Canadian Railway Station News

BRITISH COLUMBIA   E&N Nanaimo: In August of 2007, the Heritage Designated Railway station was damaged by fire. The Spanish-design station building is to be restored and returned to passenger service on Vancouver Island. Via Rail passenger trains continue to use the station platform, while restoration continues.       E&N Nanaimo, CRSN photograph     CNoR/CN Kamloops: The large two storey station building has been restored, and part of the building is used as a Keg Restaurant, while the other part is used as station facilities for Rocky Mountaineer Passenger trains. The close by Canadian Pacific Railway station was demolished, and replaced with a square box-type station building, a number of years ago. The former GTP Kamloops North Station was demolished by VIA Rail, and replace with a station building of there own design.     CNoR/CN Kamloops, CRSN photograph   CP New Westminster: A number of people had commented over the years, that the front of this classic CP brick station was always difficult to photograph, due to parked box cars. This problem no longer exists, and the station has been sold, and has been very nicely restored, and is now a Keg Restaurant. Several of the near by track have been removed, and replaced with a roadway, so photography is accessible from sidewalks at both the east and ends of the building. Also, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway station here is still in railway operation.

ALBERTA   GTP/CN/VIA Hinton: It is thought that this station was the last former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, Type 1 station design in railway passenger service. The station building has been purchased by the town, and moved not far from its original location to a site east of Timber Street, and just off Pembina Avenue (Just North of the Yellowhead Highway, Highway 16) in November of 2003. Restoration on the station has begun, and the station building is visible from either Highway 16, or from passing passenger trains. Passenger trains still stop at the station platform, which is now known as a "signpost station". http://www.hintonhistory.com/rail/rail.htm   Former CNoR/CN Calgary: The former station is located at 141 18th Ave, just east of 4th Street West in the City. The railway line to the station was cutback several years ago, to a point a point to south of the station, after the last train departed for Edmonton. The building has an interesting history. At first the building was used as hall for a nearby church. The CNoR then purchased the hall from the church, adding tracks (which ended at 18th Avenue) and a platform canopy (which is still on the building) on the east side of the limestone and brick building. At the conclusion of passenger service, CN sold building to the City, who turned the building into a dance school.   Former CP South Edmonton: The former station is still located on the west side of the right-of-way and 103 Street. Most of the former offices on both floors have been removed. The first floor of this large brick building has been removed, and the space is now used as a restaurant, while the second floor is used as a large dance floor. The former station is now known as the "Iron Horse Restaurant and Pub".       Former CP South Edmonton, CRSN Photograph

SASKATCHEWAN CN North Battleford: This large, brick station building, replace an earlier CNoR station building, in 1956. What is interesting is that the station still has the self-standing name board and the "CNR" on the chimney. The station building is still use, by CN as a maintenance of way office, also part of the building is used as a radio/telephone relay station, while the west end of building is now a, Inter-City bus station.   CN Biggar: There are two items of railway heritage in tower. The large former GTP Divisional Point station has not been in use for several years, after CN moved into new facilities just behind the station building. The future seems unsure for the Heritage Designated Railway station, which is of brick construction. Via Rail used a "stationette" building, at the east end of the station, until recently. The former GTP roundhouse (the last one in existence) which is being used to raise poultry, with an uncertain future as it is being threatened with being demolished by landlord CN. Also the former CP station here has been moved closer into town, and is being used an administrative office for a campground. Always remember, "New York City is big, but this is Biggar"

MANITOBA   CNoR/CN Dauphin: This large brick and sandstone former Canadian Northern Railway station has been restored and is now home to a model railway layout and a museum. Plus, the station still serves Via Rail Trains. A sister station of almost the same design, in Edmonton was demolished in the early 1970's, and replaced by station facilities in the basement of CN's office tower just to the east of the station building site. A larger version of the same design was built in Saskatoon, but a number of years ago, the station building was demolished by the City, and a replica built which is now as a market building. Fortunately, the large, former CNoR station in Thunder Bay (Former Port Arthur has been restored and is now used by the city and community groups. dauphinrailmuseum@dauphin.ca.   CNoR/CN/Via Portage La Prairie: The once Union Station, shared facilities with the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway. This Heritage Designated Railway Station, which is of brick construction as well as still being used as a station by Via Rail, is also used as the town's intercity bus station. One of the remaining features of this station is that all the signs in building, baggage room, washrooms, etc are self-standing, with individual standing letters. This feature, while once very common in railway stations across the country, is now a very rare sight, in railway stations.       CNoR/CN/Via Portage La Prairie, CRSN Photograph   CP Brandon: The main station building of this large station, has been vacant for several years now, and up for sale. The building has been purchased by a developer, but as of yet, no information has been given, as per the future uses of the building.

