Newfoundland T'Railway
Encyclopedia
The Newfoundland T'Railway Provincial Park is a rail trail
in the Canadian
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the T'Railway consists of the railbed of the historic Newfoundland Railway
as transferred from its most recent owner, Canadian National Railway
, to the provincial government after rail service was abandoned on the island of Newfoundland in 1988. The rail corridor stretches from Channel-Port aux Basques
in the west to St. John's
in the east with branches to Stephenville
, Lewisporte
, Bonavista
, Placentia
and Carbonear
.
It forms part of the Trans Canada Trail
and covers a distance of 883 km (549 mi).
Construction of the railway began in 1881, and the first passenger train traveled along the whole length on June 29, 1898. The railway was decommissioned in September, 1988, and the last rails removed in 1990. The T'Railway was established in July, 1997 as a Provincial Park, to use the route, with its hard surface and many trestles and bridges, as a multi-purpose recreational resource.
In February 2008, the provincial government announced that they were closing every bridge and trestle along the route pending safety inspections. Government officials admitted that regular inspections are not performed on the structures. Transport Canada
inspected 14 structures and found them to be in a wide state of disrepair. In some cases debris is starting to fall off bridges. The Federal government got involved due to its responsibility to ensure the safety of navigable waters.
The trail is still a work in progress. To date, about 20% of it has been resurfaced, with trestles and bridges repaired and trail signs posted. The condition of the railbed varies from region to region. While it is passable to hikers along the whole length, a mountain bike may be essential for bicyclists who want to travel the less developed parts.
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
in the Canadian
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...
province of Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
.
Protected as a linear park under the provincial park system, the T'Railway consists of the railbed of the historic Newfoundland Railway
Newfoundland Railway
The Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
as transferred from its most recent owner, Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
, to the provincial government after rail service was abandoned on the island of Newfoundland in 1988. The rail corridor stretches from Channel-Port aux Basques
Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland and Labrador
Channel-Port aux Basques is a town at the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland fronting on the eastern end of the Cabot Strait. A Marine Atlantic ferry terminal is located in the town which is the primary entry point onto the island of Newfoundland and the western terminus of...
in the west to St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
in the east with branches to Stephenville
Stephenville, Newfoundland and Labrador
Stephenville is a Canadian town in Newfoundland and Labrador on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland....
, Lewisporte
Lewisporte, Newfoundland and Labrador
Lewisporte is a town in central Newfoundland Island, Canada, with a population of 3,312. It is situated in a bay close to the mouth of the Exploits River. Lewisporte has an excellent port and related facilities that serve the many communities along Notre Dame Bay. Gander and its international...
, Bonavista
Bonavista, Newfoundland and Labrador
Bonavista is a town on the Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Unlike many Newfoundland coastal settlements, Bonavista was built on an open plain, not in a steep cove, and thus had room to expand to its current area of 31.5 square...
, Placentia
Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador
Placentia is a town on the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador, consisting of the amalgamated communities of Jerseyside, Townside, Freshwater, Dunville and Argentia...
and Carbonear
Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador
Carbonear is a town on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. As of 2006, there are 4,723 people living in Carbonear, down from 4,759 in 2001.-History:...
.
It forms part of the Trans Canada Trail
Trans Canada Trail
The Trans Canada Trail is a proposed corridor in Canada. The creation of the trail was announced as part of Canada's 125th anniversary celebrations in 1992. It is expected that when complete, it will be the longest recreational trail in the world...
and covers a distance of 883 km (549 mi).
Construction of the railway began in 1881, and the first passenger train traveled along the whole length on June 29, 1898. The railway was decommissioned in September, 1988, and the last rails removed in 1990. The T'Railway was established in July, 1997 as a Provincial Park, to use the route, with its hard surface and many trestles and bridges, as a multi-purpose recreational resource.
In February 2008, the provincial government announced that they were closing every bridge and trestle along the route pending safety inspections. Government officials admitted that regular inspections are not performed on the structures. Transport Canada
Transport Canada
Transport Canada is the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing regulations, policies and services of transportation in Canada. It is part of the Transportation, Infrastructure and Communities portfolio...
inspected 14 structures and found them to be in a wide state of disrepair. In some cases debris is starting to fall off bridges. The Federal government got involved due to its responsibility to ensure the safety of navigable waters.
The trail is still a work in progress. To date, about 20% of it has been resurfaced, with trestles and bridges repaired and trail signs posted. The condition of the railbed varies from region to region. While it is passable to hikers along the whole length, a mountain bike may be essential for bicyclists who want to travel the less developed parts.
See also
- Newfoundland RailwayNewfoundland RailwayThe Newfoundland Railway was a railway which operated on the island of Newfoundland from 1898 to 1988. With a total track length of , it was the longest narrow gauge railway system in North America.-Early construction:...
- List of Newfoundland and Labrador parks
- List of rail trails
- Terra TransportTerra TransportTerra Transport was the name for the Newfoundland Transportation Division, a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian National Railway , created in 1979 as a means to organize the company's operations on the island of Newfoundland.-Background:...
