Brunswick Land and Railway Company was formed. Part of the charter provided for additional timber land based upon construction performance, thereby making Gibson one of the largest landowners in the province.
to the St. Lawrence River at Rivière-du-Loup; however, the company never built beyond Edmundston, leaving this connection to be completed by the Temiscouata Railway.
The southern section of the main line ran along the east bank of the Saint John River
from South Devon northwest to Keswick where it headed inland (north) away from the Saint John River and followed the Keswick River
to Barton before heading west to Millville
and northwest to East Brighton and Hartland
where it again followed the east bank of the Saint John River. This section was built between 1871 and 1873.
The section from Hartand
to Edmundston was much more difficult to construct and was built between 1871 and 1878. The line from Hartland north to Perth remained on the east bank of the Saint John River. At Perth it crossed to the west bank, bridged across the mouth of the Aroostook River
, and continued to Grand Falls
, where it crossed back to the east bank before continuing to Edmundston.
from its connection with the NBR at Aroostook, New Brunswick
to Caribou, Maine
. This line was built between 1873 and 1876 and was leased to the NBR in 1878. As a result, Aroostook became a major division point for the NBR's northern system and had extensive yard facilities.
In 1881, the New Brunswick Land and Railway Company changed its name to the New Brunswick Railway Company. That same year the narrow gauge lines from South Devon to Edmundston as well as the line from Aroostook to Caribou were converted to standard gauge
.
The following year on July 1, 1882, the NBR acquired control of the New Brunswick and Canada Railway (NBCR) under a 999 year lease. The NBCR traced its history to the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway which had a charter to build from Passamaquoddy Bay
at St. Andrews
north to McAdam
and on to Quebec City across much of what is now northern Maine
; construction plans in the 1840s from southwestern New Brunswick to Canada East
halted due to uncertainty over the location of the International Boundary with the United States. The border was subsequently resolved in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
and the SA&Q began construction in the early 1850s, however, the delays saw the competitive advantage of St. Andrews disappear with the opening of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad in 1853 that connected the Canadian rail network at Montreal, Quebec with the Atlantic coast port of Portland, Maine
. In 1856 the SA&Q declared bankruptcy and its assets and charter were purchased and reorganized as the New Brunswick and Canada Railway with track extended north to Richmond Corner near the newly defined border. Although the NBCR intended to complete construction across Maine to Quebec City, it would never extend beyond Richmond Corner due to the political situation in the United States during the 1860s (American Civil War
) as well as the financial situation NBCR faced with the competing European and North American Railway
project.
The 1881 conversion of the NBR to standard gauge track, followed by the 1882 purchase of the New Brunswick and Canada Railway saw a 9.5 mi (15.3 km) section of the NBR's original narrow gauge line between Shewan and Hartland
abandoned. A new line was built from Shewan west to the east bank of the Saint John River at Newburg where it joined a new line being built from the NBCR at Debec
via Woodstock
where it crossed to the east bank of the Saint John River and on to Hartland
.
The final major expansion of the NBR took place in 1883 when it acquired the European and North American Railway
's (E&NA) "Western Extension" and the Fredericton Branch Railway
. The "Western Extension" line was built from 1865-1869 from South Bay
on the west side of the Saint John River opposite Saint John
to the International Boundary at St. Croix. The Fredericton Branch Railway was built from 1867-1869 from Hartt's Mills
to Fredericton
.
began looking to expand its presence east of Montreal
. Typical of much of its expansion in southern Ontario
, CPR looked to purchase or lease existing lines rather than survey and build itself. CPR president George Stephen
was a shareholder with Gibson in the NBR and looked to extend the CP system to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia to gain access to ports in the Maritimes.
Between 1886 and 1888, CPR built the International Railway of Maine, also referred to as the "Short Line", across a gap between Quebec's Eastern Townships
and the Maine Central Railroad
at Mattawamkeag, Maine
(on the European and North American Railway
"Maine" section). From Mattawamkeag to the International Boundary at Vanceboro
-St. Croix, CPR gained trackage rights from the Maine Central.
