Toronto Eastern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Eastern Railway is a noted "ghost railroad" in southern Ontario
. It was originally part of an ambitious plan set up to provide high-speed electric "interurban
" service throughout that district which first appeared in 1910; however, those plans fell afoul of World War I
and, later, political manoeuvres.
The railway was incorporated on 4 April 1910 to build a" high speed" route from Toronto
east to Pickering
, Whitby
, and Oshawa
. The company acquired by Canadian Northern Railway
interests in 1911, who extended the proposal east of Oshawa to Bowmanville
and Cobourg
. Construction begun 1912, and by 1913 track was in place from Bowmanville to Whitby, when construction halted.
In September 1918 the Canadian Northern was nationalized and re-organized as part of the Canadian National Railways (CNR). On 26 December 1923 CNR merged the Toronto Eastern with its other electric holdings to form the new Canadian National Electric Railways. In 1923, existing tracks were reconstructed and new trackage constructed to allow trains to be run from Bowmanville to Whitby, and a few "test trains" were run. One of these carried the line's only passenger, an uninvited youth who sneaked unto a train in Bowmanville and disembarked when the train reached Oshawa
.
In 1924, the Provincial government refused to provide the additional funds necessary to turn the project into an operating railway. Although this was largely due to the political infighting of the time, it is fairly certain that the new railway was already obsolete, since the ownership of automobiles (oddly enough, many built in Oshawa) was becoming much more common at that time. The Bowmanville-to-Whitby section, already fully built and ready for use, was abandoned then, with the railway having never carried a paying passenger.
The rails were pulled up during WWII's steel shortages, as were any steel bridges or trestles. Remaining traces of the railway have disappeared during the relentless "suburbanization" of that area, with one odd exception. A visitor to Oshawa will note that Bond Street, the westbound section of Highway 2
through the city, abruptly shifts a short distance to the north, using what was originally planned to be Richmond Street right of way. As well, there still exists a long, narrow "vacant lot" running along what should have been Bond Street East for about 0.5 km. This land is actually owned by Ontario Hydro
, the legal successor to the railway,and was meant to be used by Toronto Eastern Railway for its tracks.
A small portion of the railway is also used in Courtice, Ontario
, as the basis for a walking trail on Nash St. behind the Courtice Community Complex.
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 originally part of an ambitious plan set up to provide high-speed electric "interurban
Interurban
An interurban, also called a radial railway in parts of Canada, is a type of electric passenger railroad; in short a hybrid between tram and train. Interurbans enjoyed widespread popularity in the first three decades of the twentieth century in North America. Until the early 1920s, most roads were...
" service throughout that district which first appeared in 1910; however, those plans fell afoul of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and, later, political manoeuvres.
The railway was incorporated on 4 April 1910 to build a" high speed" route from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
east to Pickering
Pickering, Ontario
Pickering is a city located in Southern Ontario, Canada immediately east of Toronto in Durham Region. It is part of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest metropolitan area in Canada.- Early Period :...
, Whitby
Whitby, Ontario
Whitby is a town in Durham Region. Whitby is located in Southern Ontario east of Toronto on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and is home to the headquarters of Durham Region...
, and Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
. The company acquired by Canadian Northern Railway
Canadian Northern Railway
The Canadian Northern Railway is a historic Canadian transcontinental railway. At its demise in 1923, when it was merged into the Canadian National Railway , the CNoR owned a main line between Quebec City and Vancouver via Ottawa, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.-Manitoba beginnings:CNoR had its start in...
interests in 1911, who extended the proposal east of Oshawa to Bowmanville
Bowmanville, Ontario
Bowmanville is the largest community in the Municipality of Clarington in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario about 75 km east of Toronto and 15 km east of Oshawa along Highway 2...
and Cobourg
Cobourg, Ontario
Cobourg is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in Southern Ontario 95 km east of Toronto. It is the largest town in Northumberland County. Its nearest neighbour is Port Hope, to the west. It is located along Highway 401 and the former Highway 2...
. Construction begun 1912, and by 1913 track was in place from Bowmanville to Whitby, when construction halted.
In September 1918 the Canadian Northern was nationalized and re-organized as part of the Canadian National Railways (CNR). On 26 December 1923 CNR merged the Toronto Eastern with its other electric holdings to form the new Canadian National Electric Railways. In 1923, existing tracks were reconstructed and new trackage constructed to allow trains to be run from Bowmanville to Whitby, and a few "test trains" were run. One of these carried the line's only passenger, an uninvited youth who sneaked unto a train in Bowmanville and disembarked when the train reached Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
.
In 1924, the Provincial government refused to provide the additional funds necessary to turn the project into an operating railway. Although this was largely due to the political infighting of the time, it is fairly certain that the new railway was already obsolete, since the ownership of automobiles (oddly enough, many built in Oshawa) was becoming much more common at that time. The Bowmanville-to-Whitby section, already fully built and ready for use, was abandoned then, with the railway having never carried a paying passenger.
The rails were pulled up during WWII's steel shortages, as were any steel bridges or trestles. Remaining traces of the railway have disappeared during the relentless "suburbanization" of that area, with one odd exception. A visitor to Oshawa will note that Bond Street, the westbound section of Highway 2
Highway 2 (Ontario)
King's Highway 2, usually referred to simply as Highway 2 is a provincially maintained highway in Ontario. Once the primary east–west route across the southern end of the province, Highway 2 became mostly redundant in the 1960s following the completion of Highway 401, which more or less...
through the city, abruptly shifts a short distance to the north, using what was originally planned to be Richmond Street right of way. As well, there still exists a long, narrow "vacant lot" running along what should have been Bond Street East for about 0.5 km. This land is actually owned by Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro
Ontario Hydro was the official name from 1974 of the Hydro-Electric Power Commission of Ontario which was established in 1906 by the provincial Power Commission Act to build transmission lines to supply municipal utilities with electricity generated by private companies already operating at Niagara...
, the legal successor to the railway,and was meant to be used by Toronto Eastern Railway for its tracks.
A small portion of the railway is also used in Courtice, Ontario
Courtice, Ontario
Courtice is a community located in Ontario, Canada, about sixty kilometers east of Toronto, adjacent to Oshawa and west of Bowmanville in the Municipality of Clarington. Courtice Road connects with Highway 401 at Interchange 425, providing arterial access to the community...
, as the basis for a walking trail on Nash St. behind the Courtice Community Complex.