Chronology
Every dated history fact across the site, in date order. Precision varies — some dates are just a year — so ordering within a year is approximate. Showing subdivisions.
| Date | Subject | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1888-03-03 | Chaudiere Branch | Mr. E.J. Chamberlain, general manager of the Canada Atlantic Railway Company, told a Journal reporter: 'There are two more arbitrations to come off before the right of way is secured, but it is expected that the cars will be running into all the mills on this side of the river before the close of the sawing season.' | Ottawa Journal 1888-03-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-05-21 | Eastern Subdivision | The Canada Atlantic Railway Company intend repairing their line all the way to Coteau during the summer. They have put on a number of new hands for ballasting. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-05-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-05-31 | Chaudiere Branch | The Chaudiere Extension line and the Coteau Bridge questions will come up at a special meeting of the C.A.R. Company to be held on the 26th June. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-05-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-01 | Chaudiere Branch | A flagman should be placed at the cutting on Concession street, Mount Sherwood, by the railway company. It is said to be a bad place where drivers cannot see when a train is coming past until they are right up to the track. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-01(Mount Sherwood was along the route of the Chaudier...) |
| 1888-06-13 | Chaudiere Branch | The Chaudiere extension of the C.A.R. is now being rapidly pushed forward. Surveyors were busy today placing pickets for the course and grading of the metals, and in a few weeks the cars will be running into the great lumber district. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-18 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway Company have put a steam shovel to work at their gravel pit to load cars for the fill in on the line of their extension over the Hill and Higginson property. The work of building the revetment wall along the face of the cliff on Britannia terrace will begin next week. The line will cross Queen Street West and Britannia Terrace on Tuesday next, where a diamond will be made with the Street Railway Company's track. | Ottawa Journal 1888-06-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-20 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. company have arranged to have the work of constructing their extension at the Chaudiere completed by the middle of July. The extension track is now laid nearly to the waterworks aqueduct. It is said they contemplate building a bridge over the Ottawa river via the island opposite Parliament Hill to connect with the proposed Gatineau Valley railway on the Hull shore. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-21 | Chaudiere Branch | The Chaudiere extension of the Canada Atlantic Railway is now laid to the Waterworks Aqueduct, and preparations were commenced for bridging Queen Street. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-06-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Journal 1888-06-21(Same day, same news: 'completed to the waterworks ...) |
| 1888-06-22 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic railway company have a gang of workmen engaged removing the street railway tracks at the corner of Queen street west and Britannia terrace at Pooley's bridge for the purpose of making a diamond crossing when the Canada Atlantic extension crosses the street. | Ottawa Journal 1888-06-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-26 | Chaudiere Branch | The Chaudiere line is being quickly laid. The work of raising the street car track is now going on. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-06-28 | Chaudiere Branch | The first train on the Chaudiere extension branch of the Canada Atlantic railway passed over the city waterworks aqueduct at seven o'clock this morning, consisting of ten flat cars laden with ballast in charge of Mechanical Superintendent Donaldson. The patent safety crossing bars worked like a charm, one man dropping four posts at once at the Queen street crossing to stop all traffic. Ballast trains ran all day, and the track is now laid a good distance towards Bridge street, back of the new No. 1 fire station. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Citizen 1888-06-29(Same first-train event reported the next day, more...) |
| 1888-06-30 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A. Railway extension track is now all filled in around the old waterworks office at the junction of Queen and Britannia streets. The trestle work is completed to the extremity of Britannia street. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-06-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-03 | Chaudiere Branch | On Saturday afternoon the trestlework on the C.A. railway extension near Britannia street gave way, and two flat cars of the gravel train were thrown off the track. Conductor Bob McKee, who was in charge, had to jump off and severely sprained an ankle. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-04 | Chaudiere Branch | The Chaudiere extension of the Canada Atlantic Railway is now almost completed. The work was done in remarkably quick time. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-13 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. having raised the street railway track a little near Perley's bridge have put in a fine cobble gutter to the side walk. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-17 | Chaudiere Branch | Gongs have been placed on the C.A.R. extension iron crossing bars on Queen street and ring a warning when they are about to be lowered. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-18 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. company have 60 men working day and night at their gravel pit back of Rochesterville loading gravel on cars and conveying it to the end of the line of extension on Britannia Terrace. | Ottawa Journal 1888-07-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-20 | Chaudiere Branch | To ensure more safety the Canada Atlantic Railway company are building a fence around their extension to Bridge street from the Queen street crossing westwards. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-07-26 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway company have a number of workmen engaged excavating for the foundation of the new station house at the Chaudiere which will be erected at once. The press house yard has been considerably reduced by the new Chaudiere extension, and the waterworks will, in future, have no room to spare. | Ottawa Journal 1888-07-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-26(Same day, on the press house yard specifically. Tr...) |
| 1888-07-28 | Chaudiere Branch | Mr. E.J. Chamberlain, general manager of the Canada Atlantic Railway, inspected the extension of that line along Britannia Terrace to Queen's Acre, the work of construction having been entirely completed and found perfectly satisfactory. Workmen are now engaged removing the old buildings on Queen's Acre preparatory to the construction of the new depot at that place, and fencing in the track along Britannia terrace to the site of the new depot. A Chaudiere horse also came near being badly hurt this morning by making a break for the C.A.R. crossing while the bars were being lowered, getting a severe blow to the head. | Ottawa Journal 1888-07-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Free Press 1888-07-28(The horse incident, at the Queen street crossing, ...) |
| 1888-07-31 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway Company have completed laying rails on their Chaudiere Extension to the terminus on Queen's Acre. The line has yet to be ballasted from Queen street west to the terminus. | Ottawa Journal 1888-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-02 | Chaudiere Branch | Locomotives 5 and 6 of the C.A.R. are engaged daily in drawing some 110 car loads of gravel from Booth's siding to the Chaudiere extension. A monster steam shovel with a capacity of nearly two cubic yards a dip loads a train of six self-dumping cars in short order. After the siding is exhausted, gravel will be taken from Hurdman's Cut and Roxboro pit. Ballasting the extension, which now reaches to Bridge street, will probably take till the fall to complete. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-10 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. extension steam shovel has been removed to a fresh cliff of clay at Booth's siding, the old one having been exhausted. Locomotive No. 6 of the C.A.R. is now engaged in drawing stone from the Flats, west of Pooley's Bridge, for the Chaudiere extension. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-12 | Chaudiere Branch | A young boy named Watkins, living on Bridge Street, attempted to ride his bicycle across the new C.A.R. track on Bridge Street on Saturday. The attempt was not a success, as the boy came over the handles on to his head and received several scalp wounds. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-08-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-17 | Chaudiere Branch | A glance around Britannia terrace shows that the residents are presently suffering somewhat severely from the construction of the C.A.R. Chaudiere extension -- as Ald. Hutchison of the Board of Works pointed out, it is impossible, or next to it, for them to reach their yards with loads of coal or wood. Still, the construction of this line will, in time, greatly enhance the value of property in this neighborhood. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-18 | Chaudiere Branch | The ballasting of the extension of the C.A.R. at the Chaudiere is making good progress. The steam shovel has been removed to a fresh siding. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-23 | Chaudiere Branch | John Swirl, the guidesman of the C.A.R. steam shovel at Booth's siding, accidentally fell off it and sustained a few bruises which, fortunately, were not serious. The much wanted shelter for the gateman at the C.A.R. crossing on Queen street will now shortly be built. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-27 | Chaudiere Branch | A box car on the C.A.R. extension line suddenly collapsed off the trucks at the Queen street crossing about 2 o'clock on Saturday morning, while a gravel train was proceeding to the limit of the extension. The wreck was cleared off by daylight. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-28 | Chaudiere Branch | No. 30 locomotive of the C.A.R. has been withdrawn from the Chaudiere extension, and Nos. 5 and 6 engines are now doing the work of hauling gravel. No. 30 brings in fine gravel from Moose Creek. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-28(No unit entity exists on the site for No. 30. Tran...) |