CPR sought, and was given, a lease on the New Brunswick Railway for a period of 990 years beginning on July 1, 1890, resulting in a mainline from Montreal to Saint John and the feeder network of NBR branchlines to St. Stephen and St. Andrews as well as Fredericton and the upper Saint John River valley. This development gave CPR access to the port of Saint John and until the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s and subsequent expansion of government ice breaking services for shipping, Saint John would become CPR's winter port on the Atlantic coast when Montreal was ice-bound.
In 1912, a section of the government-built and operated National Transcontinental Railway
(NTR) opened between Moncton
and Lévis
. Part of the NTR closely paralleled Canadian Pacific's original NBR narrow gauge line between Cyr (just north of Grand Falls
) to Edmundston, along the east bank of the Saint John River. In the 1930s, CPR abandoned a 26 mi (41.8 km) section of the former NBR between Cyr and Iroquois (approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Edmundston) and used trackage rights over Canadian National Railways, which the NTR had been merged into in 1918.
(CAR). Also beginning in 1988 and extending through to 1993, CAR began the process of abandoning much of the trackage of the former NBR system, citing declining traffic and bridges at Woodstock
and Perth-Andover
which were washed away in the spring freshet and ice jams of 1987. CPR completely removed itself from operations east of Montreal in 1994 when CAR trackage was sold to shortline operators. The only remnant of the NBR system is a short segment of trackage in Grand Falls, operated by Canadian National.
Interestingly, the J.D. Irving company retains ownership of the NBR right-of-way and is today the operator of the New Brunswick Southern Railway
, although NBSR does not operate on any of the original NBR trackage. It does operate a portion of the former NBCR trackage to St. Stephen
as well as the former E&NA trackage from Saint John to St. Croix.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
railway operating in western New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. Its headquarters were in Woodstock
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
.
The original NBR lines were built to the narrow gauge of 42 in (1,066.8 mm). These tracks were converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
in 1881.
History
New Brunswick industrialist Alexander GibsonAlexander Gibson
Alexander Gibson may refer to:* Alexander Gibson , botanist and forester in India* Alexander Gibson , Scottish conductor and music director* Alexander Gibson , Canadian industrialist...
commissioned a survey in 1866 for a railway line extending from his mill facilities in South Devon at the junction between the Nashwaak
Nashwaak River
The Nashwaak River located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada; is a tributary of the Saint John River. It is 113 kilometres long. The river rises from Nashwaak Lake and flows south and east through uninhabited land and rapids to the village of Stanley...
and Saint John Rivers opposite Fredericton, north to Edmundston to service timber lands which he leased from the Crown. A charter for the railway was received from the provincial government in 1870 and the New Brunswick Land and Railway Company was formed. Part of the charter provided for additional timber land based upon construction performance, thereby making Gibson one of the largest landowners in the province.
Narrow gauge lines
The route was envisioned to eventually extend further north along the Madawaska River and Lake TemiscouataLake Témiscouata
Lake Témiscouata is a lake in the Témiscouata region of southeastern Quebec. It is 45 km long and 5 km wide. The Madawaska River flows from this lake to the Saint John River.The city of Cabano is located on this lake...
to the St. Lawrence River at Rivière-du-Loup; however, the company never built beyond Edmundston, leaving this connection to be completed by the Temiscouata Railway.
The southern section of the main line ran along the east bank of the Saint John River
Saint John River
The Saint John River is a river, approximately long, located principally in the Canadian province of New Brunswick but also in, and arising from the province of Quebec and the U.S. state of Maine. It forms part of the Canada – United States border in two different places along its length...
from South Devon northwest to Keswick where it headed inland (north) away from the Saint John River and followed the Keswick River
Keswick River
The Keswick River is a tributary of the St. John River in York County, New Brunswick in Canada. Early documents referred to it as Madam Keswick River....
to Barton before heading west to Millville
Millville, New Brunswick
Millville is a Canadian village located in York County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Nackawic River approximately 58.16 kilometers northwest of Fredericton, Millville has two combination convenience stores and gas stations, as well as a volunteer fire department and several churches...
and northwest to East Brighton and Hartland
Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John...
where it again followed the east bank of the Saint John River. This section was built between 1871 and 1873.