ONTARIO Former CN/VIA Oakville: On February 28th, 2009, the new VIA Rail station in Oakville opened. The new station is just to the west of the old station and GO Transit station. The reason for the new station building is to facilitate the construction of a third track. The former CN/VIA was demolished in late March of 2009. This station was considered for Heritage Station Designation, under the Heritage Railway Station Protection Act, but was turned down, as the building did fit age requirements. The station was one of those "Special Design" CNR stations were built in the 1960's, to replace earlier GTR, etc stations. A small number of the "Special Design" stations still exist through out the country.   Former CN Mimico: The year before last, the former station was moved directly back from its location on the north side of the right-of-way, just west of Royal York Road in Toronto, to the south side of Judson Street. Protective restoration was carried out here, pending a move to a perminate location in Coronation Park. The station building has now been moved across around to Coronation Park, where the building remains on supports pending the completion and the laying of foundations. Plans call for the building to be used as a community centre and museum. http://www.mimicostation.ca   GTR/CN Kingston (Outer Station): With an unsure future, the Heritage Designated Railway station still stands at 810 Montreal Road, in the north east section of the City. Several years ago, the limestone brick structure, survived a fire, which destroyed the roof. To keep out the elements, a tarp has been covering the damaged roof. It appears that neither the City nor Canadian National Railways can come with any future plans for the building. The tracks in front station were abandoned in 1976, as per track realignment, and the opening of a new station in the north-west side of the city.   Former CN Stirling: The station was located on the south side of the now abandoned right-of-way, and at the north end of Emily Street. The station has been moved about 100 yards east of its original location, and still on the south side of the abandoned right-of-way. The station building is now located at 112 North Street. (County Road 14) While restoration continues, the building is host to many community events. http://www.stirlingrotary.ca/contact.html       Former CN Stirling, CRSN Photograph   Former CP Tweed: While thought to be the last one of the many Van Horne style stations in existence Since last in railway service, the station was been used by one of last customers on the now abandoned railway line, as an office for a lumber company. When planned renovations, were deemed too expensive by the lumber company, the company donated to a local museum, any furnishings, etc, and the building was demolished.     Former CP Tweed, CRSN Photograph Former CNoR Brooklin: (Whitby) Sometime ago, this station was sold to a individual who moved the building, away, from the side of now abandoned right-of-way, so that the building faced Baldwin Street(Highway 12) and turned the building into a residence, artist studio/gallery. In recent years, urban sprawl has caught up to building, forcing the last residents out. Last Spring, the station building the building was sold, and was loaded on to a flatbed, pending to be moved to a possible heritage village. Last Fall, a number of persons broke into the building, to party, and then decided to burn the building down. Almost to the end the building retained all original features (The photograph of the station "In Service", appears in the "Way They Were" of the Directory of Railway Stations of Ontario, Volume II) Of the two stations of this type and design left on the line (the other being at Starkville) this one was the only example, which still retained most original features.   Former CNoR Brooklin, CRSN Photograph   Former CSR/CN St. Thomas: Restoration on the former Canada Southern Railway station and head office is progressing well. Early last year the station building received a new roof. Restoration on the interior is continuing to the point that train shows are being now being held in the former waiting room and dining rooms. At the present time, there are still tracks in front of station, but this could change as the future of these tracks is uncertain.     Former CSR/CN St. Thomas, CRSN Photograph   Former CN Barrie (Allendale): What the future holds for this Heritage Designated Railway Station is anyone guess, as the buildings future appears in doubt. Several years, the building was sold by the city to local television station, for use as a production studio. Appears that the televisions' station plans have changed, as the station building has been sold back to the city. The large former railway yard, has been reduced to a single track, which is in use by the Barrie-Collingwood Railway. All other rail lines have been removed, and the land use changed to roads and park space. The main line from a point to south of the station, north to Washago, has been abandoned and lifted. Note: The former CN Barrie station was demolished by the city, a number of years ago.   Brampton: To make way for a third track and station buildings, the area on the south side of the VIA/Go station at Brampton has been cleared. Once the new track and platform is in, easier accessibility to the station will be available by means of Railroad Street. The Brampton VIA/Go station is a Heritage Railway Station, designated under the Heritage Railway Station Protection Act.

