Canada Eastern Railway
Encyclopedia
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick
, Canada
, running from Loggieville
(now part of Miramichi
), to Devon (opposite Fredericton). The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak
and Southwest Miramichi River
valleys.
A joint venture of industrialists Alexander Gibson
and Jabez B. Snowball, construction started in 1884 and finished in 1887. The opening of the Fredericton Railway Bridge
in 1889 gave it a direct connection to the provincial capital.
The line was rerouted between Renous
and Nelson
to the north bank of the Southwest Miramichi River through to Derby
where it joined the Intercolonial Railway mainline at a junction between the bridges over the Southwest and Northwest Miramichi River
s.
In 1904 the Canada Eastern was purchased by the Intercolonial Railway, a federal Crown corporation. The mainline of the National Transcontinental Railway
(NTR), another government concern, was built in 1912, creating a major junction at McGivney
. The Intercolonial, NTR, and others were merged into the Canadian Government Railways
in 1915 and the Canadian National Railways (CNR) in 1919.
Canada Eastern and later the Intercolonial and CNR passenger trains along the line were given the nickname "Dungarvon Whooper
" in reference to a local ghost story.
With declining rail usage through the latter part of the 20th century, the former Canada Eastern line became unprofitable for CNR. It was abandoned between McGivney and Derby in 1985 as well as east of Chatham to Loggieville. The section south of McGivney to Fredericton was officially abandoned in 1995, although the last train over this portion of the line (CN's Nashwaak Subdivision) operated in March 1996 with a coal shipment to a heating plant at CFB Gagetown
.
The only original trackage of the Canada Eastern that remains in service is operated by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
between Nelson and Chatham.
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, running from Loggieville
Loggieville, New Brunswick
Loggieville is a Canadian suburban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick. The community is located at the mouth of the Miramichi River on the southern bank where the river estuary discharges into the bay...
(now part of Miramichi
Miramichi, New Brunswick
Miramichi is the largest city in northern New Brunswick, Canada. It is situated at the mouth of the Miramichi River where it enters Miramichi Bay...
), to Devon (opposite Fredericton). The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak
Nashwaak River
The Nashwaak River located in west-central New Brunswick, Canada; is a tributary of the Saint John River. It is 113 kilometres long. The river rises from Nashwaak Lake and flows south and east through uninhabited land and rapids to the village of Stanley...
and Southwest Miramichi River
Southwest Miramichi River
The Southwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick.The river has its origin in Carleton County, at Miramichi Lake in the Miramichi Highlands . Its two branches join near the village of Juniper, NB...
valleys.
Alexander Gibson (industrialist)
Alexander "Boss" Gibson was an industrialist in New Brunswick, Canada.He was born near Saint Andrews, New Brunswick, the son of John Gibson and Jane Neilson. In 1862, Gibson bought a sawmill and forest land in the Fredericton area...
and Jabez B. Snowball, construction started in 1884 and finished in 1887. The opening of the Fredericton Railway Bridge
Fredericton Railway Bridge
The Fredericton Railway Bridge is a former railway bridge in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.It crosses the Saint John River from the east end of Fredericton's central business district on the west bank of the river to the former community of South Devon on the east bank.Since 1997, it has been...
in 1889 gave it a direct connection to the provincial capital.
The line was rerouted between Renous
Renous, New Brunswick
Renous is a Canadian rural community in Northumberland County, New Brunswick.Located where the Renous River discharges into the Southwest Miramichi River, Renous makes up part of the local service district of Renous-Quarryville....
and Nelson
Nelson-Miramichi, New Brunswick
Nelson-Miramichi is a Canadian suburban neighbourhood in the city of Miramichi, New Brunswick.Prior to municipal amalgamation on January 1, 1995, Nelson-Miramichi was an incorporated village in Northumberland County and one of the oldest European settlements in the Miramichi Valley.Earl J...
to the north bank of the Southwest Miramichi River through to Derby
Derby, New Brunswick
Derby is a community in the Canadian province of New Brunswick....
where it joined the Intercolonial Railway mainline at a junction between the bridges over the Southwest and Northwest Miramichi River
Northwest Miramichi River
The Northwest Miramichi River is a Canadian river in New Brunswick. The Mi'kmaq referred to the river as Elmunokun, possibly meaning "a beaver hole" in reference to a deep pool in the river, just below the mouth of the Big Sevogle River, its largest tributary.The Northwest Miramichi River has its...
s.
In 1904 the Canada Eastern was purchased by the Intercolonial Railway, a federal Crown corporation. The mainline of the National Transcontinental Railway
National Transcontinental Railway
The National Transcontinental Railway was a historic Canadian railway between Winnipeg and Moncton. Much of the line is now operated by the Canadian National Railway.-The Grand Trunk partnership:...
(NTR), another government concern, was built in 1912, creating a major junction at McGivney
McGivney, New Brunswick
McGivney is not a settlement in New Brunswick....
. The Intercolonial, NTR, and others were merged into the Canadian Government Railways
Canadian Government Railways
Canadian Government Railways was the legal name used between 1915–1918 for all federal government-owned railways in Canada.The principal component companies were: the Intercolonial Railway of Canada , the National Transcontinental Railway , the Prince Edward Island Railway , and the Hudson...
in 1915 and the Canadian National Railways (CNR) in 1919.
Canada Eastern and later the Intercolonial and CNR passenger trains along the line were given the nickname "Dungarvon Whooper
Dungarvon Whooper
The Dungarvon Whooper is a ghost story, immortalized in a song by Michael Whelan , about a murder in the late 19th century along the Dungarvon River in central New Brunswick, Canada....
" in reference to a local ghost story.
With declining rail usage through the latter part of the 20th century, the former Canada Eastern line became unprofitable for CNR. It was abandoned between McGivney and Derby in 1985 as well as east of Chatham to Loggieville. The section south of McGivney to Fredericton was officially abandoned in 1995, although the last train over this portion of the line (CN's Nashwaak Subdivision) operated in March 1996 with a coal shipment to a heating plant at CFB Gagetown
CFB Gagetown
Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, referred to as CFB Gagetown is a large Canadian Forces Base located in southwestern New Brunswick.- Construction of the base :...
.
The only original trackage of the Canada Eastern that remains in service is operated by the New Brunswick East Coast Railway
New Brunswick East Coast Railway
The New Brunswick East Coast Railway was an historic Canadian railway that operated in the province of New Brunswick.It included of track of which were mainline between Campbellton and Pacific Junction near Moncton...
between Nelson and Chatham.