The section from Hartand
Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John...
to Edmundston was much more difficult to construct and was built between 1871 and 1878. The line from Hartland north to Perth remained on the east bank of the Saint John River. At Perth it crossed to the west bank, bridged across the mouth of the Aroostook River
Aroostook River
The Aroostook River is a tributary of the Saint John River in the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Its basin is the largest sub-drainage of the St. John River....
, and continued to Grand Falls
Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Grand Falls is a Canadian town located in Victoria County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Saint John River, the town derives its name from a waterfall created by a series of rock ledges over which the river drops 23 metres.-Geography:Grand Falls is located in the valley of the St...
, where it crossed back to the east bank before continuing to Edmundston.
Expansion by NBR
The NBR system expanded significantly in the late 1870s and early 1880s. One of the first expansions was the acquisition of the Aroostook River Railroad which had built up the south bank of the Aroostook RiverAroostook River
The Aroostook River is a tributary of the Saint John River in the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Its basin is the largest sub-drainage of the St. John River....
from its connection with the NBR at Aroostook, New Brunswick
Aroostook, New Brunswick
Aroostook is a Canadian village in Victoria County, New Brunswick.The village is located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Aroostook River...
to Caribou, Maine
Caribou, Maine
Caribou is the second largest city in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. Its population was 8,189 at the 2010 census.-History:Between 1838 and 1839, the undeclared Aroostook War flared between the United States and Canada, and the Battle of Caribou occurred in December 1838...
. This line was built between 1873 and 1876 and was leased to the NBR in 1878. As a result, Aroostook became a major division point for the NBR's northern system and had extensive yard facilities.
In 1881, the New Brunswick Land and Railway Company changed its name to the New Brunswick Railway Company. That same year the narrow gauge lines from South Devon to Edmundston as well as the line from Aroostook to Caribou were converted to standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
.
The following year on July 1, 1882, the NBR acquired control of the New Brunswick and Canada Railway (NBCR) under a 999 year lease. The NBCR traced its history to the St. Andrews and Quebec Railway which had a charter to build from Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay
Passamaquoddy Bay is an inlet of the Bay of Fundy, between the U.S. state of Maine and the Canadian province of New Brunswick, at the mouth of the St. Croix River. Most of the bay lies within Canada, with its western shore bounded by Washington County, Maine. The southernmost point is formed by...
at St. Andrews
St. Andrews, New Brunswick
St. Andrews is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick.It is sometimes referred to in tourism marketing by its unofficial nickname "St. Andrews-by-the-sea".-Geography:St...
north to McAdam
McAdam, New Brunswick
McAdam is a village located in the southwestern corner of York County, New Brunswick, Canada. The village covers and has a population of 1,404 as of 2006.The area was first settled in the mid-to-late 19th century as a group of small lumber camps...
and on to Quebec City across much of what is now northern Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
; construction plans in the 1840s from southwestern New Brunswick to Canada East
Canada East
Canada East was the eastern portion of the United Province of Canada. It consisted of the southern portion of the modern-day Canadian Province of Quebec, and was primarily a French-speaking region....
halted due to uncertainty over the location of the International Boundary with the United States. The border was subsequently resolved in the Webster-Ashburton Treaty
Webster-Ashburton Treaty
The Webster–Ashburton Treaty, signed August 9, 1842, was a treaty resolving several border issues between the United States and the British North American colonies...
and the SA&Q began construction in the early 1850s, however, the delays saw the competitive advantage of St. Andrews disappear with the opening of the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railroad in 1853 that connected the Canadian rail network at Montreal, Quebec with the Atlantic coast port of Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
. In 1856 the SA&Q declared bankruptcy and its assets and charter were purchased and reorganized as the New Brunswick and Canada Railway with track extended north to Richmond Corner near the newly defined border. Although the NBCR intended to complete construction across Maine to Quebec City, it would never extend beyond Richmond Corner due to the political situation in the United States during the 1860s (American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
) as well as the financial situation NBCR faced with the competing European and North American Railway
European and North American Railway
The European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
project.
