Northern Railway of Canada
Encyclopedia
The Northern Railway of Canada was a historical Canadian railway located in the province
of Ontario
. It was eventually acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway
, and is therefore a predecessor to the modern Canadian National Railway
.
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of 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....
. It was eventually acquired by the Grand Trunk Railway
Grand Trunk Railway
The Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
, and is therefore a predecessor to the modern Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
.
Early history
- In July 1849, the Toronto, Simcoe & Lake Huron Union Railroad is founded by Frederick Chase CapreolFrederick Chase CapreolFrederick Chase Capreol was an English-born Canadian businessman and railway promoter. He is noted for having promoted the construction of the Toronto, Simcoe & Lake Huron Union Railroad...
and Charles Albert BerczyCharles Albert BerczyCharles Albert Berczy was the son of pioneer William Berczy.-Early years:Charles Albert was born in Newark, Upper Canada in 1794 to William and his wife Jeanne-Charlotte Allamand... - The Railway Guarantee Act allows financing to be secured from the colonial government.
- Groundbreaking by Lady ElginLady ElginLady Elgin may refer to:* The wife of the Earl of Elgin, most references likely being to Mary Louisa Lambton the second wife of James Bruce, 8th Earl of Elgin, former Governor General of the Province of Canada and Viceroy of India....
on 15 October 1851. - November 1852 the railway was renamed the Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Union Railroad.
- In August 1858, the OS&HUR becomes the Northern Railway Company of Canada following a government bailout.
Growth
Several subsidiary railways were subsequently incorporated into the Northern Railway, including:- The Toronto, Simcoe & Muskoka Junction Railway, created in 1869 was absorbed in 1875.
- The North Grey Railway.
- The North Simcoe Railway, created in January 1878
Consolidatation and acquisition by the GTR
- In June 1879, the Northern merged with the Hamilton and North-Western Railway, becoming the Northern and Northwestern Railway.
- Construction of a subsidiary, the Northern and Pacific Junction RailwayNorthern and Pacific Junction RailwayThe Northern and Pacific Junction Railway is a historic Canadian railway located in northern Ontario.It was constructed in the 1880s to connect the railways of Southern Ontario to the new transcontinental line of the Canadian Pacific Railway , from the Northern Railway of Canada, at Gravenhurst,...
, which ran between GravenhurstGravenhurst, OntarioGravenhurst is a town in the Muskoka Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located approximately south of Bracebridge, Ontario. The mayor is Paisley Donaldson...
and NipissingNipissing, OntarioNipissing is a township in central Ontario, Canada, on Lake Nipissing in Parry Sound District. Nipissing was surveyed between 1874 and 1881, and was incorporated in 1888. Among the first settlers in the area were the Chapman and Beatty families. Nipissing village annexed Gurd Township in 1970...
, proves to be a significant financial burden. - In 1887, the Grand Trunk RailwayGrand Trunk RailwayThe Grand Trunk Railway was a railway system which operated in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, as well as the American states of Connecticut, Maine, Michigan, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; however, corporate...
gains a controlling interest. - Formal takeover by the GTR is formalised in January 1888.