Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway is a historic Canadian
railway that operated in central and eastern Ontario
from 1897 until 1959.
It was a common carrier
railway, although it was primarily used to transport timber
from logging operations as well as haul cargo from western Canada
via the Great Lakes
. Its route through Algonquin Provincial Park
saw it play an important role in the park's development of the tourist industry.
The man behind the railway was John Rudolphus Booth
, a 19th century Canadian lumber baron and entrepreneur.
(CAR) which connected Ottawa to Vermont. This railway network was designed to transport timber from Ontario to the New England states.
In 1892, Booth purchased the Parry Sound Colonization Railway
(PSCR). Added to the planned route of the OA&PS this gave him a continuous connection between Parry Sound and Ottawa. Construction of the railway started in 1892 and lasted until 1897 when the first train ran from Ottawa to Parry Sound. In 1898, Booth created a steamship company called the Canada Atlantic Transport Company. This allowed him to transport cargo by boat and rail from Thunder Bay to Ottawa faster than any other route then in existence.
Construction proceeded west from Ottawa at a fairly steady pace. The first section between Ottawa and Arnprior
opened on September 13, 1893. By the end of 1893 the railway had reached Eganville
. West of this, the railway began a steady climb through a series of rolling hills as it progressed through the Algonquin Highlands. Many trestles and bridges were required which substantially increased the cost of construction. By the end of 1896 the railway was complete when it joined up with the track laid by the PSCR at the town of Scotia. A final section was added from Parry Sound to Depot Harbour
in 1897, the railway's terminus.
The divisional point
for the railway was built in Madawaska. This included a roundhouse
and switching yard for the railway. Some local communities were upset at the choice of this site as it was fairly remote from current settlements. It was however within the timber limits of Booth's holdings. A logging only branch was established west of Madawaska, at Egan Estate. This branch was operated separately as a logging railway, under the charter of the Nosbonsing and Nipissing Railway
.
In 1899, the railway was taken over by its parent company, the CAR. In 1905 the CAR was sold to Grand Trunk Railway
(GTR) for 14 million Canadian dollar
s. The railway continued to operate and by 1910 there was sufficient commerce to support one train every 20 minutes.
While the main use for the OA&PS was freight and timber transport, its existence through the wilderness of Algonquin Park gave easy access to the area. In 1908 the railway opened a lodge called Highland Inn
. The venture was very successful and several lodges and youth camps were eventually built along the railway's route through the park.
In 1923, the bankrupt GTR was nationalized by the Government of Canada and merged into the Canadian National Railways (CNR).
In 1933, an unexpected flood undermined a trestle at Cache-Two Rivers. The CNR was unable to afford repair costs and the federal government refused to provide a subsidy, thus ending through traffic for the railway. From this point traffic declined on the railway and by the end of the 1940s only a few passenger trains were running to the lodges in Algonquin Park.
CNR ended service on the western section in 1952, while service on the eastern section continued until it ended in 1959, bringing to a close rail service for much of central-eastern Ontario.
, which runs between Whitney and Madawaska. This non-operating park uses the railroad bed as a rail trail
servicing hikers, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, and horseback riding in summer, and snowmobiles and dog-sled teams in winter. Parts of the railbed in Algonquin Provincial park have been utilized as hiking and biking trail and vehicular access to leased properties near the parkway corridor.
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 that operated in central and eastern 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....
from 1897 until 1959.
It was a common carrier
Common carrier
A common carrier in common-law countries is a person or company that transports goods or people for any person or company and that is responsible for any possible loss of the goods during transport...
railway, although it was primarily used to transport timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
from logging operations as well as haul cargo from western Canada
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...
via the Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
. Its route through Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park is a provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, Canada, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Additions since its creation have increased...
saw it play an important role in the park's development of the tourist industry.
The man behind the railway was John Rudolphus Booth
John Rudolphus Booth
John Rudolphus Booth was a Canadian lumber and railway baron. He controlled logging rights for large tracts of forest land in central Ontario, and built a railway to extract his logs; and from Ottawa through to Vermont to export lumber and grain to the United States and...
, a 19th century Canadian lumber baron and entrepreneur.
History
The Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway (OA&PS) was incorporated on July 31, 1891. The incorporation amalgamated two previous railway companies, the Ottawa and Parry Sound Railway and the Ottawa Arnprior and Renfrew Railway both incorporated in 1888. The impetus behind the railway construction was to connect it to the Canada Atlantic RailwayCanada Atlantic Railway
The Canada Atlantic Railway Company , the creation of lumber baron John Rudolphus Booth, was for a short period an important participant in the development of trans-Canada railway systems at the end of the 19th century...
(CAR) which connected Ottawa to Vermont. This railway network was designed to transport timber from Ontario to the New England states.
In 1892, Booth purchased the Parry Sound Colonization Railway
Parry Sound Colonization Railway
The Parry Sound Colonization Railway Company is a historic Canadian railway that operated in Ontario.-History:The PSCR was formed in 1884 by the citizens of Parry Sound with the intention of encouraging a railway line to be built to the community....