The 1881 conversion of the NBR to standard gauge track, followed by the 1882 purchase of the New Brunswick and Canada Railway saw a 9.5 mi (15.3 km) section of the NBR's original narrow gauge line between Shewan and Hartland
Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John...
abandoned. A new line was built from Shewan west to the east bank of the Saint John River at Newburg where it joined a new line being built from the NBCR at Debec
Debec, New Brunswick
Debec is a community in Carleton County in the Canadian province of New Brunswick.Debec was named after George De Beck who settled there in the early 19th century. It is southwest of Woodstock, and close to the Maine border. It developed as a railway junction...
via Woodstock
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
where it crossed to the east bank of the Saint John River and on to Hartland
Hartland, New Brunswick
Hartland is a town in Carleton County, New Brunswick, Canada.Hartland is situated on the Saint John River in the central-western portion of the province in the agricultural heartland of Carleton County. It is the hometown of two of New Brunswick's premiers during the 20th century: Hugh John...
.
The final major expansion of the NBR took place in 1883 when it acquired the European and North American Railway
European and North American Railway
The European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
's (E&NA) "Western Extension" and the Fredericton Branch Railway
Fredericton Branch Railway
The Fredericton Branch Railway is an historic Canadian railway that operated in New Brunswick.-Incorporation:The Fredericton Railway Company pre-dated Confederation and was incorporated in 1866 to build a railway line from the European and North American Railway's "Western Extension" at Hartt's...
. The "Western Extension" line was built from 1865-1869 from South Bay
South Bay, New Brunswick
South Bay is a suburban Canadian community in Saint John County, New Brunswick.Located within the city of Saint John, the community is located west of the former city of Lancaster and was amalgamated into Saint John with that city in 1967....
on the west side of the Saint John River opposite Saint John
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
to the International Boundary at St. Croix. The Fredericton Branch Railway was built from 1867-1869 from Hartt's Mills
Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick
Fredericton Junction is a Canadian village in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.Located on the Oromocto River in the western part of the county, approximately 45 km southwest of Fredericton, the community was originally named Hartt's Mills but was renamed in 1869 when the European and North American...
to Fredericton
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Fredericton is the capital of the Canadian province of New Brunswick, by virtue of the provincial parliament which sits there. An important cultural, artistic, and educational centre for the province, Fredericton is home to two universities and cultural institutions such as the Beaverbrook Art...
.
Acquisition by Canadian Pacific Railway
Beginning in 1886, the Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
began looking to expand its presence east of Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. Typical of much of its expansion in southern Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, CPR looked to purchase or lease existing lines rather than survey and build itself. CPR president George Stephen
George Stephen
George Stephen may refer to:* George A. Stephen, American inventor, entrepreneur, and the founder of Weber-Stephen Products Co.* George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen , Canadian banker and railway executive...
was a shareholder with Gibson in the NBR and looked to extend the CP system to New Brunswick or Nova Scotia to gain access to ports in the Maritimes.
Between 1886 and 1888, CPR built the International Railway of Maine, also referred to as the "Short Line", across a gap between Quebec's Eastern Townships
Eastern Townships
The Eastern Townships is a tourist region and a former administrative region in south-eastern Quebec, lying between the former seigneuries south of the Saint Lawrence River and the United States border. Its northern boundary roughly followed Logan's Line, the geologic boundary between the flat,...
and the Maine Central Railroad
Maine Central Railroad
The Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
at Mattawamkeag, Maine
Mattawamkeag, Maine
Mattawamkeag is a town in Penobscot County, Maine, United States located where the Mattawamkeag River joins the Penobscot River. The population was 825 at the 2000 census.-Railroad history:Mattawamkeag's history is inextricably linked to the railroad....