| 1888-08-29 | Chaudiere Branch | Engineer Jim Casey of the C.A.R. has been transferred from the extension ballast trains to the Montreal passenger services. No. 5 locomotive will shortly go into the shop for repairs and will hereafter be used for heavy work on the main line. The last train of earth from Moose Creek for the extension reached the city this morning; after today gravel will be drawn to the extension from Clarke's Island to Rouse's Point. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-08-30 | Chaudiere Branch | When completed the C.A.R. extension at the Chaudiere will include eight tracks in all. Lumber shipments will be taken on the new extension next week. The second track on the extension, laid down west of Pooley's bridge, has now been completed. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-08-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-09-08 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic railway company have at last got their Chaudiere extension into working order. On Saturday September 8th, the first shipment of lumber was made over the new extension: thirty-two cars of lumber from Messrs. J.R. Booth's yards consigned to Messrs. Shepherd and Morse of Burlington. The company have men laying down platforms between the four terminating switches. The idea of extending the tracks across Bridge street into Booth's lumber yards and across on to Victoria island into Messrs. Bronson & Weston's yards has been abandoned until next spring; for the present, lumber for shipment will be loaded at the Crown Acre station. | Canada Lumberman 1888-09-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-09-17 | Chaudiere Branch | The completion of the Canada Atlantic Railway Chaudiere extension is now almost accomplished, the switches laid over the last few weeks having been completed Saturday and made ready for traffic. During the night and to noon today, fully one hundred freight cars had been shunted from the yards on Elgin street over the new line to the Chaudiere, where they were being loaded with lumber and other materials. J.R. Booth found use for fully fifty box cars, shipping to Burlington, Vermont and other New England points. The Eddy Manufacturing Company also used the new branch, shipping pails, tubs and similar goods, which previously had to be conveyed from Hull across to the Depot on Elgin street. A space forty feet wide is planked with 3-inch boards between the switches throughout the yard. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-09-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Citizen 1888-09-18(Same opening reported the next day: 'nearly one hu...) |
| 1888-09-21 | Chaudiere Branch | Evidence in the arbitration case between the Canada Atlantic Railway and the Chaudiere lumbermen regarding land on Britannia Terrace expropriated for railway purposes, was heard by arbitrators Hiram Robinson, C.R. Cunningham and Jas. Cunningham. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-09-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-09-22 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. steam shovel will be moved from Booth's siding at the Chaudiere to Perley's Cut, the former pit being exhausted for ballasting. Another new platform is being put down at the extension. A new shunting engine, a hard coal burner, will shortly arrive for use at the new Chaudiere yards. The extension into the lumber piling grounds is proving a great convenience and an unlooked-for economy: the Eddy Manufacturing Company are now able to load three additional cars per day with the same force of men, and Messrs. Perley and Pattee are able to do away with one gang of men altogether. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-09-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Citizen 1888-09-22(The economy details (Eddy, Perley and Pattee). Tra...) |
| 1888-10-04 | Chaudiere Branch | Two hundred and thirty-five freight cars were loaded at the Chaudiere on the C.A.R. extension during last week with lumber for Burlington and New York. | Ottawa Journal 1888-10-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-05 | Chaudiere Branch | A complete block took place on Queen Street, Chaudiere, shortly before noon today, owing to the time the railway gates were closed to allow of shunting. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-08 | Chaudiere Branch | Two locomotives of the C.A.R. engaged in hauling gravel from Moose Creek to the Chaudiere extension for some time past have resumed operations hauling from Booth's siding, a couple of miles west of the Queen street crossing. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-18 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway Company have a large gang of workmen engaged on building a cribwork on the embankment facing Britannia terrace, on which it is proposed to lay another siding track for lumber cars. The space between the tracks has been planked for a distance of one thousand feet from the end of the track on Bridge street, making room for the loading of some forty cars in one train. The C.A.R. are further extending their platform for the lumber business. | Ottawa Journal 1888-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-24 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic extension has given no end of satisfaction to the lumbermen. There are now three yards along the line, the object being to take green lumber from the mills to yards about a mile and a half distant to dry for shipment direct to its destination in the States, doing away with carting and extra handling, and drying faster than in the damp atmosphere of the Chaudiere. During the last week 942 carloads of lumber were taken from the end of the extension to the track at Crown Acre and piled in these new grounds. | Ottawa Citizen 1888-10-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-25 | Chaudiere Branch | During the past ten days the Canada Atlantic Railway has carried nearly 1,200 carloads of lumber from their Chaudiere extension to the piling grounds west of Pooley's bridge, a great boon to Chaudiere lumbermen who were cramped for room at their yards. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-27 | Chaudiere Branch | The amount of carloads taken daily from the Canada Atlantic is somewhat surprising. Yesterday nearly one hundred carloads were drawn to the piling grounds west of Pooley's bridge. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-10-29 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway carried away about seventy-five carloads of lumber from their Chaudiere extension Saturday last. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-10-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-11-02 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. extension at the Chaudiere will be finished in two weeks' time, when the filling up will be finished. Some fifty carloads of lumber is the daily average now taken by the C.A.R. from the Flats to the piling grounds. The company have also nearly completed their coal sheds at the Union depot, which when completed will have a capacity of 25,000 tons. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...),Ottawa Journal 1888-11-02(The coal shed detail. Transcribed by Colin J. Chur...) |
| 1888-11-07 | Chaudiere Branch | In backing some freight cars on the Canada Atlantic extension Monday a G.T.R. car was pushed over the tracks on to Bridge street. While endeavoring to raise it on the rails, the wheels in the rear came off, having become fast in the mud on the other side of the crossing. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-11-16 | Chaudiere Branch | A neatly painted caboose has at length been constructed at the Chaudiere end of Pooley's bridge for the gateman at the Queen street crossing of the Canada Atlantic extension, with a miniature coal stove and comfortable fittings for the winter months. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-11-19 | Chaudiere Branch | The construction caboose of the Canada Atlantic was run in on the new Chaudiere extension yesterday morning and a gang of navvies were immediately set to work laying in a new switch. Some thirty cars were ready for shipment, hence the need for putting the men to work in order to get them off early this morning. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-11-23 | Chaudiere Branch | The workmen engaged in filling in the C.A.R. extension will finish up their work tomorrow and be withdrawn to other sections of the line. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-11-26 | Chaudiere Branch | The last load of ballast arrived at the Chaudiere extension Saturday afternoon, and a force of carpenters were put to work on the plank walk which completes the extension so far. The C.A.R. have recently erected five buffers to prevent freight cars being shunted over the side walk on Bridge street. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-11-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-01 | Chaudiere Branch | A number of Canada Atlantic railway cars are at present being laden with grain at the Chaudiere for transport for McKay & Co. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-12-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-01 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway and the firms of J.R. Booth and Perley & Pattee have workmen engaged laying tracks in new lumber yards on the line of that road, a little over a mile from the mills -- extended almost into the heart of the lumber district, the station being but a few hundred yards from Booth, Perley & Pattee, Bronson & Weston Lumber Co., and Pierce & Co., as well as Barnes & Co's box shook factory. Lumber can now be taken almost directly from the saw to the yards by rail, more cheaply than by wagon, and seasons quicker on the high, open ground than in the overcrowded vicinity of the mills; but for this extension most of the mills would have been obliged to shut down for want of piling room. | Canada Lumberman 1888-12-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-03 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. gatekeeper at Pooley's bridge, Chaudiere, has been given comfortable quarters for the winter, a neat and comfortable cabin having been erected for his use. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-12-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-20 | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. have purchased sixteen lots of land back of Mount Sherwood along the line of their Chaudiere Extension. The additional property acquired will be utilized for spurs to Messrs. J.R. Booth and Perley and Pattee's new lumber yards. | Ottawa Journal 1888-12-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-21 | Chaudiere Branch | Flagmen are placed at each of the crossings of the Chaudiere extension of the C.A.R. but with the exception of the one at Queen street west gates, no shelter is provided for them. Some of the men suffered severely from exposure during the blizzard this morning. | Ottawa Free Press 1888-12-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1888-12-29 | Chaudiere Branch | Some of the leading lumbermen are discussing the project of piling their lumber outside the city limits, the C.A.R. Co. having offered to haul it in green state at a special rate per thousand feet. | Ottawa Journal 1888-12-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, 'Local Railway I...) |
| 1889-01-01 | Chaudiere Branch | New Year's morning very early a shunting engine on the C.A.R. between Elgin St. station and Chaudiere Junction ran its tender against a freight car, smashing the tender very badly. It being a dark night the engineer didn't take notice of the car until he struck it. | Ottawa Free Press 1889-01-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1889-01-11 | Chaudiere Branch | The pending arbitration between the Canada Atlantic Railway and the Chaudiere lumber firms will be held again tonight when the evidence on behalf of the railway company will likely be concluded. The arbitration is over the right of way of the Chaudiere Extension. | Ottawa Free Press 1889-01-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1889-01-21≤ | Chaudiere Branch | C.A.R. Enterprise. The Canada Atlantic Railway have proposed an extension for the Chaudiere lumbermen which, if consummated, will be of the greatest benefit to the city, opening up the valuable water lots at the Chaudiere which are now used by lumbermen as piling grounds. Mr. J.E. Chamberlain, General Manager of the Canada Atlantic Railway, said the railway company have made a proposition to all the lumber firms on the Ontario side of the Ottawa river and the Chaudiere to extend their tracks into every sawmill at the Chaudiere and take the green lumber as it comes from the saws, load it on platform cars and convey it to new piling grounds out back of Rochesterville for 15 cents per thousand feet. Some of the firms have agreed to the proposal, and before the end of next summer, Chamberlain said, 'you will see the Canada Atlantic cars into every mill at the Chaudiere.' | Ottawa Journal 1889-01-21(Chamberlain spoke to the Journal reporter 'last ev...) |