(PSCR). Added to the planned route of the OA&PS this gave him a continuous connection between Parry Sound and Ottawa. Construction of the railway started in 1892 and lasted until 1897 when the first train ran from Ottawa to Parry Sound. In 1898, Booth created a steamship company called the Canada Atlantic Transport Company. This allowed him to transport cargo by boat and rail from Thunder Bay to Ottawa faster than any other route then in existence.
Construction proceeded west from Ottawa at a fairly steady pace. The first section between Ottawa and Arnprior
Arnprior, Ontario
Arnprior is a town in Renfrew County, in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located at the mouth of the Madawaska River, as it enters the Ottawa River in the Ottawa Valley...
opened on September 13, 1893. By the end of 1893 the railway had reached Eganville
Eganville, Ontario
Eganville is a small community occupying a deep limestone valley carved at the Fifth Chute of the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. It is in the township of Bonnechere Valley. This village also has two of the most popular restaurants in the upper Ottawa Valley: The Granary and...
. West of this, the railway began a steady climb through a series of rolling hills as it progressed through the Algonquin Highlands. Many trestles and bridges were required which substantially increased the cost of construction. By the end of 1896 the railway was complete when it joined up with the track laid by the PSCR at the town of Scotia. A final section was added from Parry Sound to Depot Harbour
Depot Harbour, Ontario
Depot Harbour is a ghost town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It was once the western terminus of the Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway and a busy port on Georgian Bay.J.R...
in 1897, the railway's terminus.
The divisional point
Divisional point
In Canada, a divisional point is a railway depot that includes more than just a basic siding or station.- Overview :In the coal and steam era, a divisional point would include such amenities as a substantial passenger station, freight and baggage sheds, a roundhouse, water tank, coaling and sanding...
for the railway was built in Madawaska. This included a roundhouse
Roundhouse
A roundhouse is a building used by railroads for servicing locomotives. Roundhouses are large, circular or semicircular structures that were traditionally located surrounding or adjacent to turntables...
and switching yard for the railway. Some local communities were upset at the choice of this site as it was fairly remote from current settlements. It was however within the timber limits of Booth's holdings. A logging only branch was established west of Madawaska, at Egan Estate. This branch was operated separately as a logging railway, under the charter of the Nosbonsing and Nipissing Railway
Nosbonsing and Nipissing Railway
The Nosbonsing and Nipissing Railway was a portage railway constructed by Ottawa lumberman John Rudolphus Booth in 1884, although its Ontario charter dates from March 1886, after a land claim dispute when Northern and Pacific Junction Railway tried to cross it, J. R...
.
In 1899, the railway was taken over by its parent company, the CAR. In 1905 the CAR was sold to 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...
(GTR) for 14 million Canadian dollar
Canadian dollar
The Canadian dollar is the currency of Canada. As of 2007, the Canadian dollar is the 7th most traded currency in the world. It is abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or C$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
s. The railway continued to operate and by 1910 there was sufficient commerce to support one train every 20 minutes.
While the main use for the OA&PS was freight and timber transport, its existence through the wilderness of Algonquin Park gave easy access to the area. In 1908 the railway opened a lodge called Highland Inn
Highland Inn (Algonquin Park)
The Highland Inn was a year-round resort hotel built and operated by the Grand Trunk Railway , in Ontario’s Algonquin Provincial Park. The park was established in 1893 as a nature preserve and recreational playground...
. The venture was very successful and several lodges and youth camps were eventually built along the railway's route through the park.
In 1923, the bankrupt GTR was nationalized by the Government of Canada and merged into the Canadian National Railways (CNR).
In 1933, an unexpected flood undermined a trestle at Cache-Two Rivers. The CNR was unable to afford repair costs and the federal government refused to provide a subsidy, thus ending through traffic for the railway. From this point traffic declined on the railway and by the end of the 1940s only a few passenger trains were running to the lodges in Algonquin Park.
CNR ended service on the western section in 1952, while service on the eastern section continued until it ended in 1959, bringing to a close rail service for much of central-eastern Ontario.
Legacy
The OA&PS trackage has been removed and its presence can only be seen due to a few scattered ruins that dot the landscape. Part of the old railway bed has been incorporated into the Upper Madawaska River Provincial ParkUpper Madawaska River Provincial Park
Upper Madawaska River Provincial Park is a waterway-class provincial park on the Madawaska River in Nipissing District, Ontario, Canada. The park consists of a strip of land along both shores of the Madawaska River from Whitney to Madawaska, both communities in South Algonquin Township...
, which runs between Whitney and Madawaska. This non-operating park uses the railroad bed as a rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
servicing hikers, all-terrain vehicles, bicycles, and horseback riding in summer, and snowmobiles and dog-sled teams in winter. Parts of the railbed in Algonquin Provincial park have been utilized as hiking and biking trail and vehicular access to leased properties near the parkway corridor.