(on the European and North American Railway
European and North American Railway
The European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
"Maine" section). From Mattawamkeag to the International Boundary at Vanceboro
Vanceboro, Maine
Vanceboro is a town in Washington County, Maine, United States. The town was named after landowner William Vance. The town is located at the eastern terminus of Maine State Route 6. Vanceboro is across the St. Croix River from St. Croix, New Brunswick, Canada, to which it is connected by the Saint...
-St. Croix, CPR gained trackage rights from the Maine Central.
CPR sought, and was given, a lease on the New Brunswick Railway for a period of 990 years beginning on July 1, 1890, resulting in a mainline from Montreal to Saint John and the feeder network of NBR branchlines to St. Stephen and St. Andrews as well as Fredericton and the upper Saint John River valley. This development gave CPR access to the port of Saint John and until the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway in the 1950s and subsequent expansion of government ice breaking services for shipping, Saint John would become CPR's winter port on the Atlantic coast when Montreal was ice-bound.
In 1912, a section of the government-built and operated National Transcontinental Railway
National Transcontinental Railway
The National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
(NTR) opened between Moncton
Moncton, New Brunswick
Moncton is a Canadian city, located in Westmorland County, New Brunswick. The city is situated in southeastern New Brunswick, within the Petitcodiac River Valley, and lies at the geographic centre of the Maritime Provinces...
and Lévis
Lévis, Quebec
Lévis is a city in eastern Quebec, Canada. It is located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, opposite Quebec City. A ferry links Old Quebec with Old Lévis, and two bridges, the Quebec Bridge and the Pierre Laporte Bridge, connect western Lévis with Quebec City. The Société de transport de...
. Part of the NTR closely paralleled Canadian Pacific's original NBR narrow gauge line between Cyr (just north of Grand Falls
Grand Falls, New Brunswick
Grand Falls is a Canadian town located in Victoria County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Saint John River, the town derives its name from a waterfall created by a series of rock ledges over which the river drops 23 metres.-Geography:Grand Falls is located in the valley of the St...
) to Edmundston, along the east bank of the Saint John River. In the 1930s, CPR abandoned a 26 mi (41.8 km) section of the former NBR between Cyr and Iroquois (approximately 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Edmundston) and used trackage rights over Canadian National Railways, which the NTR had been merged into in 1918.
Expansion by CPR
Following its acquisition of the NBR in 1890, CPR undertook several expansions to the system. These were acquired by the CPR as separate companies and were not merged with the NBR company:- Tobique Valley Railway -- This line was built between 1891 and 1894 from the connection with the CPR (ex-NBR) line at Perth up the south bank of the Tobique RiverTobique RiverThe Tobique River is a river in northwestern New Brunswick, Canada. The river rises from Nictau Lake in Mount Carleton Provincial Park and flows for 148 kilometres to its confluence with the Saint John River near Perth-Andover....
to Plaster RockPlaster Rock, New BrunswickPlaster Rock is a Canadian village in Victoria County, New Brunswick.Located on the Tobique River, the village was founded in 1881 by Hezekiah Day and named for the gypsum found in the area, which is heated to produce plaster.The cliffs across the river from the Tobique Valley High School expose...
. Acquired by CPR in 1897.
- Central Railway -- This line was built in stages by several companies between 1886 and 1913 from the connection with the CPR (ex-NBR) line at South Devon along the north shore of Grand LakeGrand Lake (New Brunswick)Grand Lake is a lake in central New Brunswick, Canada, approximately 40 kilometres east of Fredericton; and the province's largest freshwater lake...
to ChipmanChipman, New BrunswickChipman is a Canadian village in Queens County, New Brunswick.The village of Chipman is located on the banks of the Salmon River at the head of the Grand Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Maritime provinces...
and south to the Intercolonial Railway at NortonNorton, New BrunswickNorton is a Canadian village in Kings County, New Brunswick.It is situated on the Kennebecasis River 55 kilometres northeast of Saint John...
. Acquired by CPR in 1913.
