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 all entity types.
| Date | Subject | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972-03-28≥ | Whitney | By 28 March 1972 (the issue date), the paper reported: Douglas Laginskie, 41, "was killed in a collision with a freight train while snowmobiling on the CNR main line on the outskirts of Whitney Monday afternoon", on a curve, while going to fish at Joe Lake; the train was stopped 500 feet from the point of impact. | Ottawa Journal 1972-03-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1972-04-15≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 15 April 1972 (the issue date), the paper reported: Van driver Gurarslen Savars, 24, "received a broken leg when his vehicle was in collision with a CN freight train at a crossing on Michel [sic] Street Friday afternoon." | Ottawa Citizen 1972-04-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1972-04-27≥ | Carp | By 27 April 1972 (the issue date), the paper reported: A coroner's jury "recommended that signal lights be located at all level crossings on main highways to warn motorists in advance of approaching trains", at an inquest on Wednesday into the death of Brideau, whose gasoline tanker collided with a CNR freight on February 28. Evidence showed poor visibility at the Highway 17 crossing near Carp, at the bottom of a hill; the jury also recommended a remote warning light 500 feet north of the Carp crossing. Engineer Irwin Currie said the truck hit the train after veering off the road and knocking over a signal post. | Ottawa Citizen 1972-04-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1972-10 | Canada Atlantic Official Car 99, Champlain | Retired and sold to LGA | Lepkey p301 |
| 1972-11-06≥ | Vars | By 6 November 1972 (the issue date), the paper reported: "About 2,000 of them rode the special Saturday train from Vars to Ottawa. With Santa." Santa drove from the station by automobile to the Santa Claus Parade. The Citizen of 3 November announced that Freiman's Santa Train would leave Ottawa at 8.00 a.m. to meet him when he arrived from the North Pole by helicopter. | Ottawa Journal 1972-11-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1972-11-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1973-03-07≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 7 March 1973 (the issue date), the paper reported: Len Hopkins, M.P. for Renfrew North-Nipissing East, "wants the National Capital Commission to revive a passenger service from Ottawa up the Valley to Whitney as a tourist attraction", a train "modelled after those of the pioneer days"; the Citizen of 4 April adds that the line, "78-year-old", "has been used exclusively for freight" and that old stations on the line could be rejuvenated or rebuilt as attractions. | Eganville Leader 1973-03-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1973-04-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1973-03-19 | South Indian | "Twenty-three cars of an 83-car freight train jumped the track about 4.15 a.m., scattering tons of grain, crumpling box cars and tearing up track for about a mile" at a level crossing in the middle of Limoges, about 15 miles southeast of Ottawa. "Crew members, working at both ends of the train, escaped injury"; all freight and passenger service between Ottawa and Montreal was rerouted over Canadian Pacific lines. The Citizen put the derailment at about 4.20 a.m. and the speed at about 60 m.p.h. | Ottawa Journal 1973-03-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1973-03-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1973-03-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1973-03-26≥ | Hawkesbury Branch | By 26 March 1973 (the issue date), the paper reported: Seven cars of a 17-car CN freight train "which derailed 30 miles north of here, Friday, have been cleared from the track." The train, "travelling on a secondary track from Hawkesbury to Glen Robertson", carried cars of chlorine and caustic soda; one caustic soda car flipped over and a chlorine car derailed but remained upright. "Officials said there were no leaks from the cars." | Ottawa Citizen 1973-03-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1973-07-21≥ | Casselman | By 21 July 1973 (the issue date), the paper reported: Three persons "died instantly Friday and three others injured when the front of their car was torn off by a Montreal-Ottawa Canadian National passenger train", at an unprotected level crossing a mile and a half southeast of Casselman: Rock Gauthier, 42, his wife Fleurette, and Michael Tougas, 5. A fourth person, Joanne Gauthier, 5, died on Sunday. "Witnesses to the crash said the driver of the car started to cross the unprotected level crossing even though the train was sounding its whistle and flashing its headlight." | Ottawa Citizen 1973-07-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1973-07-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1973-10-09≥ | Vars | By 9 October 1973 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Two sisters killed when their car was hit broadside by a Canadian National train Saturday near Navan were among 13 accidental deaths in the area over the holiday weekend." Diane McWilliams, 23, and Dale Rivington, 18, both of Navan, "died at a railroad crossing on the Cumberland township road. Their car was dragged three-quarters of a mile down the tracks before the east-bound passenger train could come to a stop". | Ottawa Citizen 1973-10-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1975 | Barrys Bay | Water tower saved from demolition by petition. | leader |
| 1975-03-11≥ | Vars | By 11 March 1975 (the issue date), the paper reported: Alphonse Sauve, 27, of Vars, "is in Ottawa General Hospital with undetermined injuries following a car-train collision Monday", at "an unprotected railway crossing, one mile west of Vars, when a westbound passenger train hit Mr. Sauve's car"; the car was demolished. | Ottawa Journal 1975-03-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1975-04-22≥ | Carp | By 22 April 1975 (the issue date), the paper reported: A fuel tanker "slid into a CN train near Carp Monday"; West Carleton Township firemen "quickly drowned the rig in foam extinguisher to prevent a possible explosion", and the truck driver escaped with slight bruises. | Ottawa Citizen 1975-04-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1975-10-08≥ | Barrys Bay Water Tower | By 8 October 1975 (the issue date), the paper reported: Following word that "the village of Barry's Bay had called tenders for the demolition of the old water tank located along the C.N.R. railway", a group of citizens and Madawaska Valley District High School history teachers and students petitioned to have "the huge tank" saved and repaired. "The old CN water tower in Barry's Bay has been given a reprieve by Barry's Bay village council": a delegation of the Committee To Save The Water Tower attended the council meeting on Monday night with a petition of 600 names, and "convinced council not to destroy the historic landmark, which is scheduled to be demolished". | Eganville Leader 1975-09-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eganville Leader 1975-10-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1976 | Barrys Bay | Water tower designated a historical landmark. | leader |
