Old Time Trains

Brantford Railways

1901

Destroyed by fire 1905 and replaced 1906 by present station (see: Subsequent stations below)

Echo Street station

GTR 142 at the former Great Western Echo Street station on the old Harrisburg & Brantford.

This photo depicts the former Great Western station in Brantford, though in Grand Trunk times.
This was the southern terminus of the Harrisburg & Brantford Railway that opened in 1871.
It finally connected Brantford to the GWR mainline some seven miles north at Harrisburg,
also junction with the GWR Galt Branch.

The notation on the back of the print says Echo Street station. I can picture the location.
The former H&B/GWR line followed the east side of Clarence St.as did the CNR Burford Sub.
Just south of Colborne, the line turned westward towards the Grand River. So the station would
have been just south of Colborne. The station is on the west side of the main line.
Later, the line was extended westward as the Brantford, Norfolk & Port Burwell.

National Archives/Rick Mannen Collection

GTR 559 2-8-2 with train of reefers. It could have been taken between Brantford and Paris
as that cut was popular with photographers even in later years.
MLW 53929 1913 re# CNR 3464
Collection of Rick Mannen

Brantford Street Railway

Radial Railways

Lake Erie and Northern
See: Articles CP Electric Lines

Grand Valley Railway

Grand Valley 50 (ex BRANTFORD Re# 1907) radial car (acq. 1904 ex New York Elevated built c.1888)
Brantford prior to 1914 when renumbered to 214.

Subsequent station and owners

Charles Melville Hays ( big man in centre) opening the new Brantford Grand Trunk station on September 30, 1905.
This is the building still used by VIA Rail. This was also the official opening of the new double tracked main line
from Lynden Jct. to Paris Jct. via Brantford which relegated the old main line through
Harrisburg Jct. and St. George to a back line. Collection of Rick Mannen

Built in 1905 by the Grand Trunk it became Canadian National Railways. Circa 1906
Toronto Public Library/Virtual Reference Library

More than a century old! May 20, 2010

VIA F40PH-3 6407 leading train 72 in Brantford. March 16, 2013 Joseph Bishop
Built in 1905 by the Grand Trunk it became Canadian National Railways and now VIA Rail.

Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo

TH&B station circa 1911.

Two views circa early 1920's Collection of Rick Mannen

The Iron Horse Stake House. 60 Market Street South. Closed after fire.

Abandoned following closure of second restaurant.

Exploring Brantford's Rail History
by Ruth Lefler

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Old Time Trains © 2016

Brantford Railways

1901

Destroyed by fire 1905 and replaced 1906 by present station (see: Subsequent stations below)

Echo Street station

GTR 142 at the former Great Western Echo Street station on the old Harrisburg & Brantford.

This photo depicts the former Great Western station in Brantford, though in Grand Trunk times.
This was the southern terminus of the Harrisburg & Brantford Railway that opened in 1871.
It finally connected Brantford to the GWR mainline some seven miles north at Harrisburg,
also junction with the GWR Galt Branch.

The notation on the back of the print says Echo Street station. I can picture the location.
The former H&B/GWR line followed the east side of Clarence St.as did the CNR Burford Sub.
Just south of Colborne, the line turned westward towards the Grand River. So the station would
have been just south of Colborne. The station is on the west side of the main line.
Later, the line was extended westward as the Brantford, Norfolk & Port Burwell.

National Archives/Rick Mannen Collection

GTR 559 2-8-2 with train of reefers. It could have been taken between Brantford and Paris
as that cut was popular with photographers even in later years.
MLW 53929 1913 re# CNR 3464
Collection of Rick Mannen

Brantford Street Railway

Radial Railways

Lake Erie and Northern
See: Articles CP Electric Lines

Grand Valley Railway

Grand Valley 50 (ex BRANTFORD Re# 1907) radial car (acq. 1904 ex New York Elevated built c.1888)
Brantford prior to 1914 when renumbered to 214.

Subsequent station and owners

Charles Melville Hays ( big man in centre) opening the new Brantford Grand Trunk station on September 30, 1905.
This is the building still used by VIA Rail. This was also the official opening of the new double tracked main line
from Lynden Jct. to Paris Jct. via Brantford which relegated the old main line through
Harrisburg Jct. and St. George to a back line. Collection of Rick Mannen

Built in 1905 by the Grand Trunk it became Canadian National Railways. Circa 1906
Toronto Public Library/Virtual Reference Library

More than a century old! May 20, 2010

VIA F40PH-3 6407 leading train 72 in Brantford. March 16, 2013 Joseph Bishop
Built in 1905 by the Grand Trunk it became Canadian National Railways and now VIA Rail.

Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo

TH&B station circa 1911.

Two views circa early 1920's Collection of Rick Mannen

The Iron Horse Stake House. 60 Market Street South. Closed after fire.

Abandoned following closure of second restaurant.

Exploring Brantford's Rail History
by Ruth Lefler