- Southampton Railway -- This line was built between 1911 and 1912 from the connection with the CPR (ex-NBR) line near MillvilleMillville, New BrunswickMillville is a Canadian village located in York County, New Brunswick.Situated on the Nackawic River approximately 58.16 kilometers northwest of Fredericton, Millville has two combination convenience stores and gas stations, as well as a volunteer fire department and several churches...
west to the Saint John RiverSaint John RiverThe Saint John River is a river, approximately long, located principally in the Canadian province of New Brunswick but also in, and arising from the province of Quebec and the U.S. state of Maine. It forms part of the Canada – United States border in two different places along its length...
at Otis. Acquired by CPR in 1912.
- Carleton, City of Saint John Branch Railroad -- This line was built between 1870 and 1871 from the connection with the "Western Extension" line at Fairville (part of LancasterLancaster, New BrunswickLancaster was a small city on the west side of the Saint John River at its mouth into the Bay of Fundy. It was amalgamated into Saint John, New Brunswick in 1967.-External links:*...
) to the western side of Saint John Harbour. Acquired by CPR in 1890s after the Reversing Falls Railway BridgeReversing Falls Railway BridgeThe Reversing Falls Railway Bridge is the name given to two different steel truss bridges crossing the Saint John River at the same location in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada....
opened in 1885.
- Grand Southern Railway -- This line was built between 1876 and 1881 from the connection with the "Carleton, City of Saint John Branch Railroad" at LancasterLancaster, New BrunswickLancaster was a small city on the west side of the Saint John River at its mouth into the Bay of Fundy. It was amalgamated into Saint John, New Brunswick in 1967.-External links:*...
to St. StephenSt. Stephen, New BrunswickSt. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
, connecting with the NBCR near Elmwood and at St. Stephen. Acquired by CPR in 1911.
Sale of forest holdings
In the 1940s, CPR sought to reduce non-railway properties in New Brunswick and entered into an agreement with industrialist K.C. Irving, whereby the entire NBR was sold to his forestry subsidiary J.D. Irving Limited, while CPR would remain the operator of the railway trackage. In this fashion, Irving was able to secure some of the most extensive timber holdings in the province.Abandonment by CPR
In 1988, citing declining traffic, CPR grouped all of its lines east of Montreal into a new internal marketing and business unit called Canadian Atlantic RailwayCanadian Atlantic Railway
The Canadian Atlantic Railway is a historic Canadian and U.S. railway that existed from 1988 to 1994.The CAR was created in September 1988 as a business unit of CP Rail System to serve the Maritime Provinces and state of Maine...
(CAR). Also beginning in 1988 and extending through to 1993, CAR began the process of abandoning much of the trackage of the former NBR system, citing declining traffic and bridges at Woodstock
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
and Perth-Andover
Perth-Andover, New Brunswick
Perth-Andover is a Canadian village in Victoria County, New Brunswick.The village is divided by the Saint John River with Perth on the east bank and Andover on the west bank; each was a separate community until municipal amalgamation in 1966...
which were washed away in the spring freshet and ice jams of 1987. CPR completely removed itself from operations east of Montreal in 1994 when CAR trackage was sold to shortline operators. The only remnant of the NBR system is a short segment of trackage in Grand Falls, operated by Canadian National.
Interestingly, the J.D. Irving company retains ownership of the NBR right-of-way and is today the operator of the New Brunswick Southern Railway
New Brunswick Southern Railway
The New Brunswick Southern Railway and Eastern Maine Railway form a 189-mile railway system operating a former Canadian Pacific Railway mainline between Saint John, New Brunswick and Brownville Junction, Maine....
, although NBSR does not operate on any of the original NBR trackage. It does operate a portion of the former NBCR trackage to St. Stephen
St. Stephen, New Brunswick
St. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
as well as the former E&NA trackage from Saint John to St. Croix.
Interchange points
The CPR's ex-NBR system interchanged with other railways at the following locations:- South Devon - Canada Eastern RailwayCanada Eastern RailwayThe Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
, later part of Canadian National Railways (CNR)
- WoodstockWoodstock, New BrunswickWoodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
- Saint John and Quebec Railway, later part of CNR
- Cyr - National Transcontinental RailwayNational Transcontinental RailwayThe National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, later part of CNR
- Iroquois - National Transcontinental RailwayNational Transcontinental RailwayThe National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, later part of CNR
- EdmundstonEdmundston, New BrunswickEdmundston is a Canadian city in Madawaska County, New Brunswick.-History:During the early colonial period, the area was an important meeting place and hunting/fishing spot of the Maliseet nation. A considerable sized village was located there around the turn of the 19th century...
- Temiscouata Railway, later part of CNR
- MintoMinto, New BrunswickMinto is a Canadian village straddling the border of Sunbury County and Queens County, New Brunswick. Located on the north shore of Grand Lake, approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Fredericton, its population meets the requirements for "town" status under the Municipalities Act of the...
- National Transcontinental RailwayNational Transcontinental RailwayThe National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, later part of CNR
- ChipmanChipman, New BrunswickChipman is a Canadian village in Queens County, New Brunswick.The village of Chipman is located on the banks of the Salmon River at the head of the Grand Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the Maritime provinces...
- National Transcontinental RailwayNational Transcontinental RailwayThe National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
, later part of CNR
- NortonNorton, New BrunswickNorton is a Canadian village in Kings County, New Brunswick.It is situated on the Kennebecasis River 55 kilometres northeast of Saint John...
- Intercolonial Railway, later part of CNR
- Saint JohnSaint John, New BrunswickCity of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
- Intercolonial Railway, later part of CNR
- St. StephenSt. Stephen, New BrunswickSt. Stephen is a Canadian town in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, situated on the east bank of the St. Croix River at .-Climate:...
- Maine Central RailroadMaine Central RailroadThe Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
- St. Croix - European and North American RailwayEuropean and North American RailwayThe European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
, later part of Maine Central RailroadMaine Central RailroadThe Maine Central Railroad Company was a railroad in central and southern Maine. It was chartered in 1856 and began operations in 1862. It operated a mainline between South Portland, Maine, east to the Canada-U.S...
Narrow-gauge locomotives
| Number | Builder | Type | Date | Works number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | second-hand locomotive of unknown origin | ||
| 2 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 489 | |
| 3 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 509 | allocated CPR # 531, but scrapped before being re-gauged |
| 4 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 510 | allocated CPR # 532, but scrapped before being re-gauged |
| 5 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 526 | allocated CPR # 533, but scrapped before being re-gauged |
| 6 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 527 | sold 1882 to Herkimer, Newport and Poland Railway |
| 7 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 531 | sold 1881 to Prince Edward Island Railway Prince Edward Island Railway The Prince Edward Island Railway was a historic Canadian railway.-Construction:Located wholly within the province of Prince Edward Island, construction of the PEIR started in 1871, financed by the United Kingdom... 2nd # 1 |
| 8 | Mason Machine Works Mason Machine Works The Mason Machine Works was a machinery manufacturing company located in Taunton, Massachusetts between 1845 and 1944. The company became famous for an early invention by its creator, William Mason, the self-acting mule, first patented in 1840. The company also later produced locomotives, rifles... |
0-4-4F | 1873 | 532 | sold 1881 to Prince Edward Island Railway Prince Edward Island Railway The Prince Edward Island Railway was a historic Canadian railway.-Construction:Located wholly within the province of Prince Edward Island, construction of the PEIR started in 1871, financed by the United Kingdom... 2nd # 2 |
| 9 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
2-6-0 | 1877 | 4211 | sold 1882 to Harbour Grace Railway but lost at sea |
| 10 | Baldwin Locomotive Works Baldwin Locomotive Works The Baldwin Locomotive Works was an American builder of railroad locomotives. It was located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, originally, and later in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Although the company was very successful as a producer of steam locomotives, its transition to the production of... |
2-6-0 | 1878 | 4345 | sold 1882 to Harbour Grace Railway # 12 |