Fredericton Branch Railway
Encyclopedia
The Fredericton Branch Railway is an historic Canadian
railway that operated in New Brunswick
.
and was incorporated in 1866 to build a railway line from the European and North American Railway
's "Western Extension" at Hartt's Mills
to Fredericton. The route was surveyed north from Hartt's Mills through the communities of Rusagonis
, Waasis, Doak and Salamanca to a location on the southern edge of the capital city's downtown.
and McAdam
.
(NBR) acquired the Fredericton Branch Railway for $150,000. The NBR had also acquired the New Brunswick and Canada Railway and the E&NA "Western Extension" (then called the Saint John and Maine Railway), thus with the purchase of the Fredericton Branch Railway, the NBR gained control of all the railways in western New Brunswick.
On July 1, 1890, the Canadian Pacific Railway
leased the NBR for 999 years. Under CPR operation, the line to Fredericton (called the Fredericton Subdivision) saw expanded freight and passenger service, particularly after the Fredericton Railway Bridge
was built by the Fredericton & St. Mary's Bridge Co. in 1889. The Fredericton & St. Mary's Bridge Co. was a subsidiary of the Canada Eastern Railway
, which was later acquired by the Intercolonial Railway. The CPR received trackage rights over the bridge to connect its lines from South Devon to Minto
and Norton
in the east and Woodstock
in the west.
In 1922, the CPR opened the new York Street Railway Station
at the terminus of the Fredericton Subdivision in downtown Fredericton. This new brick station became the focal point of inter-city trains until passenger service to Fredericton was reduced during the 1950s and ceased on 28 April 1962.
From that date until 1981, CP's rail line to Fredericton carried exclusively freight traffic. CP operated a local freight train as a "turn" from Fredericton to the divisional yard at McAdam during the 1960s-1970s which was nicknamed "The Oriental" (the train received this moniker after a freight car of rice
derailed near Tracy
). This freight train was cancelled in the early 1980s after the divisional point
at McAdam was eliminated; thereafter, freight for Fredericton was dropped off and picked up by a mainline Saint John-Montreal freight train at Fredericton Junction and delivered by a local train to Fredericton.
In 1981, VIA Rail cancelled the Atlantic passenger train service from Saint John to Montreal. To placate local concerns, VIA implemented RDC service from Halifax to Fredericton through Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton Junction. This development saw passenger rail service return to Fredericton for the first time in 19 years and VIA contracted CP to upgrade the trackage and speed of the Fredericton Subdivision.
The 1985 restoration of the Atlantic saw the RDC service to Fredericton cancelled and in 1988, all CPR lines east of Montreal were placed under the Canadian Atlantic Railway
(CAR) business unit to address mounting financial losses.
In November 1993, the CAR abandoned the Fredericton Subdivision and the rails to New Brunswick's capital city were removed the following year.
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...
railway that operated in New Brunswick
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...
.
Incorporation
The Fredericton Railway Company pre-dated ConfederationCanadian Confederation
Canadian Confederation was the process by which the federal Dominion of Canada was formed on July 1, 1867. On that day, three British colonies were formed into four Canadian provinces...
and was incorporated in 1866 to build a railway line from the European and North American Railway
European and North American Railway
The European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
's "Western Extension" at Hartt's Mills
Fredericton Junction, New Brunswick
Fredericton Junction is a Canadian village in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.Located on the Oromocto River in the western part of the county, approximately 45 km southwest of Fredericton, the community was originally named Hartt's Mills but was renamed in 1869 when the European and North American...
to Fredericton. The route was surveyed north from Hartt's Mills through the communities of Rusagonis
Rusagonis, New Brunswick
Rusagonis is a Canadian rural community in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.It is located 15 kilometres southeast of Fredericton, and is near Tracy....
, Waasis, Doak and Salamanca to a location on the southern edge of the capital city's downtown.
Construction
Construction began in early November 1867 at Salamanca and rails were laid from the fall of 1868 through the fall of 1869. The first passenger train arrived in Fredericton on 2 November 1869 and with the completion of the E&NA "Western Extension" 29 days later on 1 December, the city was connected by rail to CarletonSaint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
and McAdam
McAdam, New Brunswick
McAdam is a village located in the southwestern corner of York County, New Brunswick, Canada. The village covers and has a population of 1,404 as of 2006.The area was first settled in the mid-to-late 19th century as a group of small lumber camps...
.
Merger with NBR
In 1875 the Fredericton Branch Railway was incorporated and took over the operation of the line from Fredericton to Fredericton Junction (which had been renamed from Hartt's Mills). On September 26, 1883, the New Brunswick RailwayNew Brunswick Railway
The New Brunswick Railway was a historic Canadian railway operating in western New Brunswick. Its headquarters were in Woodstock.The original NBR lines were built to the narrow gauge of...
(NBR) acquired the Fredericton Branch Railway for $150,000. The NBR had also acquired the New Brunswick and Canada Railway and the E&NA "Western Extension" (then called the Saint John and Maine Railway), thus with the purchase of the Fredericton Branch Railway, the NBR gained control of all the railways in western New Brunswick.
On July 1, 1890, the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
leased the NBR for 999 years. Under CPR operation, the line to Fredericton (called the Fredericton Subdivision) saw expanded freight and passenger service, particularly after 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...
was built by the Fredericton & St. Mary's Bridge Co. in 1889. The Fredericton & St. Mary's Bridge Co. was a subsidiary of the Canada Eastern Railway
Canada Eastern Railway
The Canada Eastern Railway, originally known as the Northern and Western Railway, was a railway line operating in New Brunswick, Canada, running from Loggieville , to Devon . The line linked various communities along the Nashwaak and Southwest Miramichi River valleys.A joint venture of...
, which was later acquired by the Intercolonial Railway. The CPR received trackage rights over the bridge to connect its lines from South Devon to Minto
Minto, New Brunswick
Minto is a Canadian village straddling the border of Sunbury County and Queens County, New Brunswick. Located on the north shore of Grand Lake, approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Fredericton, its population meets the requirements for "town" status under the Municipalities Act of the...
and Norton
Norton, New Brunswick
Norton is a Canadian village in Kings County, New Brunswick.It is situated on the Kennebecasis River 55 kilometres northeast of Saint John...
in the east and Woodstock
Woodstock, New Brunswick
Woodstock is a Canadian town in Carleton County, New Brunswick located on the west bank of the Saint John River at the mouth of the Meduxnekeag River, 92 km west of Fredericton and close to the Canada – United States border and Houlton, Maine.- History :Woodstock was settled by Loyalists...
in the west.
In 1922, the CPR opened the new York Street Railway Station
York Street railway station
The York Street Railway Station is a former Canadian Pacific Railway station located on York Street in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada.The station opened in 1923 and is a brick structure with sandstone trim; it is distinguished by a tapestry brick patterning which is rare in Fredericton...
at the terminus of the Fredericton Subdivision in downtown Fredericton. This new brick station became the focal point of inter-city trains until passenger service to Fredericton was reduced during the 1950s and ceased on 28 April 1962.
From that date until 1981, CP's rail line to Fredericton carried exclusively freight traffic. CP operated a local freight train as a "turn" from Fredericton to the divisional yard at McAdam during the 1960s-1970s which was nicknamed "The Oriental" (the train received this moniker after a freight car of rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
derailed near Tracy
Tracy, New Brunswick
Tracy is a Canadian village in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.The village is situated on the North Oromocto River, approximately 40 km south of Fredericton, New Brunswick....
). This freight train was cancelled in the early 1980s after the divisional point
Divisional point
In Canada, a divisional point is a railway depot that includes more than just a basic siding or station.- Overview :In the coal and steam era, a divisional point would include such amenities as a substantial passenger station, freight and baggage sheds, a roundhouse, water tank, coaling and sanding...
at McAdam was eliminated; thereafter, freight for Fredericton was dropped off and picked up by a mainline Saint John-Montreal freight train at Fredericton Junction and delivered by a local train to Fredericton.
In 1981, VIA Rail cancelled the Atlantic passenger train service from Saint John to Montreal. To placate local concerns, VIA implemented RDC service from Halifax to Fredericton through Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton Junction. This development saw passenger rail service return to Fredericton for the first time in 19 years and VIA contracted CP to upgrade the trackage and speed of the Fredericton Subdivision.
The 1985 restoration of the Atlantic saw the RDC service to Fredericton cancelled and in 1988, all CPR lines east of Montreal were placed under the Canadian Atlantic Railway
Canadian Atlantic Railway
The Canadian Atlantic Railway is a historic Canadian and U.S. railway that existed from 1988 to 1994.The CAR was created in September 1988 as a business unit of CP Rail System to serve the Maritime Provinces and state of Maine...
(CAR) business unit to address mounting financial losses.
In November 1993, the CAR abandoned the Fredericton Subdivision and the rails to New Brunswick's capital city were removed the following year.
See also
- Canadian Pacific RailwayCanadian Pacific RailwayThe Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
- New Brunswick RailwayNew Brunswick RailwayThe New Brunswick Railway was a historic Canadian railway operating in western New Brunswick. Its headquarters were in Woodstock.The original NBR lines were built to the narrow gauge of...
- European and North American RailwayEuropean and North American RailwayThe European and North American Railway is the name for three historic Canadian and American railways which were built in New Brunswick and Maine....
- International Railway of Maine
- Fredericton Railway BridgeFredericton Railway BridgeThe 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...
- Fredericton Junction, New BrunswickFredericton Junction, New BrunswickFredericton Junction is a Canadian village in Sunbury County, New Brunswick.Located on the Oromocto River in the western part of the county, approximately 45 km southwest of Fredericton, the community was originally named Hartt's Mills but was renamed in 1869 when the European and North American...
- Harvey Station, New Brunswick
- McAdam, New BrunswickMcAdam, New BrunswickMcAdam is a village located in the southwestern corner of York County, New Brunswick, Canada. The village covers and has a population of 1,404 as of 2006.The area was first settled in the mid-to-late 19th century as a group of small lumber camps...