| 1976 | Barrys Bay Water Tower | The Barry's Bay water tower, "almost demolished in 1975", was saved when "a petition was started to save the tower and a year later it was designated a historical landmark, ensuring it would never be demolished." | Eganville Leader 2000-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1976-04-07 | Vars Depot | The Vars station was loaded on to a truck on April 1, workmen "loading the Vars station on to a truck" while the conductor of a CN diesel watched. "Cumberland Township is moving the station, with the help of a $13,000 LIP grant and the expert help of Drummond Bros. Ltd of Almonte." "In Cumberland the statin [sic] is to be refurbished and used as the township's museum." Jack Kyle of Vars, 89, helped foreman Dave Drummond dismantle the old station. | The Courier 1976-04-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1976-08-30≥ | Arnprior | By 30 August 1976 (the issue date), the paper reported: Irene Carmichael, 70, and her daughter Jean Kinkade, 48, "remain in hospital in Ottawa after being trapped in this car following a car-train collision in Arnprior Friday", at "the CN crossing on Campbell Street"; OPP Constable John McCann pried open a door. | Ottawa Citizen 1976-08-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1977-01-10≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 10 January 1977 (the issue date), the paper reported: Gerald Webb, 27, of Sarsfield, "was killed Sunday afternoon after his car collided with an eastbound Canadian National Railways passenger train at the level crossing on Russell Road, just west of Carlsbad Springs, at 2:18 p.m."; the train continued to Montreal after a short delay. | Ottawa Citizen 1977-01-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1977-01-13 | Eastmans | A Cumberland Township couple, Brian Lalond, 25, and his wife Jocelyne, 23, "escaped with slight injuries this morning when their car collided with a passenger train at a level crossing near Carlsbad Springs"; northbound on a county road, they slid into the engine and parts of the car were carried more than 400 feet. "A man was killed Sunday in a similar mishap at a nearby crossing." | Ottawa Citizen 1977-01-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1977-01-24≥ | Glasgow | By 24 January 1977 (the issue date), the paper reported: Katheline Fraser, 28, of Glasgow Station, died after "a car-train accident Friday" and her husband and two children were seriously injured: the car driven by Gordon Fraser "collided with a Canadian National work train on McNab Township Road, less than 150 feet from the Fraser home" at 4:30 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1977-01-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1977-04-09≥ | Maxville | By 9 April 1977 (the issue date), the paper reported: Harriet McGillivray, 80, of Maxville, "died on the way to hospital Thursday after being hit by a CNR passenger train as she walked across a level crossing"; the Journal gives it as an eastbound train at 11 a.m. on Maxville's Main Street crossing, where she, deaf, "apparently didn't hear the level crossing warning signals". The Ottawa-to-Montreal train was delayed 32 minutes. | Ottawa Citizen 1977-04-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1977-04-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1977-12-07≤ | Eganville Depot | From 7 December 1977 (the issue date), the paper announced: "The Canadian National (CN) Railway station in Eganville is closing at the end of this year in the name of more efficient service, according to a CN spokesman in Ottawa." The Journal of 21 December says the "decrepit station, actually in Grattan Township, has a history of almost 60 years" and that Canadian National Railways "closes its Eganville station" on Dec. 31; after that CNR patrolmen who cruise the line once a week would "keep an eye on" the building. | Eganville Leader 1977-12-07(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1977-12-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-02-13≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 13 February 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Ottawa Valley Snow Train, organized by Dick Howey for the Nepean-Aylmer Transit Committee, "made its first two runs to Barrys Bay on the weekend": the Journal calls it "the first passenger train along that line in more than 20 years", taking 4 1/2 hours, at about 30 mph and 5 mph over the bridges, with fewer than 200 passengers. The Citizen says the first weekend train pulled in "some 40 minutes late" with about 160 tickets sold, and that the first-weekend trip planned for 4-5 February had been postponed for poor ticket sales. | Ottawa Citizen 1978-02-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1978-02-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1978-02-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-02-20≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 20 February 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Snow Train, hired from the C.N.R. and run to Renfrew and Barrys Bay, "lives to run another day": "bailed out at the 11th hour Sunday by a trio of township councils" and the Nepean senior citizens council after organizer Dick Howey, who "had to come up with $5,000 for the CNR", was about $1,500 short. The Citizen of 23 February called the weekend of 25-26 February the third and last run of the season; on 11 April Nepean council declared the venture "a successful pilot project and worth repeating". | Ottawa Journal 1978-02-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1978-02-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1978-04-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-09-13≤ | Middle Subdivision | From 13 September 1978 (the issue date), the paper announced: "The Canadian National Railway plans to make formal application to the Board of Transport Commissioners for approval cease rail operations on the Renfrew to Barry's Bay branch line." Regional manager of operations Jacques Gauthier said "there is no urgency to halt rail traffic" and "the tracks won't be pulled tomorrow"; CN was applying to cease operation where revenues were lower than expenses. | Eganville Leader 1978-09-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-10-06≥ | Vars | By 6 October 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: Michel Martin, 14, of Hammond, and Michelle Anne Dupuis, 13, of Vars, "die in car-train crash" on Thursday night when the car they were riding in was struck by a westbound Via Rail passenger train at "a railroad crossing without controls near Vars": "The crossing, on Concession Road 6 less than a kilometre east of Vars, is marked only with the traditional 'crossbucks' sign." Residents said other accidents at uncontrolled crossings near Vars and Navan had caused three deaths. | Ottawa Citizen 1978-10-06(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-10-14≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 14 October 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: Micheline Desbiens, 53, of Hull, "was killed Friday when the car she was driving was struck by a freight train at a controlled CN crossing on Russell Road near Carlsbad Springs" at about 6.15 p.m.; the train was not derailed and no one aboard was injured. | Ottawa Journal 1978-10-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1978-10-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1978-12-29≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 29 December 1978 (the issue date), the paper reported: Roy Buckley Morrison, 61, of Rockcliffe Park, "was killed instantly Thursday when his white Cadillac Seville was hit and dragged 65 metres by a Canadian National train near the intersection of Michael and Belfast Roads in Ottawa", at "a controlled railway crossing equipped with four red flashing lights"; the car was northbound on Michael Street and the train east-bound. | Ottawa Citizen 1978-12-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1979-01-16≥ | Moose Creek | By 16 January 1979 (the issue date), the paper reported: Wilbur Argyle, 54, of Morrisburg, and Dennis Mortimer, 29, of Calgary "were killed Monday afternoon when their van crashed with a freight train on Highway 138 about three kilometres south" of Moose Creek, at 12.25 p.m.; "The train, a CNR freight, was eastbound for Montreal." The red railway warning flashers were activated, police said. | Ottawa Citizen 1979-01-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1979-01-22≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 22 January 1979 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Ottawa-Barry's Bay Snow Train "has probably come to the end of the line... at least for this winter": "Only 150 fun-seekers showed up on the weekend for the up to 900 seats offered on three runs to Barry's Bay." The train, a diesel engine, four passenger cars and a baggage car, cost $12,000 to rent for one weekend against a $10,000 National Capital Commission grant. The Citizen of 10 January had said the first run on 19 January might be its last if ticket sales did not improve. | Ottawa Citizen 1979-01-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1979-01-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1978-11-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1979-02-19≥ | Eastmans | By 19 February 1979 (the issue date), the paper reported: A Via Rail train from Montreal "was delayed more than six hours early Sunday after it slammed into a stolen car abandoned on the tracks at Regional Road 31 near Carlsbad Springs", just after 1 a.m.; none of the estimated 100 passengers was hurt and the car was dragged nearly a kilometre. The Journal places the car on the tracks at Concession Nine, Cumberland. | Ottawa Citizen 1979-02-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1979-02-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1979-09-24≥ | Alexandria | By 24 September 1979 (the issue date), the paper reported: Gary Major, 29, of Alexandria, "died Saturday when he lost a race with a freight train at a level crossing at which warning lights and bells were working", struck shortly before 9 p.m. about 70 metres from his home; the eastbound train was delayed more than an hour. The Journal says it was a Montreal-bound Canadian National Railways freight at the Main Street crossing at 8:50 p.m., going about 100 kilometres an hour. | Ottawa Citizen 1979-09-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1979-09-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1979-11-26≥ | Alexandria | By 26 November 1979 (the issue date), the paper reported: Renald McGillis, 20, of Alexandria, "barely escaped death early Saturday when a CN freight train rumbled over him near Alexandria station": lying face down between the tracks at about 3:30 a.m., he was run over by five cars of the train pulling away from a siding and "didn't get so much as a scratch". Engineer Mark Merriman said he saw an object between the ties "but was not concerned until he was almost on top of it". | Ottawa Citizen 1979-11-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1980-03-18≥ | Hawkesbury Depot | By 18 March 1980 (the issue date), the paper reported: Hawkesbury town council "probably rang the death knell for the old Canadian National Railways freight station here at Monday's meeting when it withdrew previous objections to the proposed closure of the depot", which the railway had announced two years earlier. Councillor Claude Drouin said "There's no service (at the station) already": its sole employee had ceased work recently and not been replaced. | Ottawa Citizen 1980-03-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1980-06-18≥ | Alexandria | By 18 June 1980 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A thundering tremor accompanied by a mushroom of dust" followed Tuesday when a five-car Bombardier LRC test train on a trial run from Montreal to Ottawa struck a tractor trailer at the crossing on Highway 34 in Alexandria "just before the noon hour"; the driver, William John Brown, 35, was taken to hospital with a fractured foot and the train's crew was shaken up. The truck was a write-off ($80,000); a diesel from Ottawa towed the train to Montreal. Police said a freight train was stopped near the crossing, giving the LRC the right of way. | Glengarry News 1980-06-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1980-06-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1980-10-17≥ | Moose Creek | By 17 October 1980 (the issue date), the paper reported: Donald Empey, 22, of Nepean, "was killed and three other men seriously injured Thursday when a small van collided with a passenger train at a level crossing near Moose Creek" about 2:25 p.m.; the van skidded on the gravel road into the path of Canadian National's Ottawa-Montreal train. "There are no signals at the 8th Concession Road crossing where the accident occurred". | Ottawa Citizen 1980-10-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1980-10-29≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 29 October 1980 (the issue date), the paper reported: Tony Cappallazzi "was hit by a train Tuesday, dragged 12 metres in his car along the tracks" at the level crossing on Michael Street just east of St. Laurent Boulevard, at 4 p.m., and was not hurt; the westbound VIA Rail train from Montreal had slowed on its approach to the Ottawa station. "There are no barriers at the crossing." It was "the second accident in two years at the crossing", where a Rockcliffe man died in 1978. | Ottawa Citizen 1980-10-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1981-01-22≥ | Moose Creek | By 22 January 1981 (the issue date), the paper reported: "An Ottawa woman was killed and her husband critically injured when their car smashed into a passenger train at a level crossing near Moose Creek": Evelyn Sproule, 55, "died instantly in the accident when her husband Thomas, 58, was apparently blinded by the sun and failed to see the approaching VIA Rail Rapido train as it sped through the crossing on Hwy. 138, about four kilometres south of Moose Creek." The signal lights were working at the time of the 11:25 a.m. accident; "The collision derailed the first coach of the Ottawa-Montreal Rapido", and four other trains were rerouted onto Canadian Pacific tracks during the six hours of repairs. "This was the third fatality during the last two years at the railway crossing". | Ottawa Citizen 1981-01-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1981-01-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1981-06-12≥ | Moose Creek | By 12 June 1981 (the issue date), the paper reported: A coroner's jury at Cornwall "recommended Thursday" that "a barrier should be installed at a railway crossing on Hwy. 138 where an Ottawa couple was killed in a car-train crash last January", and urged that the speed limit be reduced and passing disallowed at the approaches to the crossing, "just south of Moose Creek"; it ruled the deaths of Thomas and Evelyn Sproule accidental. The inquest was told that "the accident, the second double-fatality at the crossing in less than two years", followed one on Jan. 15, 1979, when two Alberta residents died; Thomas died seven days after the crash. | Ottawa Citizen 1981-06-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1982-01-27≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 27 January 1982 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Rail service on the local Canadian National Railway line has been abandoned for the remainder of the winter months and unless there is an upswing in the economy of the area, the line between Renfrew and Barry's Bay will remain closed in the winter months in coming years." On Thursday afternoon "the red and black CN locomotive, pulling a lone boxcar and caboose, pushed eastwards back to Ottawa signalling an end to the use of the line until the spring season arrives." | Eganville Leader 1982-01-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1983-08-02 | Grand Trunk Railway | CN granted permission to abandon line within 90 days. | leader |
| 1983-08-02 | Middle Subdivision | The Canadian Transport Commission "has decided to allow Canadian National to abandon an 85-year-old stretch of historic railway linking Renfrew with Whitney, near Algonquin Park." "In an order dated August 2, the Railway Transport Committee agreed with CN's contention that the 90.26 mile line was not feasible financially to keep in operation any longer", concluding that the "branch line is uneconomic and is likely to continue to be uneconomic and the operation thereof should be abandoned"; CN had three months to shut down the line. Commissioner Anne-Marie Trahan's report found the Whitney section "poor" and impassable due to washouts, that there had been no train service to Barry's Bay since Jan. 1, 1982, and that service between Barry's Bay and Whitney was discontinued in 1974. | Ottawa Citizen 1983-08-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eganville Leader 1983-08-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1983-11-09≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 9 November 1983 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Madawaska Wood Products Ltd. has won a delay in the end of service by CN's Renfrew Subdivision, the rail line serving the town." The route "was to have been abandoned by the beginning of November, but that has been put off until the federal transportation commission completes a review of the move requested by Madawaska." Company vice-president Peter Gonzalez said "for the past two years, goods have been trucked to and from the rail depot in Pembroke at CN's expense because no trains have run on the line to Barry's Bay." | Ottawa Citizen 1983-11-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1984-01-16≥ | Vankleek Hill | By 16 January 1984 (the issue date), the paper reported: Daniel Lavoie, 15, of Vankleek Hill, "is in hospital with multiple fractures after the truck in which he was a passenger struck a Canadian National train at a crossing in Vankleek Hill Saturday", at about 11 a.m. on Main Street East; the truck, at about 20 kilometres an hour, struck an eastbound locomotive pulling 14 freight cars at about 25 kmh. The driver, Jermain Fauteux, 25, was treated for minor fractures. | Ottawa Citizen 1984-01-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1984-04-23≥ | Vars | By 23 April 1984 (the issue date), the paper reported: John Picard, 39, "was returning home from dropping his mother off after a family dinner when his car was broadsided by a Montreal-bound passenger train at a rural crossing in Cumberland Township" at 5:20 p.m. on Easter Sunday; the car was flipped and dragged 36 metres down the tracks and he suffered a broken hand and bruises. "The level crossing, on Dunning Road in Cumberland Township, is marked by a sign, but has no signal light." | Ottawa Citizen 1984-04-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1984-10-26≤ | South March | From 26 October 1984 (the issue date), the paper announced: "Canadian National trains will stop for motor vehicle traffic at a level crossing south of Carling Avenue and Herzberg Drive starting in late November." Kanata Mayor Marianne Wilkinson said the Canadian Transport Commission ordered the change in August (R-37096 of 22 August 1984) because cars are often forced to stop on the tracks near the traffic light at Carling and Herzberg; "About two trains a week use the track." A train signal connected to the traffic light would hold trains until the light changed to red on Herzberg Drive. | Ottawa Citizen 1984-10-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-03-21≥ | Alexandria | By 21 March 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: Louis Carriere, 75, "died instantly Tuesday when he was hit by a train while crossing the tracks on foot here": Alexandria OPP said he was "crossing the tracks opposite the Alexandria train station at about 7 p.m." and was hit by "a westbound train not scheduled to stop in Alexandria". | Ottawa Citizen 1985-03-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-04-10≥ | Moose Creek | By 10 April 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: Sharon Rombough, 37, "was killed instantly Tuesday afternoon when her car was struck by a Montreal-to-Ottawa VIA passenger train at a level crossing near her home on the outskirts of Moose Creek", at 4:10 p.m., the two-car train with 90 passengers delayed two hours. "The crossing's flashing warning lights were working and police say it's a mystery why Rombough continued across the tracks". | Ottawa Citizen 1985-04-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-10-28≥ | Vars | By 28 October 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: Pierre D'Aoust, 17, of Sarsfield, "was driving south on Dunning Road near Vars Saturday about 7:30 a.m." when his car collided with an eastbound VIA Rail train; he died. "The Canadian National crossing near Vars is not equipped with signals, but has a railroad crossing sign." The engineers sounded the horn and applied the emergency brakes; the Montreal-Ottawa train was delayed one hour 15 minutes. | Ottawa Citizen 1985-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-10-28≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 28 October 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The second accident occurred about 2 p.m. Saturday near of Belfast Road and Michael Street when a pickup truck smashed into the train." The crossing "is equipped with a flashing signal"; the Ottawa-Montreal train, going only 20 kilometres per hour, pushed the truck 80 metres, one passenger suffering a broken collar bone, and was held up one hour five minutes. | Ottawa Citizen 1985-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-11-01≥ | Vars | By 1 November 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National Railways is giving top-priority treatment to a request for flashing lights and bells at a level crossing near Vars where a teenager was killed on the weekend", said John Brayne, regional engineer, on Thursday: the railway had established the Dunning Road automatic signals as its top priority and "the signals could be installed by spring". "The Canadian Transport Commission recommended automatic signals for the crossing in a letter to CN and Cumberland Township Council a year ago", and followed with four reminders this year; CN did not reply. | Ottawa Citizen 1985-11-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-11-13≥ | Glen Robertson Depot | By 13 November 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Glen Robertson's 66-year-old train station is gone after demolition crews razed the structure Friday." A CN spokesman said the building, "which has been closed for the last few years, wasn't of any use to CN or VIA Rail and it had been offered for sale to the Township of Lochiel"; CN had written to the township on Sept. 10, 1982 that it would approach the Canadian Transport Commission to close the station, and got no reply. The photograph caption reads: "The station was built in 1919 after the original station, located across the tracks, was destroyed by fire. The station was in operation until about two years ago. The top photo shows the original station, built around 1880." | Glengarry News 1985-11-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1985-12-13≥ | Glen Robertson | By 13 December 1985 (the issue date), the paper reported: Monique Bertrand, 40, of RR 1 Dunvegan, "was killed Thursday night when she drove around a car stopped at a rail crossing and smashed into a Montreal-bound VIA passenger train in Glen Roberston", at 9:10 p.m. on a back street, the flashing signal lights working; none of the 40 passengers was injured and the passengers were bused to Montreal. It was "the third this year and second in seven weeks along the Ottawa-Montreal line". | Ottawa Citizen 1985-12-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1986-03-03≥ | Casselman | By 3 March 1986 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A pickup truck was scraped by a westbound VIA train in Casselman" on the weekend; "The driver drove off without waiting for police." The train, bound for Ottawa from Montreal, "stopped and returned to the scene of the accident to find that the vehicle had disappeared": "It looks like a driver went against a flashing red light and just got his rear end wiped out," said Casselman OPP Const. Langis Lebel. | Ottawa Citizen 1986-03-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1986-04-23≥ | Eganville Depot | By 23 April 1986 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National Railway has officially offered the abandoned right-of-way and the Eganville Station to Grattan Township." In his letter received April 14, vice-president J. Roger Lagace wrote: "Since the Province of Ontario had decided not to proceed further with the acquisition of abandoned railway lines and according to CN policy in such a case, I wish to inform you that CN is agreeable to the sale of the former station building for the sum of one dollar." | Eganville Leader 1986-04-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eganville Leader 1986-05-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1987-01-09≥ | Renfrew Depot | By 9 January 1987 (the issue date), the paper reported: The provincial fire marshall's office "confirmed Thursday that a fire which severely damaged the 94-year-old former CN train station here was deliberately set", the fifth confirmed arson in Renfrew in ten months. The fire was reported at 6:14 a.m.; "flames destroyed half the roof of the 130-by-16-metre building on Renfrew Avenue West and damaged the interior." For ten years the station had only been used to store equipment; "The train station was built in 1893 by Valley lumber baron J.R. Booth for his Ottawa-to-Parry Sound railway. CN eventually took over the line in the 1920s. Since 1980, the track has only been used about six times each summer. The line now ends in Renfrew." | Ottawa Citizen 1987-01-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1987-06-10≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 10 June 1987 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National Railways is willing to part with its right-of-way along the abandoned Renfrew subdivision line at a cost of $1,000 per municipality", the offer extended to Grattan, Horton, Admaston, Bromley, North and South Algona, Hagarty and Richards, Sherwood, Jones and Burns, Dickens, Murchison and Airy townships, the Village of Killaloe and the Algonkian Indian Band, but not Barry's Bay. Grattan council confirmed its interest in purchasing "the right-of-way, the Eganville Station and other pertinent accessories situated within its boundaries" at that price. | Eganville Leader 1987-06-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1988-07-12≥ | Moose Creek | By 12 July 1988 (the issue date), the paper reported: Albert Houle, 79, "died after being hit by a train Monday afternoon": police believed he "suffered from severe hearing loss" and did not hear the train; "there are warning lights and bells" though no barriers, the tracks being "just down the street from the retirement home at 250 Labrosse St". | Ottawa Citizen 1988-07-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1988-12-31≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 31 December 1988 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The National Transportation Agency announced Friday it has granted permission for CN to abandon its operation between Nepean and Renfrew." The agency said that "from 1984 to 1986 the 70-kilometre branch line lost more than $780,000" with no prospect of profit. BASF at Arnprior, which "uses the CN line to ship tanker cars of a petrochemical", asked Canadian Pacific to build a spur; "CN trains now make weekly trips to the Arnprior plant". | Ottawa Citizen 1988-12-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1989 | Barrys Bay | Barry's Bay Railway Station Restoration Committee organized to restore station. | leader |
| 1989-07-24≥ | Eastmans | By 24 July 1989 (the issue date), the paper reported: Larry Cashman, 31, an off-duty Gloucester firefighter of Carlsbad Springs, "was killed Sunday afternoon when his pickup truck was hit by a train near Carlsbad Springs": southbound on Sand Road, three kilometres east of Carlsbad Springs, his vehicle "was struck by a VIA Rail passenger train" heading west. "There are no warning lights or gates at the level crossing... It is marked by two signs." The National Transportation Agency investigated; Garry McLaughlin said on 3 August that the truck had air conditioning and its windows were up. | Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-07-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1989-08-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1989-11-20≥ | Vars | By 20 November 1989 (the issue date), the paper reported: Keith MacIsaac, 27, of Gloucester, "was travelling southbound alone on Rockdale Road at John Street and Division Street at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning when he saw railway crossing lights flashing", braked on wet snow and ice and "slam[med] into the side of the train" at Vars. "The front of MacIsaac's 1987 Chevrolet sedan was sheared in half at the dashboard"; he suffered a severe head cut and knee injuries. The firefighters who responded remembered the July 23 death of Gloucester fireman Cashman "at Vars", and "Both train collisions happened only a couple of concessions apart on the same line of track at Vars." | The Star 1989-11-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1990-06-11≥ | Alexandria | By 11 June 1990 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Two Lancaster-area residents died at about 10:30 a.m." Sunday "when their car was hit by a passenger train, about 90 kilometres east of Ottawa": Lori MacDonell, 20, and Keith McDonell, 23, were killed "as they attempted to cross the CN Rail tracks on Massie Road about four km east of Alexandria". The railway warning sign at the crossing "had been broken off by vandals just hours before the accident", the Lochiel Township roads superintendent said; the Ottawa-bound VIA Rail train was coming from Montreal. The crossing "has been the scene of two previous collisions in recent years", in 1987 and 1989. | Ottawa Citizen 1990-06-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1990-06-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1991-01-14≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 14 January 1991 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Thirteen cars from a Montreal-to-Ottawa freight train jumped the tracks at Russell Road and Farmers Way near Carlsbad Springs at about 2:45 a.m. Sunday." "VIA Rail service between Ottawa and Montreal remained cut this morning"; trains were replaced by bus service for about 300 passengers while CN brought two cranes from Montreal. "No one was injured and no hazardous substances spilled"; CN said a damaged car carrying rolls of steel may have broken the tracks. | Ottawa Citizen 1991-01-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1991-01-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1991-02-25≥ | Vars | By 25 February 1991 (the issue date), the paper reported: A mentally handicapped woman, Carol Louise Greene, 51, of the Gregoire Residence in Vars, "was hit and killed Sunday by a passenger train in Vars", about noon; the residence manager said she and another resident "were walking along the tracks... and became confused when they heard the approaching train's whistle". The tracks run about 70 metres from the residence. | Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1991-02-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1992-02-18 | Glen Robertson | "On February 18, two LRC coaches on Ottawa-Montreal Train 34 derailed at speed at Glen Robertson, Ontario, when an axle broke. Fortunately there were no injuries." The derailments, with one at Ottawa in 1991, led VIA to step up axle testing of LRC rolling stock on recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board. | Canadian Press 1992-03-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1992-08-25 | Moose Creek | A VIA Rail passenger train, train 31 from Montreal, "slammed broadside into the van at 145 kilometres an hour" at a level crossing on Hwy. 138, about 30 kilometres north of Cornwall, at 8:45 a.m. Of eight people in the van, "Lynn Lalande, 24, of Kanata and Kelly Harris, 29, of Orleans died in the crash." "Flashing lights and warning signals were operating for 22 seconds before the van loaded with eight people drove into the train's path." "There have been two other fatal crashes at that crossing since 1981." The driver, Abdul Nasser Jabbari, was charged, and on 30 June 1993 a judge fined him $1,000 for careless driving. | Ottawa Citizen 1992-08-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1992-08-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1992-10-24(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-07-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1992-10-09≥ | Middle Subdivision | By 9 October 1992 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton has got into the shortline operating business by purchasing 43 kilometres of CN track between Arnprior and Nepean, which CN had received permission to abandon." The region bought the railway for $550,000 and leased it to BASF under a 20-year agreement; BASF bought CN Rail's equipment for $1.3 million. "After special provincial legislation was passed, the Arnprior-Nepean Railway Co. Inc. was born." | Ottawa Citizen 1992-10-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-09-17≥ | Casselman | By 17 September 1993 (the issue date), the paper reported: Wilmer Urquhart, 65, of Maxville, "was in hospital Thursday after his pick-up truck was hit by an Ottawa-bound VIA passenger train near Casselman": he "was stopped at a crossing on county road 3, about two kilometres west of Casselman, when the train clipped the front of the truck". He was taken by air ambulance to Ottawa General Hospital. | Ottawa Citizen 1993-09-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-10-24 | Casselman | "On October 24, two Ontario Provincial Police officers were killed when their cruiser was struck by VIA's Ottawa-Montreal Train 34 at a protected crossing in Casselman." Constables Richard Jean, 23, and Alain Desforges, 30, "died at the scene": driving west on St Isidore Street at about 3:15 p.m., they attempted to cross the tracks "although red warning lights were flashing"; the Montreal-bound train dragged the cruiser half a kilometre and was held for about four hours, none of its 80 passengers injured. Investigators found no evidence they were answering an emergency call and could not say what caused the crash. | Montreal Gazette 1993-10-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1993-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1993-11-25≤ | Casselman | From 25 November 1993 (the issue date), the paper announced: "CN Rail is proposing crossing barriers at an intersection in Casselman where two police officers were killed in an October train crash." Village clerk Gilles Lortie said "the plan calls for barriers at St. Isidore Street and Dollard Street", a third barrier at Cartier Street or the closure of the road being studied; the village would vote by Dec. 6. | Ottawa Citizen 1993-11-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1995-12-18≥ | Casselman | By 18 December 1995 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A Casselman-area man was in hospital with serious injuries late Sunday after the car he was driving collided with a VIA passenger train in Casselman, 50 kilometres east of Ottawa": the westbound train hit his car "at a level crossing on Segault Road at 12:23 p.m." | Ottawa Citizen 1995-12-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1996-01-05≥ | Hawkesbury Branch | By 5 January 1996 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canadian National has its Vankleek Subdivision up for sale. The 20-mile line links Glen Robertson (on the Alexandria Subdivision) with Hawkesbury, Ontario", with the 4.4-mile L'Original spur to L'Original. "Service is now offered on a 6-day-a-week basis by a road switcher out of Coteau, Quebec. The Vankleek Subdivision was built by J.R. Booth, legendary lumber king of the Ottawa Valley. Booth also built the Alexandria Subdivision as the Canada Atlantic Railway and the Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway, connecting Ottawa with Depot Harbour, Ontario. Part of this line survives as the Renfrew Subdivision operated by CN under contract with the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton." | Globe and Mail 1996-01-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1996-05-29≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 29 May 1996 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A woman died Tuesday night when the van she was driving collided with a VIA Rail passenger train at a controlled railway crossing on Russell Road", west of Carlsbad Springs at about 7:50 p.m.; the train, from Montreal to Ottawa, stopped about half a kilometre on and no one aboard was hurt. "Witnesses at the scene said the railway safety lights and bells were working. There is no barrier at the crossing." | Ottawa Citizen 1996-05-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1996-07-03≥ | Vars | By 3 July 1996 (the issue date), the paper reported: Joey MacRillo, 37, "a resident of a nursing home in the hamlet of Vars, died after being hit by a westbound VIA train at about 7:30 p.m." on Tuesday, in Cumberland Township; "At the time he was standing on the tracks, apparently aware of the oncoming train, police said." | Ottawa Citizen 1996-07-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1996-11-02 | Hawkesbury Branch | "RailTex Inc. of San Antonio, Texas, has reached an agreement to acquire CN's 21-mile Vankleek Subdivision between Glen Robertson and Hawkesbury, Ontario, plus the 4.4-mile L'Orignal Spur, for $1.1-million." "Operations commenced on November 2 on the line (named the Ontario L'Orignal Railway)"; the sale was scheduled to close on December 2. The company expected to handle 6,000 carloads a year, "primarily steel products from the IVACO mini-mill in L'Orignal, Ontario." | Financial Post 1996-11-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1997-05-20≥ | Alexandria | By 20 May 1997 (the issue date), the paper reported: "An unidentified male pedestrian died last evening. He was struck by a train near Alexandria at about 7 p.m." The OPP later identified him as Stephane Daoust, 24, of St-Bernardin, "walking on the tracks at about 6:30 p.m." when "fatally struck" by a Montreal-bound VIA passenger train on Monday night; "Mr. Daoust did not react to the train's horn." | Ottawa Citizen 1997-05-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1997-05-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1997-07-13≥ | Vars | By 13 July 1997 (the issue date), the paper reported: The Ontario Provincial Police sought help in a shooting at a CN Rail freight train in Vars on Wednesday evening: "someone shot at a Montreal-bound train between Main Street and Devine Road at about 8:30 p.m. A bullet fired from south of the train entered the locomotive, narrowly missing the engineer's head. There were no injuries." | Ottawa Citizen 1997-07-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1998 | Barrys Bay | Group from Barry's Bay Railway Station Restoration Committee decided to preserve water tower. | leader |
| 1998-08-15≥ | Eastmans | By 15 August 1998 (the issue date), the paper reported: A police pursuit near Carlsbad Springs on Friday ended with a stolen car stuck on "the CN railway tracks that intersect the road" at Hall Road, off Russell Road, about 500 metres along the tracks: "the 10:15 VIA passenger train from Montreal to Ottawa with 123 people aboard came rumbling over the hill... The train hit both the police cruiser and the stolen car. Both vehicles were complete writeoffs. Nobody on the train was hurt." The tracks were cleared shortly after 3 p.m. and the train arrived in Ottawa before 3:30 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 1998-08-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-03-31≥ | Maxville | By 31 March 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A man was killed near Maxville last night when he was struck by a VIA Rail train enroute from Montreal to Ottawa"; the train was delayed for an OPP investigation and passengers were sent to Ottawa by bus. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-03-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-10-18 | Barrys Bay | Water tower has been restored, now part of park. | leader |
| 2000-10-18≥ | Barrys Bay Water Tower | By 18 October 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Canada's last existing wooden railway water tower has been completely restored and is now part of a beautiful park in Barry's Bay." The tower was dedicated, village councillor John Yakabuski acting as master of ceremonies; the Barry's Bay Railway Station Restoration Committee was organized in 1989 and "in 1998 a group which came out of this committee decided to preserve the water tower and make the area around it more appealing." | Eganville Leader 2000-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-12-18≥ | Vars | By 18 December 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A 39-year-old Vars woman is dead after being struck by a Montreal-bound VIA Rail train, yesterday": the incident "happened in a wooded area several hundred metres from any road or crossing, between Frank Kenny Road and Bearbrook Road in Vars". "Town residents assumed the warning bells on the tracks were stuck again, until police and firefighters arrived." The train continued its journey at about 5:55 p.m. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-12-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2000-12-30≥ | Hawkesbury Branch | By 30 December 2000 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The Ottawa Central Railway has purchased the Ontario L'Orignal Railway, from Rail-America Inc. of Boca Raton, Florida." The L'Orignal Railway is "a 42-kilometre rail line based in Vankleek Hill. The track runs from Glen Robertson to Hawkesbury, then to L'Orignal." The OCR's general manager James Allen said the addition "doubles its operations", from 10,000 to 22,000 carloads a year. | Ottawa Citizen 2000-12-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2002-06-05≥ | Vars | By 5 June 2002 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A resident of the Vars area in her 40s died early yesterday morning when she was hit by a freight train." "Ottawa police say the woman was walking on the railway right of way when she was struck by the train at about 2:55 a.m." Foul play was not suspected. | Ottawa Citizen 2002-06-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2005-05-03≥ | Maxville | By 3 May 2005 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A railway car carrying ethanol, a volatile flammable liquid, bumped another car and broke open, leaking gas into an area behind the seniors residence" in the Maxville rail yard just before 3 a.m. yesterday. About 200 residents, including 120 of the Maxville Manor, were evacuated to the sports complex; "Maxville Mayor Bill Franklin declared the area in a state of emergency about 5 a.m." and regional roads 20 and 22 were closed. Rail workers transferred the ethanol to another tanker; residents returned about 1 p.m. VIA cancelled trains between Montreal and Ottawa, affecting about 330 passengers. | Ottawa Citizen 2005-05-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2006-01-18≥ | Maxville | By 18 January 2006 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The township of North Glengarry has learned that it is facing an arbitrary 'deductible' of $96,000 before the province will help pay for the costs of the Maxfield train derailment emergency which happened last May": "an Ottawa Central Railway tanker containing ethanol was derailed and started leaking its contents". Council voted to accept an offer from Ottawa Central Rail of $23,410.59 toward the township's costs, $4,207.98 short of its invoice. | Eastern Ontario Review 2006-01-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2006-08-02≥ | Vankleek Hill | By 2 August 2006 (the issue date), the paper reported: A Prescott Russell Trails vehicle "was brought to a halt recently by an Ottawa Central Railway (OCR) flag man" on the trail "just east of Highway 34 near Vankleek Hill", where the OCR tracks cross the trail. OCR general manager James Allen said heavy equipment could not cross without a flag man "at a cost of about $1,000 the first 8-hour day, and $800 for each subsequent day", under the Railway Safety Act. | Eastern Ontario Review 2006-08-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2007-08-15≥ | Vars | By 15 August 2007 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A man was killed after being struck by a train in east rural Ottawa yesterday." Ottawa police said he was struck by a Montreal-bound VIA train "between Rockland and Devine roads just after 7 a.m."; the train, with 96 passengers, was held on the single-track corridor and a second train from Montreal was stopped. | Ottawa Citizen 2007-08-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2007-09-08≥ | Eastmans | By 8 September 2007 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Ottawa police and VIA Rail investigators are looking for someone who tampered with rail traffic signalling lights and crossing barriers in the city's east end. Twice within the past two weeks, items that cause the barriers to malfunction... were put on the tracks at Boundary Road and Eighth Line Road. OPP recently investigated a similar incident at Casselman." | Ottawa Citizen 2007-09-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-07-31≤ | Eastmans | From 31 July 2008 (the issue date), the paper announced: VIA Rail planned to invest more than $25M to modernize its rail infrastructure between Ottawa and Montreal. In the first phase "upgrades to the Ottawa-Montreal line will include the addition of a 0.76-km long passing track approximately 16 kilometres east of Ottawa, near Carlsbad Springs", with remote-controlled power switches tied into the Centralized Traffic Control system. | Canada Newswire 2008-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-07-31≤ | Eastern Subdivision | From 31 July 2008 (the issue date), the paper announced: VIA Rail planned "installing new continuously-welded rail and performing other associated track work over some 40 track-miles between Coteau, PQ, and Moose Creek, ON", expected to be completed within a few months and carried out by Total Track. | Canada Newswire 2008-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-07-31≤ | Nation River Bridge | From 31 July 2008 (the issue date), the paper announced: VIA Rail planned "structural rehabilitation of the bridge over the South Nation River in Casselman, a project which has been awarded to SEMA Railway Structures, will also be completed", as part of upgrades to the Ottawa-Montreal line that it said would "improve comfort, speed, ride quality and reliability". | Canada Newswire 2008-07-31(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-08-22≤ | Middle Subdivision | From 22 August 2008 (the issue date), the paper announced: "On Oct. 5, the mayors of Bristol, Que., Arnprior and Renfrew will join other area politicians and Ottawa Central Railway staff on a test run of the train from the Walkley railyard to Pembroke along existing OCR tracks. The run is intended to expose riders to the route and duration of the trip", part of a regional commuter rail idea. | Ottawa Citizen 2008-08-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2008-08-22≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 22 August 2008 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A pilot project that would see VIA trains taking commuters between Alexandria and Ottawa could be in place by fall 2009, the mayor of Casselman said yesterday", after Mayor Conrad Lamadeleine met VIA Rail president Paul Cote with Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien. "The rail line from Alexandria in the east has scheduled improvements such as installing a passing track at Carlsbad Springs that should make a pilot project possible by 2009"; he estimated as many as 1,000 people would use the service, which would end at Ottawa's main VIA station. | Ottawa Citizen 2008-08-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-02-18≥ | Vankleek Hill | By 18 February 2009 (the issue date), the paper reported: Residents of Vankleek Hill complained about "the noise and smell of diesel" from idling trains kept at the base of the hill near the industrial park. CN's Ottawa Central Railway division said "CN trains without block heaters must be left idling until the ambient temperature outside is above 10 degrees Celsius"; at a meeting on February 17 Champlain councillor Paul Emile Duval gave CN "a week" for a solution, though CN said it was "much more looking at a solution for next fall". On 9 March MP Pierre Lemieux wrote to CN about a petition of almost 300 names; by 28 October Mayor Gary Barton said CN had assured him "they wouldn't be there this fall". | Eastern Ontario Review 2009-02-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eastern Ontario Review 2009-03-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Eastern Ontario Review 2009-10-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-03-17 | Eastern Subdivision | Transport Minister John Baird announced on Tuesday that "the government plans to add two more trains in both directions between Ottawa and Montreal" and track improvements to speed Via Rail travel; CTV Ottawa had reported at least $10 million would be spent to improve travel time between the cities, funds put aside in the 2008 budget. | CBC News 2009-03-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),CTV News 2009-03-16(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-03-18≥ | Eastern Subdivision | By 18 March 2009 (the issue date), the paper reported: Canada's Transport Minister and VIA Rail announced "over $13 million of improvements are now complete": "Upgrades so far on VIA's network include a $12.5M investment in the Alexandria Subdivision, between Ottawa and Montreal", with major renovations worth some $500,000 to the Ottawa station. | Ottawa Sun 2009-03-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |