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 structures.
| Date | Subject | Statement | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929-06-25 | Alexandria Depot | Canadian National train No. 50 from Ottawa to Montreal, carrying about 150 passengers, "ran into an open switch about 500 feet west of the station here this afternoon, it plowed into a string of freight cars placed on the siding and pushed them over the open end of the siding into the station, demolishing the south-west corner." Fireman A. E. Ricketts was the only person injured. A car of wheat for the D. Markson flour mills was telescoped; the station, "solid brick", was damaged in one corner. The main line was not blocked and the passengers reached Montreal 45 minutes late. | Ottawa Citizen 1929-06-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1929-06-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1929-08-21 | Ottawa Central Station | "The biggest engine ever to come in to Ottawa hauled the biggest train ever to come in to Ottawa today when Canadian National engine Number 6153 drew 18 steel coaches and a baggage car into the Union Station." The train brought 2,300 members of the Canadian National Railways Literary and Scientific Institute to the exhibition; 85 extra coaches came into the station that day. The engine was 92 feet long. | Ottawa Citizen 1929-08-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1929-09-04≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 4 September 1929 (the issue date), the paper reported: Twelve-year-old Maurice Boivin, "attempting to dive from the top of the train sheds at the Union Station to the Rideau canal shortly before five o'clock yesterday afternoon, crashed through a glass skylight, fell 20 feet and landed inside the station on number four track." He had a broken arm and other injuries. | Ottawa Journal 1929-09-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1929-11-26 | Maria Street Bridge | "Laurier Avenue bridge will necessarily have to be lengthened when the Canadian National Railways finishes the work of widening its yards, according to opinion expressed in reliable quarters today. The Canadian National at present is cutting away the high embankment on the east side of its yards south of the bridge in order to provide more track space". Canadian National counsel told the Board of Railway Commissioners that the bridge was unsafe and in danger of falling unless repaired; the cost of repairs was to be apportioned between the C.N.R. and the Ottawa Electric. | Ottawa Citizen 1929-11-26(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1930-04-03 | Maria Street Bridge | "The O.E.R. is in no way responsible for the condition of the Laurier avenue bridge, the cost of repairing or reconstructing which must therefore be borne by the city, and the Public Works Department." A report by the Inspecting and Testing Company of Montreal, made for the Railway Commission, found that the Ottawa Electric Railway "has in no way disturbed the water proofing of the bridge", and that the concrete roadway the O.E.R. built when it laid its tracks in 1924 was still in good condition. | Ottawa Citizen 1930-04-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1930-04-04≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 4 April 1930 (the issue date), the paper reported: Bridge engineer Ernest E. Gagnon told the Board of Railway Commissioners' chief engineer that "the east end of the bridge is in a very precarious state and should be rebuilt at once". The bridge "was built in 1900"; the concrete arches were "seriously affected by steam and acids from the heavy exhaust of engines", the reinforcing rods were "very badly eaten away" with their section reduced some 70 per cent, and the bridge had been improperly maintained, especially the painting. Chief engineer T. L. Simmons agreed and recommended that the parties proceed with repairs or reconstruction "forthwith"; he said the O.E.R. was in no way responsible. | Ottawa Citizen 1930-04-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1930-10-11 | Maria Street Bridge | Mrs. Charles H. Thorburn is quoted that the Maria Street Bridge of 1889 was "a wooden, circular bridge with high arches on either side" and that an elephant refused to cross it, hastening the new steel bridge. The Citizen of 20 April 1901 is quoted: the new bridge was built "without a straight grade, in a parabolic curve", with 400 tons of steel, 24 columns, abutments by John Burns and steel work by the Dominion Bridge Co.; "The new bridge was opened on July 4th, 1901"; "Upon completion the bridge was renamed Laurier, after the Prime Minister at that time." | Ottawa Citizen 1930-10-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1930-12-03 | Ottawa Central Station | "The noise of chisels and hammers resounded through the Union Station building today, as workmen commenced to dig up the concrete to remove the old iron gates that guard the entrance to trains. The gates are to be replaced by a glass-enclosed entrance similar to the one at the Windsor Station in Montreal." | Ottawa Citizen 1930-12-03(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1931-01-12 | Ottawa Central Station | "There is considerable construction work being undertaken at the Union Station. The new glass-enclosed gates at the entrance to trains are rapidly nearing completion. The iron structure has already been erected and part of the glass has been installed. In addition, new marble steps are being constructed to replace those leading to the ground level, and the canopy over the main entrance to the station is being repaired." | Ottawa Citizen 1931-01-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1931-09-23≥ | Alexandria Water Tower | By 23 September 1931 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The water tank at the station at Alexandria was struck by lightning and some of the boards split but no serious damage was done." The same item reports that Highway No. 34 between Alexandria and Lancaster "was blocked for four hours last night when four large cedar trees were torn out by the wind". | Ottawa Citizen 1931-09-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1931-12-12≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 12 December 1931 (the issue date), the paper reported: A Canadian National train, engine 6026, ran into the rear of the Canadian Pacific Montreal-Vancouver train in the Laurier avenue yards "about 9.15 o'clock last night", injuring ten or eleven people, among them Fire Chief J. E. Lemieux; the C.P.R. observation car was lifted off its truck. Both trains had left Montreal at 7.15 and were due at Ottawa at 9.15 and 9.16; at Deep Cut the trains leave their own tracks and come in on the single main line, and at the Laurier avenue bridge are switched again. The C.N.R. engineer, H. H. Legate, was confronted with a blanket of steam from the train ahead. The C.N.R. superintendent H. C. White said "the trains had been running on the single track for 25 years. This was the first time an accident of this nature had occurred." | Ottawa Citizen 1931-12-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1931-12-12(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1931-12-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1932-02-18 | Ottawa Central Station | The Board of Railway Commissioners "is hearing representations of counsel for both railways at a sitting today" to fix responsibility and the payment for damages from the collision between a C.N.R. and a C.P.R. train in the Ottawa yards on the night of Friday, 11 December. "Revision of railway regulations may result from the hearing", said Chief Commissioner Justice C. P. Fullerton. The sittings were private; on 20 February they were adjourned until Tuesday, the Board acting "as a board of arbitration between the two railway companies". | Ottawa Citizen 1932-02-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1932-02-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1933 | Madawaska Roundhouse | Madawaska is a "ghost town": "the skeleton of the once-busy Grand Trunk roundhouse that held 35 locomotives when Madawaska was a division point on the railroad, built by J.R. Booth. The town's population shrank by 200 when a section of the road was ripped up and the roundhouse closed in 1933." | Ottawa Citizen 1952-11-19(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1936-02-25 | Maria Street Bridge | Roland Durocher, 19, of Montreal, "was fatally injured when he jumped off the tender and slipped and fell under the wheels of the second last coach of the CPR Montreal-Ottawa train as it was pulling into the yards here shortly before one o'clock this morning." The scene was "just 150 yards south of the Laurier avenue bridge where the train would be slowing down to come into the station"; Durocher and his chum, 15, were beating their way to Timmins. | Ottawa Citizen 1936-02-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1936-02-28≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 28 February 1936 (the issue date), the paper reported: At the inquest into the death of Roland Desrochers, 19, of Montreal, killed "while riding 'blind baggage' on the Imperial limited early Tuesday morning", the coroner's jury "decided Desrochers met his death while trespassing and that it was accidental." Constable Arthur Rondeau described commandeering a locomotive to search for the body, which was found "about 150 yards south of the Laurier avenue Bridge". | Ottawa Journal 1936-02-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1937-09-13≥ | Casselman Depot | By 13 September 1937 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Fire, which was discovered shortly afternoon on Sunday, completely destroyed the C.N.R. station and freight shed at Casselman, 31 miles east of Ottawa. The loss, according to railway officials, is confined to the frame building, 60 feet by 30 feet in size and erected about 30 years ago." The cause was unknown but attributed to defective electric wiring; the tickets and safe were saved, and there was no delay in traffic. | Ottawa Citizen 1937-09-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1937-09-13≥ | Casselman Freight Shed | By 13 September 1937 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Fire, which was discovered shortly afternoon on Sunday, completely destroyed the C.N.R. station and freight shed at Casselman". A passer-by noticed smoke issuing from the freight shed, "which had been closed since Saturday", and raised the alarm by sounding the church bell; the volunteer brigade prevented the flames from spreading. | Ottawa Citizen 1937-09-13(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1938-07-23≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 23 July 1938 (the issue date), the paper reported: James A. Dean, 48, Canadian National Railways engineer, "died early last evening in the ambulance while being rushed to the Civic Hospital a few minutes after he had been run over by a yard train in the yards beneath Laurier avenue bridge." The accident happened about 7.15 as the yard train was backing south out of a siding; Dean had left the engine in charge of the fireman, W. L. Thurlow, while he went to eat, and "it is believed that Dean returned and started to get on board his engine just as it began to move out of the siding with six freight cars, and slipped as he climbed up the steps". He had 33 years with the railway and had been an engineer for 20. | Ottawa Citizen 1938-07-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1938-07-28≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 28 July 1938 (the issue date), the paper reported: "A coroner's jury under Dr. Harry Dover last night found that James A. Dean, 48, Canadian National Railways engineer, met an accidental death on Friday, July 22nd. No blame was attached to anyone." He was "run over by an eight-car train in the yards beneath Laurier avenue bridge"; the fireman W. L. Thurlow said Dean had asked him to take charge of the train while he had his supper. | Ottawa Citizen 1938-07-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1938-07-29≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 29 July 1938 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Five minutes before the eight o'clock train was due to arrive from Montreal last evening, a large dapple gray colt, dragging a two-wheeled braking cart behind it, appeared racing down the tracks under the Laurier bridge, headed for the Union station." Edward Bowen, a postal employee, caught the animal, which was unhurt; the owner, M. J. Gorman, had bolted from Hurdman road, and the Montreal train "thundered into the station, down the same track" minutes later. | Ottawa Citizen 1938-07-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1938-08-30 | Ottawa Central Station | "When the Toronto train arrived in Ottawa on Tuesday, Donat Bertrand, C.N.R. gate attendant, noticed a rod rider fast asleep on the tender of the engine. 'Wake up! First call for breakfast,' he shouted." "Scarcely a train pulls into Union station without a rod-rider these days. Station officials say it is useless to arrest them for the jails would be full." | Ottawa Citizen 1938-08-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1939-05-04≤ | Ottawa Central Station | From 4 May 1939 (the issue date), the paper announced: "For the departure of Their Majesties on May 20, the Union Station will be closed between 3.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Superintendent J.A. Rogers of the C.N.R. announced this morning." The last train to arrive at 2.55 p.m. would be the C.N.R. train from Montreal; the last to leave the C.P.R. for Pembroke at 3.30 p.m.; between 3.30 and 6 only railway officials and the official party would be admitted. | Ottawa Citizen 1939-05-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1942-11-11 | Ottawa Central Station | The newsstand in the concourse of the Union station, about 20 years old, "disappeared on Tuesday when Canadian National Railway officials, in an effort to speed the entrance and exit of passengers, tore it down and began construction of a door in the wall against which it stood." Rail traffic was so heavy that attendants had difficulty avoiding jams; the new doorway gives an exit to the platform along the west side of the concourse. | Ottawa Journal 1942-11-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1942-12-10 | Ottawa Central Station | "At Union station owing to increased traffic and congestion at the gateways to and from the tracks, it has been found necessary to provide an additional gateway on the west side of the concourse leading to tracks 1 and 2. Officials say that of late it has been almost impossible to regulate traffic through the present gateways, especially from evening trains. Construction of the new gateway is proceeding." | Ottawa Journal 1942-12-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1942-12-23 | Ottawa Central Station | Loudspeakers replaced the station train caller at Union Station "this morning" when holiday travellers thronged to the early trains: "Instead of the long drawn station-to-station chant of one of the employes, with his 'all abo-o-o-o-o-ard', the throng heard their stations being blared forth from loudspeakers." The three speakers were on trial in the Christmas rush and, if they proved their worth, were expected to be permanent. | Ottawa Journal 1942-12-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1943 | Barrys Bay Water Tower | The Barry's Bay railway water tower, now "Canada's last existing wooden railway water tower", "was erected in 1943". | Eganville Leader 2000-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1944-01-10 | Maria Street Bridge | The Laurier avenue bridge, "closed since the weekend of August 7, was reopened to traffic at 8 o'clock this morning. The eastern approach of the span has been reconstructed, the floor slabs have been replaced and the steel pillars encased in cement. Cost of the repairs, borne by the C.N.R. was reported to be $60,000." | Ottawa Journal 1944-01-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1945-10-18 | Ottawa Central Station | The railway "threw open their yards to the Legion reception committee for the serving of refreshments and hot coffee to repatriated liberated British prisoners-of-war homeward bound from Japanese prison camps." "More than 800 prisoners-of-war were greeted by the mayor Stanley Lewis and the Legion and Legionettes" as two 15-car trains arrived at the Union station yards at 12.25 and 1.15. | Ottawa Citizen 1945-10-18(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1946-08-22≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 22 August 1946 (the issue date), the paper reported: Engineer Edward K. Schlieske of Ottawa, bringing a Canadian National passenger train into Union Station on Tuesday night, found that his daughter-in-law, a war bride, had arrived on his own train: "No, she came in on Number 1," he said. "Oh no she didn't, she came in on your train." | Ottawa Citizen 1946-08-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1947-06-05≤ | Ottawa Central Station | From 5 June 1947 (the issue date), the paper announced: "The C.N.R. Central Station will handle 8,000 persons on eight special trains, according to arrangements completed up to yesterday", for the Marian Congress in Ottawa; the C.N.R. planned 42 special trains from the Maritimes, Quebec and eastern Ontario and would set up hundreds of sleeping and dining cars on its Ottawa sidings as a "rolling hotel". Many Montreal-Ottawa trains were to run in extra sections. | Montreal Gazette 1947-06-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1947-06-20 | Ottawa Central Station | "The greatest influx of visitors in Ottawa's history was in full swing at the Union Station today, where only this morning, 5,900 Marian Congress pilgrims were brought to the Capital in seven special CN and CPR trains." The specials began rolling in at eight o'clock; "Today's schedule calls for 12 regular CN and 19 regular CPR trains", and at least 20 more specials were to arrive between midnight and early next morning. | Ottawa Citizen 1947-06-20(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1947-06-23≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 23 June 1947 (the issue date), the paper reported: Union Station "last night" was "packed to the rafters" with thousands of Marian Congress visitors returning home: "Only those whose trains were due to leave the station within the next half-hour were allowed to enter." By five o'clock "nearly 80,000 people had been handled by exhausted officials", on 80 specials and regular trains; there was "neither accidents nor confusion". Eighteen C.N.R. and 11 C.P.R. special Congress trains left, the C.N.R. trains standing on sidings behind the Besserer street post office and the station power plant. | Ottawa Citizen 1947-06-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1947-06-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1948-07-02≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 2 July 1948 (the issue date), the paper reported: About 120 boys left "yesterday morning" for the Ottawa Boys Clubs camp at Mink Lake, two special cars on the C.N.R. Eganville train, which "was pulling out of the Union Station" when a father and mother and a Citizen photographer sprinted down the platform with a 10-year-old camper; "a soft-hearted conductor signalled to a stop." | Ottawa Citizen 1948-07-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1952-02-28 | Ottawa Central Station | Governor-General designate Vincent Massey "arrived with a 'bang' at Union Station this morning. His special six-car train backed into the station too fast and crashed into a special disembarking platform erected for the arrival. No one was injured, but a few CNR officials were flustered." | Ottawa Citizen 1952-02-28(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1952-05-14 | Ottawa Central Station | Percy L. Bonner, chief dispatcher of the C.N.R. Ottawa division, and his staff worked in a three-roomed office "near the Besserer Street entrance of the Union Station", at the top of a long flight of iron stairs, issuing the orders that move all trains in and out of Ottawa; Bonner had 39 years of railroading. Photographs showed freight No. 402 bound for Montreal, hauled by two diesels and leaving the Bank Street station, taking orders on a hoop, and the "Clock" from which division watches are set. | Ottawa Citizen 1952-05-14(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1955-02-04 | Ottawa Central Station | Oswald Patrick George, born in Eganville, was "stepping out of service with the Canadian National Railways this evening" after 21 years as station master at the Union Station, where "literally millions of people have arrived and left"; he greeted visitors including Churchill, Eden, Truman and Roosevelt. With nearly 50 years with the C.N.R. and the Grand Trunk, he went as a brakeman as far as Depot Harbor, was yardmaster at Coteau in the thirties, and was named station master at Ottawa when the depression ended. | Ottawa Journal 1955-02-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1956-10-10≥ | Maria Street Bridge | By 10 October 1956 (the issue date), the paper reported: Four cars of the Super Continental "jumped the tracks while pulling into Union Station" at 6 p.m. "early last evening", just north of the Laurier Avenue bridge, as the train was slowing for the station; the first wheels left the rails at a "double slip switch". Passengers for the west were delayed five and a half hours (the Journal says eight hours, the train leaving at 2.15 a.m.), and the cars were lifted back on by yard cranes. No one was injured. | Ottawa Citizen 1956-10-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1956-10-10(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1958-04-17≤ | Ottawa Freight Sheds | From 17 April 1958 (the issue date), the paper announced: Over the weekend the C.N.R. "will move out of its 50-year-old local freight office and sheds on Besserer Street in the Union Station area" to a new freight terminus on Russell Road at Alta Vista Drive. The Citizen says the Besserer Street terminus "was built in 1909 by the old Canada Atlantic Railway, which was incorporated in the CNR in 1923", and that the old freight sheds were built in 1919 after the originals burned that year. The Federal District Commission recommended the old facilities be demolished for a 160-car metered parking lot. | Ottawa Citizen 1958-04-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Journal 1958-04-17(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1958-04-21 | Ottawa Freight Sheds | The C.N.R. freight terminal on Besserer Street gave way to the new terminal at Riverside and Alta Vista Drives: "Transfer of freight and records from the old terminal in the Union Station area was completed 'without a hitch' over the weekend", and the first train of 43 mixed freight reached the new terminal shortly after 9 a.m., the keys being handed over by Alan K. Hay of the Federal District Commission. Under an F.D.C. proposal the old terminal would be demolished for a 160-car parking lot. | Ottawa Journal 1958-04-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1958-04-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1958-08-11≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 11 August 1958 (the issue date), the paper reported: "An FDC suggestion, some months ago, that a new $5,000,000 Union Station be built near Hurdman's Bridge, was turned down by the CNR and CPR within the past few days", the proposed site being two miles from the present station opposite the Chateau Laurier. It was accepted that Union Station would not move to Walkley Road, 7.5 miles from the Chateau, for 25 or 40 years. | Ottawa Citizen 1958-08-11(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1959-06-15≥ | Rideau Canal Bridge | By 15 June 1959 (the issue date), the paper reported: Lionel Morn, 44, of Isabella Street, "was found dead lying beside the CN railway tracks near Pretoria Bridge shortly before midnight Saturday", at the west end of the swing bridge at Pretoria, "believed struck by a train"; a watchman, Michael Furgoch of Glen Robertson, reported a young couple had told him of the man. | Ottawa Citizen 1959-06-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1959-07-02≥ | Ottawa Central Station | By 2 July 1959 (the issue date), the paper reported: "In a driving rainstorm that sent water cascading through the leaky canopy of Union Station, the Queen and Prince Philip left by train for Hamilton last night, after a 26 hour visit in Ottawa." Governor-General Massey and Prime Minister Diefenbaker met them at the Besserer Street entrance; "CNR engineer Floyd Goodfellow took the 16-car royal train away with a whisper." | Ottawa Citizen 1959-07-02(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1960-01-21≥ | Kinburn Depot | By 21 January 1960 (the issue date), the paper reported: The successful tenderer for "the demolition and removal of the CNR station building at Kinburn" was Samuel John McLean, announced by superintendent E. P. Burns. The frame station "was built in 1893", 79 feet by 20 feet three inches with 20-foot walls, a pitch roof of asphalt shingles, a brick chimney and an attached summer kitchen 10 by 36 feet. | Arnprior Chronicle 1960-01-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1963-01-04≤ | Rideau Canal Bridge | From 4 January 1963 (the issue date), the paper announced: "The last train is scheduled to cross the Rideau Canal on Jan. 13, thereby easing the traffic situation on Main Street and Echo Drive." The move was "made possible by the new turning Y track in the Alta Vista area built by the CNR and CPR with money provided by three levels of government", part of railway relocation. | Ottawa Citizen 1963-01-04(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1963-02-25≤ | Rideau Canal Bridge | From 25 February 1963 (the issue date), the paper announced: Tenders were invited, to close at 3.00 p.m. on March 7, 1963, "for the purchase and removal of a deck plate girder swing bridge over the Rideau Canal on the former Canadian National Railways Renfrew Subdivision", by the National Capital Commission. | Ottawa Citizen 1963-02-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1966-07-08≤ | Ottawa Central Station | From 8 July 1966 (the issue date), the paper announced: Tenders were invited, to close at 3.00 p.m. on 21 July 1966, by the National Capital Commission "for the demolition of train sheds only at the rear of the Union Station and the Canadian National Express and Baggage offices Besserer Street, Ottawa". | Ottawa Citizen 1966-07-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1966-07-31 | Ottawa Central Station | "All passenger trains to and from Ottawa will operate from the new Ottawa Station at Queensway and Alta Vista commencing Sunday, July 31st." The Citizen of 1 August reported that "Gone now are the trains through Centre Town into the old Union Station, which closed down early Sunday morning. About 300 people were on hand to see the last train leave the station. Shortly after that, the station was officially handed over to the National Capital Commission." The tracks were expected to be lifted almost immediately to make way for the parkway, and the Canadian Pacific Railway's Rideau was the first train into the new station. | Ottawa Citizen 1966-07-29(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...),Ottawa Citizen 1966-08-01(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1966-08-08≤ | Ottawa Freight Sheds | From 8 August 1966 (the issue date), the paper announced: "Removal of the railway express and freight sheds is slated to begin Aug. 15, with five miles of obsolete railway track to follow soon after." | Ottawa Citizen 1966-08-08(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1967-11-30≤ | Killaloe Depot | From 30 November 1967 (the issue date), the paper announced: "A further indication of the changing times is the decision to close the Canadian National Railways Station at Killaloe, effective December 7th, and have express shipments held on hand and accepted for transportation by Mr. Vincent A. McCue at his grocery store." Albert Thurston was the last regular agent, and latterly "Mr. John E. Redmond, CNR, Agent, Eganville, has taken care of the billing". | Eganville Leader 1967-11-30(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1968 | Eganville Depot | "The CNR agent was removed in 1968. John Redmond, who was agent at that time, has served at the Eganville station since then as CNR's 'express representative' or 'on-hand clerk.'" He would not retire fully until May, "when he will have worked 50 years for CNR". | Ottawa Journal 1977-12-21(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1968-11-23≥ | Rideau River Bridge | By 23 November 1968 (the issue date), the paper reported: "The abandoned truss bridge on the Rideau River just south of the Queensway" was to be demolished by the National Capital Commission, "slated to start on Wednesday": "The three 150-foot long sections" had served "from the days when the old Montreal-Ottawa railway line crossed it until a few years ago when the railway tracks in the area were phased out." "One other bridge on the Rideau River in the Mann Ave. area has already come down." | Ottawa Citizen 1968-11-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1968-11-23≥ | Rideau Canal Bridge | By 23 November 1968 (the issue date), the paper reported: In a clean-up of old railway bridge sites by the National Capital Commission, "the bridge on the Rideau Canal at the end of Dows Lake" had "already come down", as had a bridge on the Rideau River in the Mann Avenue area. | Ottawa Citizen 1968-11-23(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1968-12-09≤ | Rideau River Bridge | From 9 December 1968 (the issue date), the paper announced: The National Capital Commission invited tenders for the "removal and disposal of concrete abutments and piers from two abandoned railway bridges over the Rideau River in the Hurdman Bridge area." | Ottawa Citizen 1968-12-09(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 1970-06-20≥ | Eganville Depot | By 20 June 1970 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Six trains and two trucks. That's all the business Eganville stationmaster John Redmond handles in a week." The 50-year-old wooden station had "A train a day, Monday through Saturday three going to Ottawa, three coming from Ottawa"; the train brought the parcels Monday, Wednesday and Friday and a truck the other days, and it "pulls through slowly - if there's anything to be put aboard, Jack signals and the engineer stops". Redmond, 63, had been retained by the railroad as an "on-hand representative" to keep track of express parcels and freight, and had worked at Eganville for ten years. | Ottawa Citizen 1970-06-20(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 | 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 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...) |
| 2009-08-25≥ | Eganville Depot | By 25 August 2009 (the issue date), the paper reported: A real estate listing for Eganville: "This is your chance to own a piece of Eganville history. The old train station has been completely renovated into an absolutely unique family home", on 3 acres zoned commercial, asking $289,000. | Re/Max 2009-08-25(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2009-12-15≥ | Bridge at Madawaska | By 15 December 2009 (the issue date), the paper reported: About 20 people attended an information session on what to do with "the old Madawaska River Bridge just east of the Village of Madawaska". "The old railway bridge is used by snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles to cross the Madawaska River. For 23 years it has been part of the trail corridor." The Ministry of Natural Resources closed it in 2008; the railings were poor, "the timber piles were rotten. The steel truss, however, was in good condition", and the stone abutments were of historical interest. The preferred alternative was to remove the wooden portions and retain the steel centre trestle, seeking a partner to rebuild. | Barrys Bay This Week 2009-12-15(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2017-09-22≥ | Alexandria Depot | By 22 September 2017 (the issue date), the paper reported: Alexandria Station marked its 100th anniversary: "Alexandria Station opened in 1917 and welcomed its very first passengers. A century later, more than 15,000 travellers pass through this station every year." VIA Rail gave ten sugar maples to residents of North Glengarry and unveiled a commemorative plaque. | Cision 2017-09-22(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2023-11-05≥ | Alexandria Depot | By 5 November 2023 (the issue date), the paper reported: "Renovations are being made at Alexandria's historic railroad station." "The station was built in 1916 and 1917 by the Grand Trunk Railway, which eventually became part of Canadian National Railways (CN). Currently, it serves as a stop for passengers on VIA Rail's Ottawa-Montreal line. In 1994, it became a federally designated Heritage Railway Station." The work includes roofing replacement, small foundation repairs and brick repointing, planned to finish by the end of November. | Eastern Ontario Review 2023-11-05(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Local Railway...) |
| 2026-07-27 | Barrys Bay Water Tower | "Barry's Bay's iconic wooden water tower, the last of its kind in the province, will receive rehabilitation work this summer. Work commenced on Monday July 27 and is expected to wrap up in September." The tower "was purchased by the Town of Barry's Bay once it was no longer in use by CN in the 1970s, and underwent significant rehabilitation in the 1980s"; in 2023 the Township contracted a structural assessment finding that the timber support structure needed replacement, in 2024 it completed a cultural heritage assessment report, and last year it had engineered drawings completed. | Madawaska Valley 2026-07-27(Transcribed by Colin J. Churcher in 'Railway Items...) |
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