| 1889-01-23≤ | Chaudiere Branch | The C.A.R. will commence next week a spur into Mr. Booth's new piling ground north of Concession St. with side tracks. A report the next day says 'a branch of the Canada Atlantic will be extended into the new district, work on which will commence next week.' | Ottawa Journal 1889-01-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1889-01-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1889-03-11≤ | Hawkesbury Branch | The Canada Atlantic Railway has decided to extend their line from Glen Robertson station in a north easterly direction to Hawkesbury on the Ottawa River. Work, so a director says, will be begun in the spring. The branch line traverses a rich section of Glengarry and Prescott counties in all a distance of twenty miles for which a charter was granted last session. It is pretty well known that the project was undertaken as a result of the agitation in favour of the road from Vaudreuil to Ottawa; the promoters of that enterprise, although encouraged by the various municipalities along the route, received assurances from lumbermen interested in the Canada Atlantic that they could not hope for a share of the Ottawa lumber traffic. | Ottawa Journal 1889-03-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1889-03-12(Says the Canada Atlantic Railway 'contemplate the ...),Ottawa Citizen 1889-03-13(Says 'The Canada Atlantic Railway company talk of ...) |
| 1889-03-11≤ | Rockland Branch | The Canada Atlantic also has under consideration a scheme to build a branch line from Rockland on the Ottawa River to their main line above Casselman. A report the next day says they 'may also construct a line from Rockland to Casselman, during the summer, to catch the lumber trade from that point.' | Ottawa Journal 1889-03-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1889-03-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Canada Lumberman 1889-04-01(Repeats, nearly verbatim, that 'The Canada Atlanti...) |
| 1889-10-28≥ | Eastern Subdivision | An accident recently occurring between Glen Robertson and St. Justine, about 65 miles from Ottawa, showed that it was due not to any carelessness on the part of employees or defect in the road, but rather was caused by the deliberate act of some evil-disposed person: a large freight train ran off the track through an open switch, and several cars and their contents were made a total wreck, though the engineer, fireman and other employees narrowly escaped with their lives. The company engaged Detective Gross of Montreal, who arrested, near Casselman, a former employee of the road named James Beauchamp, on whom suspicion had fallen by reason of threats he is said to have made to be revenged for his dismissal from the road. Detective Gross brought his prisoner to Ottawa on Saturday evening and he was lodged in the police station. | Ottawa Citizen 1889-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1890-03-15 | Middle Subdivision | A number of surveyors are now engaged in locating the line of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. It is said that the portion between Ottawa and Arnprior will be let to a well known contractor, and work will commence about May 1st. | Ottawa Free Press 1890-03-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1890-06-06 | Middle Subdivision | The surveyors are going on steadily with their work on the route of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. By Tuesday, they had reached Moore's Corners, near Douglas, and had it not been for a creek there, they would have had an almost perfectly straight line between Renfrew and Douglas. They took a second survey back some distance on Tuesday, and will probably take another, locating the line about midway between the first two surveys. | Mercury 1890-06-06(Renfrew Mercury per Churcher's header. Transcribed...) |
| 1890-09-26 | Middle Subdivision | Messrs. George A. Martin, C.E., and Arthur H.N. Bruce, C.E. have commenced the preliminary survey of that part of the Canada Atlantic extension (the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound railway) lying between Ottawa and Arnprior. The point on the existing line of the C.A.R. from which the extension will be made, for Britannia, has not yet been selected, but upon reaching the village by the lake a bee line will be made for Arnprior. The sections already located are those between Parry Sound and Elmsdale, and between Renfrew and Barrie's Bay, leaving about 100 miles to complete the survey of the entire line once the Arnprior location is made. | Mercury 1890-09-26(Renfrew Mercury per Churcher's header. Transcribed...),Almonte Gazette 1890-10-03(Says the survey of that part of the Ottawa, Arnpri...) |
| 1890-10-10 | Middle Subdivision | The engineers of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Renfrew Railway went over the country lying between Arnprior and Ottawa, for the purpose of making a preliminary survey, coming up from Graham's Bay via the Torbolton route and returning by way of Kinburn and the Carp. They are now making, by order of the shareholders, a more detailed instrumental survey of both routes, and at an adjourned meeting it will be definitely decided which of the two routes is adopted. | Mercury 1890-10-10(Renfrew Mercury per Churcher's header. Transcribed...) |