QUEBEC   Former ICR/CN Levis: As several miles (Don't forget, the railways still measure distances in miles, and not km's) of track in front of the station were abandoned and removed in 1996, the former Intercolonial Railway station still remains on the banks of the St Lawrence River. The station building now serves as a tourist information centre, and is part of the Levis-Quebec City Ferry Terminal. The abandoned right-of-way, now serves as waterfront bike/walking trail. When Via moved out of the station, (all passenger trains now make Charny, there Levis station stop) they forgot to take there "VIA Levis" station signs which still grace both ends of the station building!   Former CP Montréal: The headquarters of the Canadian Pacific Railway has recently under gone a lot of changes, plus, at present, CP is trying to sell and lease back the Heritage Designated Railway Station building. A new hockey arena is located at the south-end of the building. While part of the old train shed, is now the Lucien-L'Allier Commuter Rail Station for AMT. The station is named in honour of Lucien-L'Allier, who is a former Chairman of MUCT.   CN/Via La Pocatere: The former Grand Trunk Railway is located on the north side of the right-of-way, in the community, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, east of Quebec City. The station which is of brick and wood construction is a Heritage Designated Railway Station. What is very interesting about this station building is its architectural history. In the 1850's and 1860's the railways never really had a "standard" station building design, so railway station architecture reflected what was known at the hotels, the roadside houses along the very primitive major roads.   Former CP Ste Agathe: This classical wood frame station building,(with the "witches hat" waiting room)was being used a chalet on "P'tit Train du Nord" linear trail(which now operates on the former CP Ste-Agathe subdivision) was destroyed by fire on October 15th 2008.   Former CP train station at Ste-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec was destroyed by fire on October 15th, 2008. This station is located north of Montreal in the Quebec Laurentian Region on the former CP Ste-Agathe subdivision. The very last passenger train to stop there was in 1981 and the tracks were lifted in 1988-89. The ex-CPR Ste-Agathe sub has become a popular bike trail from Ste-Thésèse to Mt-Laurier, QC

NEW BRUNSWICK   Former CP Fredericton: The Heritage Designated station still remains on the abandoned right of way in the City. A study is underway to determine what specific restoration needs the building has, and possible future uses. The large brick, former station building is reasonable condition, but will require a lot of restoration. The line from here south to Fredericton Junction was abandoned in 1993.   Former CP Fredericton, CRSN Collection Photograph.   Former CP Florenceville: A number of years ago, the former CP Florenceville station was located on the east side of the now abandoned right-of-way in the town was purchased by the Shogomoc Historical and Model Railroad Club Inc and moved to the Village of Bristol and on to site of the former CP Bristol station (which was of the same design) on the west side of Highway 105, (Main Street) in the village. Restoration on the station continues to go well, and the building is open for tours during the summer months. www.villageofbristol.ca/html/railwayclub.htm   Former CP Florenceville, CRSN Photograph   CN Grand Falls: This large Heritage Designated Railway station, which is of wood frame construction has been sitting empty for a while. Again, it appears that the town and CN are not sure what the future of this station should be. The station is located on the east side of CN's mainline, in the north-east of the town. The other station in town, the former CP Grand Falls station, located on east side of the now abandoned right-of-way, in the south western side of town is fairing better. While the wood frame building remains boarded up, at present, the building has received a coat of paint.       CN Grand Falls, CRSN Photograph

NOVA SCOTIA Former DAR/CP Middleton: The former station is located on the east side of the abandoned right-of-way at 61 School Street, which runs west of Main Street (Route 1) in the community. The station has been restored and is now home to the Memory Lane Railway Museum. The museum has a number of interesting exhibits; the one which is not to be missed is large photograph display in the former baggage room. This excellent photograph display depicts photographs of other stations and railway operations in the area, including those on the former CN line, which came into town from the east. The museum is open all year; and admission is by donation, for further information, call 1-902 825-6062. http://www.novascotiarailwayheritage.com/middleton.htm   Former DAR/CP Middleton, CRSN Photograph   Former DAR/CP Annapolis Royal: Here is evidence of just how railway station restoration can happen. This former wood frame station. building which is located on the west side of the now abandoned right-of-way. The line was abandoned in 1990. The station building longer appears as it does in the photograph, but has now been restored and now is a local museum. To see how the station appears to-day, click on to the webpage. http://www.annapolisriver.ca/trainstation.htm.   Former DAR/CP Truro: The brick building which was a warehouse, and also had station facilities for the Canadian Pacific Railway has been demolished. The large building appeared more like a warehouse than a station in appearance. The only hint, the building was in railway service, was the make-shift bay window, which had been added to the trackside wall. The station was served by the DAR/CP line which came up from Windsor Junction, and was abandoned in 1986.

For further information on the above stations and other railway stations of both Ontario and Canada, order a copy of either, "Directory of Railway Stations of Ontario, Volume II, or "Directory of Heritage Railway Stations of Canada, Volume I". ~Dave Savage

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