| 1891-05-01≤ | Hawkesbury Branch | Vankleek Hill is in high glee over news that the Central Counties Railway Company expect to have the line from Glen Robertson to the village completed by November next; it is expected to connect at Coteau with the American system, enabling lumber dealers to ship at any season to Boston, New York and other US cities. The company has a bonus of $15,000 from the municipality of West Hawkesbury, and a number of smaller bonuses from farmers along the line. | Canada Lumberman 1891-05-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1891-07-01 | Chaudiere Branch | The Export Lumber Co. have built a track from the Chaudiere branch of the C.A.R. on the line between their piling grounds and those of J.R. Booth. | Canada Lumberman 1891-07-01(A customer siding built from the Chaudiere branch;...) |
| 1891-08-26 | Hawkesbury Branch | The contractors for the Central Counties Railway, M.J. O'Brien & Co., have been making their mark: grading was started at Glen Robertson July 16th, and about 12 miles were ready for rail by August 15. The first rails were laid August 11, and the work of laying track was started on the 24th, intended to cover the 14 miles to Vankleek Hill by September 15. | Ottawa Journal 1891-08-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, Ottawa Railway H...) |
| 1891-10-08≤ | Hawkesbury Branch | The Central Counties Railway will be completed to Hawkesbury about the 25th of this month. | Ottawa Journal 1891-10-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, Ottawa Railway H...) |
| 1891-10-29 | Hawkesbury Branch | On Monday of this week the rails of the Central Counties Railway were laid into Hawkesbury village, completing 21 miles from Glen Robertson Junction with the Canada Atlantic. The contractors, Messrs. M.J. O'Brien, executed the work with unusual dispatch: grading commenced July 16th and the last rail was laid three months and ten days from that date. Ballasting is about finished to Vankleek Hill (14 miles), and passenger trains will be put on that portion on or before November 15. | Ottawa Journal 1891-10-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, Ottawa Railway H...) |
| 1891-11-20≥ | Hawkesbury Branch | The first train over the new branch of the Canada Atlantic railway from Glen Robertson to Hawkesbury, on the Ottawa river, passed last week. The line, however, is not yet graded. | Mercury 1891-11-20(Renfrew Mercury per Churcher's header. Transcribed...) |
| 1891-12-02 | Hawkesbury Branch | In a very few days the Canada Atlantic Railway's two latest enterprises will be in full swing. Ballasting of the 21-mile branch from Glen Robertson to Hawkesbury was completed yesterday and the road is now ready to be formally transferred by the contractors to the company; it will give railway facilities to a fine farming section besides connecting a couple of villages with the main line, and will likely open this week. | Ottawa Citizen 1891-12-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher, Ottawa Railway H...) |
| 1891? | Hawkesbury Branch | William H. Taylor recalled "the building of the C.A.R. branch line between Hawkesbury and Glen Robertson, forty-six years ago", when he was firing for James Casey and the train crew was distributing the steel. "Mr. J. O'Brien was the contractor while his brother John, was walking boss. Frank Hibbert was the civil engineer and George Root was his assistant." "The job was started about the middle of August and completed about the middle of December"; headquarters were for the greater part of the time at Vankleek Hill. | Ottawa Citizen 1937-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-01-15 | Middle Subdivision | The survey of the O.A. & P.S. line reached Egan's Farm on the Madawaska. The Ottawa Free Press (Jan 9) put this about twelve miles west of Bark Lake, the country lately passed through being reported unusually fine and admirably suited to railroad building. The Almonte Gazette (Jan 15) said Mr. Mountain's survey party had reached the same point, about twenty miles west of Bark Lake, and that from Renfrew to Egan's Farm the line was one of the most favorable he had travelled over. | Ottawa Free Press 1892-01-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Almonte Gazette 1892-01-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-02-18≥ | Hawkesbury Branch | By 18 February 1892, the lease of the Hawkesbury branch of the Central Counties Railway to the Canada Atlantic Railway had been confirmed at a meeting of the shareholders of the Central Counties Railroad. | Ottawa Journal 1892-02-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-04-29≥ | Middle Subdivision | By late April 1892 the surveyors had finished the survey between Shawville and Renfrew, and had brought the two places within fourteen miles of each other. On May 27, ratepayers of Arnprior were to vote on a by-law authorizing the corporation to take $30,000 of stock in the company. | Almonte Gazette 1892-04-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Almonte Gazette 1892-05-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-07 | Middle Subdivision | The first sod in the construction of the line was turned at Carp towards the end of July 1892, by Mr. George Kidd, MPP, then warden of the county. | Ottawa Journal 1896-10-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Brockville Recorder 1896-11-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-07-07 | Middle Subdivision | The contract for the first 40 miles of the line from Ottawa was let to Mr. Fauquier of Toronto, the lowest of twelve tenderers, four of which were very close in price. | Ottawa Journal 1892-07-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Mercury 1892-07-15(Renfrew Mercury, quoting the Ottawa Journal, with ...) |
| 1892-08-23 | Middle Subdivision | The C.A. Railway company were getting out ties for the Ottawa and Parry Sound road, cut down the line of the C.A.R. and shipped to Stittsville for hauling to the construction. It was also rumoured that the C.A.R. would shortly purchase land from Mr. Stewart on which to erect workshops. | Ottawa Journal 1892-08-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1892-08-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-09-13≥ | Chaudiere Branch | By 13 September 1892, twenty carloads of lumber had left the Chaudiere junction of the Canada Atlantic railway for Montreal and American points. | Ottawa Free Press 1892-09-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-10-10 | Middle Subdivision | Work began on the Ottawa terminus of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound railway at Rochester street, connecting with the C.A.R. line running from the Elgin street depot to the Chaudiere. About thirty-five men began grading a curve near the Rochester street crossing, supplied by ballast trains from Hurdman's Cut; some seventy to eighty men including twenty-one stonecutters worked preparing stone for a high bridge to carry the line over Preston street, about equal in height to the existing Chaudiere-extension bridge. By October 20 more than half the Preston street trestle (to be 1,100 feet long and about twenty-eight feet high, with concrete piers) was complete, and grading had been broken as far west as St. Mary's church in Bayswater. By October 24 the trestle over Preston street and the old St. Lawrence and Ottawa track was nearly finished, with ballast trains emptied every fifteen minutes to fill the dump alongside it. | Ottawa Free Press 1892-10-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1892-10-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1892-10-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-10-27 | Rockland Branch | A public meeting was held to consider a bonus for a branch from South Indian. W.C. Edwards, an advocate of railways, argued the Montreal and Ottawa would be the best choice; it was decided to wait to see what Clarence township would do. | Ottawa Citizen 1892-10-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-11-18 | Middle Subdivision | A dynamite explosion during construction of the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound railway, near St. Mary's church in Rochesterville/Nepean township just outside Ottawa, killed Jule(s) Therien and fatally injured Thomas Brown, who died at hospital the same day; windows were smashed and furniture overturned in surrounding buildings in Rochesterville, and the shock was felt as far as New Edinburgh. Two coroner's inquests returned verdicts that the men died of the explosion, with no evidence of its cause and no blame attached to any individual; witnesses suggested a spark or dropped tool may have set off a box of caps near a fire where dynamite cartridges were being thawed. | Ottawa Citizen 1892-11-19(Detailed report with inquest testimony, published ...),Almonte Gazette 1892-11-25(Shorter account (naming the victim 'Julius Therein...) |
| 1892-12-03≥ | Middle Subdivision | A contract was reported given out for building the Parry Sound railway from Eganville to Barrington's Bay (Barry's Bay), with cutting of the right of way to be done that winter. By December 3, Mr. Bruce and a company of O.A. & P.S. surveyors were in Eganville locating the company's line above the village. | Ottawa Citizen 1892-11-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1892-12-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1892-12-16 | Middle Subdivision | Grading of the roadbed between Ottawa and Arnprior was completed, and track-laying was being pushed ahead: the iron had been put down to a point four miles outside Ottawa, and two miles of track were laid from the old St. Lawrence and Ottawa crossing. Once the trestle over the C.P.R. was completed, rail-laying was to proceed with vigour. In the last week of December, the engineering staff began the survey from Arnprior to Renfrew; Mr. Mountain found the route would be easy to construct, over level country, crossing the C.P.R. a short distance west of Arnprior and taking a direct line to Renfrew via New Glasgow. | Mercury 1892-12-16(Renfrew Mercury. Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher ...),Ottawa Citizen 1892-12-09("Two miles of track is now laid from the old St. L...),Mercury 1892-12-30(Renfrew Mercury, quoting the (Arnprior) Chronicle,...) |
| 1893-01-13 | Middle Subdivision | About twenty miles of track were laid westward on the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway (most of the ties being taken from along the Central Counties branch of the C.A.R.), with track reaching March Corners, 15 miles out, by mid-January. Station sites between Ottawa and Arnprior were selected: March Corners, Carp, Kinburn, Galetta and Arnprior, with several flag stations also planned between Ottawa and March Corners; the stations were to be neat frame buildings similar to those on the C.A.R., with work to begin in spring. Mr. Booth said he could have trains running to Arnprior in 20 days but for the Mississippi bridge at Galetta (280 feet, riveted lattice, two 140-foot spans, one then going up); the first train was expected to run from Ottawa to Arnprior by February 12. Two hundred men were then employed on the road. | Ottawa Citizen 1893-01-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1893-01-17(Ironwork for the Galetta bridge arrived and was ta...),Ottawa Journal 1893-01-13(Also in the Renfrew Mercury of 20 January and Shaw...) |
| 1893-03-04 | Rockland Branch | The ratepayers of Rockland village voted (on March 3rd) to grant a $6,000 bonus to the Central Counties railway for a branch from South Indian to Rockland. | Ottawa Free Press 1893-02-18(Announcing the upcoming vote: "it is thought that ...),Ottawa Free Press 1893-03-04(Reporting the result, "yesterday". Transcribed by ...) |
| 1893-03-04 | Middle Subdivision | The first passenger coach over the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway ran from Ottawa to Arnprior as a special inspection trip carrying J.R. Booth, chief engineer Geo. A. Mountain and other officials, averaging 25 mph despite the road being unballasted. Leaving Elgin Street station at 8.30 a.m. and crossing the Preston Street trestlework, the train passed Carp (10 miles out, already busy with farmers loading grain cars, station grounds located), Kinburn (described as the straightest 8 miles of railroad in America, with a grain shed already active), and Galetta (crossed by a new steel-truss bridge over the Mississippi on stone abutments), reaching Arnprior — a town of 3,000 people and home to the McLachlin Brothers' sawmills (700 men, 83,000,000 feet of lumber annually) — a few minutes after 10 a.m. The rails were 72-lb Sheffield steel, laid at 3,000 ties to the mile (350 more per mile than any other Canadian railway) for extra solidity. That same morning the first through freight left for Arnprior: the engine "Nellie Bly" (driver J. King) with ten cars of merchandise and four empty boxcars, conductor A.O. Boyle. | Ottawa Journal 1893-03-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-03-31≥ | Rockland Branch | By the end of March 1893, work had commenced on the new branch of the Central Counties railway between South Indian and Rockland, for which the Rockland bonus had been granted: gangs of men were clearing the route of timber, and tenders for construction were under consideration, with the contract to be awarded shortly. | Ottawa Free Press 1893-03-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1893-03-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-04-18 | Chaudiere Branch | J.R. Booth wrote to Ottawa city council asking permission to build a crossing over Preston Street for the Parry Sound railway, to connect the road with the Rochesterville lumber yards; on motion of Ald. Bingham, council granted the request on condition the company install a gate, station a watchman, and take all necessary precautions for public safety. | Ottawa Journal 1893-04-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-08-25≤ | Hawkesbury Branch | A fine combination car of the Hawkesbury branch, in three apartments (first and second class passengers, and baggage), would be turned out of the C.A.R. painting shops the following Monday. | Ottawa Free Press 1893-08-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-09-22 | Hawkesbury Branch | Central Vermont engine No. 30, in use by the C.A.R. for several years, had been used all summer of 1893 on the Hawkesbury branch, and was then put on the morning Parry Sound train. | Ottawa Free Press 1893-09-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-10-21 | Chaudiere Branch | The Canada Atlantic laid a new siding in rear of Catherine street and began removing lumber from Perley's Chaudiere piling grounds to deposit it in the new yard; it was thought the whole strip along the track between Kent street and Concession might soon be used the same way, and by October 21 a new lumber yard at the south end of Kent street, between the C.A.R. and Catherine street, already extended across the line of the former thoroughfare. | Ottawa Free Press 1893-10-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1893-10-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1893-11-08≥ | Chaudiere Branch | By November 8, 1893, a Canada Atlantic train, while shunting on the tracks of Bronson and Weston's lumber yard, had crashed through the buffer at the street end of the track and smashed a candy stand on Bridge street; the trucks of the first car were broken against the buffer. | Ottawa Journal 1893-11-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1894-01-02 | Middle Subdivision | Today the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway will have their track completed as far as Indian Point on Golden Lake, a distance of eighty-five miles from this city, but the trains will run only as far as Eganville this winter. | Ottawa Free Press 1894-01-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1894-01-12 | Middle Subdivision | Mr. M.J. O'Brien, contractor of Renfrew, has been awarded the contract for constructing the third ten mile section west of Eganville on the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. | Almonte Gazette 1894-01-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1894-02-01 | Middle Subdivision | Mail service between Ottawa and Eganville, and intervening points, on the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway, commenced on Thursday, February 1st. The mail from Ottawa, etc., will arrive by the train due here at 10 a.m.; and from Eganville by the train due at 2.49 p.m. The service will be a great accommodation to merchants and others all along the line. | Mercury 1894-02-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Almonte Gazette 1894-02-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1894-02-03 | Middle Subdivision | Mr. M.J. O'Brien of Renfrew will commence work next week on his contract west of Killaloe on the O.A. & P.S. He will employ about 60 men for the present, and will increase the number considerably in the spring time. | Ottawa Journal 1894-02-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1894-03-24 | Middle Subdivision | The contract for next summer's work on the O.A. & P.S.R. construction was let this morning. It went to E.F. Fauquier. He will construct thirty-five miles of road from Barry's Bay, the present terminus of the line, one hundred and seven miles distant from Ottawa, to Long Lake, 142 miles from this city. This is considered the heaviest part of the construction between here and Parry Sound. | Ottawa Journal 1894-03-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Free Press 1894-03-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Mercury 1894-03-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |