Old Time Trains

Grand Trunk Railway

Location: Across Canada and into midwestern U.S.; 1859-1923
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.

Grand Trunk Pacific 1906 map
Combined GTP and NTR before completed.
Shows numerous alternate routes proposed.

Grand Trunk System 1908 article

GTS lines east map

GTS lines west map

Brantford Railways 1901 article

Shipper invoice GTR 1915

GTR Toronto Suburban Service
Time Table 1891

Predecessor roads
Scroll to very bottom for links

The Grand Trunk Railway (G.T.R.) was officially opened between Sarnia, Ontario, and Portland, Maine, on November 21, 1859. This first version of the G.T.R. did not run through Hamilton, Ontario; instead, it ran north of Hamilton through Toronto and Guelph. It was not until the G.T.R. amalgamated with the Great Western Railway (G.W.R.) that it came to Hamilton.

Conductor's ticket. 1911 These were issued for onboard sales where no station personel on duty.

A postcard depicting the Grand Trunk Railway station in Hamilton
Valentine & Sons Ltd.

Postcard cancelled 3.30 PM March 20,1911 in Galt, Ontario.
Promoting International Limited between Montreal, Toronto, Detroit and Chicago.
"The finest and fastest train in Canada"
Old Time Trains Archives

Travel brochure

Bridge over River Humber in Weston, ON. Early painting.

Bridges over the Niagara Gorge. Note: Behind the railway bridge is an almost hidden second (road) bridge.

In 1845, the cities of Montreal, Quebec, and Portland, Maine, agreed to build two railways that would meet at some point between them. John A. Poor, on behalf of Portland, chartered the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railway Company (A.St.L.). Alexander Galt of Sherwood, Quebec, chartered the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway Company (St.L.A.). However, construction was often delayed due to financial concerns, especially on the Montreal side.

Meanwhile, in 1852, the Canadian government and British contractors began planning what was going to be, at the time, the longest railway in the world. The government wanted to build a main rail line (or "trunk") connecting all settled areas of Canada to railways with an Atlantic port. Existing railways were not expansive enough, and canals were useless when they froze over in the winter. The first conception of this "grand trunk" railway would have stretched from Hamilton (and the Great Western Railway) to Montreal (where it would connect with the St.L.A.). However, an unfinished line from Montreal to Toronto, Ontario, inspired Prime Minister Hincks to change his plans for the G.T.R.

Instead of simply connecting various other lines, the G.T.R. would amalgamate or lease these lines under its own name. The G.T.R. was re-conceived along the following lines:

* the G.T.R. "proper" would run from Sarnia to Guelph (both in Ontario).
* amalgamate with the St.L.A. of Montreal.
* lease the A.St.L. of Portland.
* absorb Quebec and Richmond Railway.
* acquire Montreal to Toronto line once it has been constructed.

An advertisement for the Grand Trunk Railway

The G.T.R. would, at that point, stretch from Sarnia on the western border of Southern Ontario, to Quebec City in the east, and south-east to Portland, Maine.

The original plan for a 330-mile line from Montreal to Hamilton had grown into a 1,100-mile expanse across some of the most-populated areas of the country. The expected cost rose from £3 million sterling to £9.5 million.

Unfortunately for residents of Hamilton, the new plan did not include their city. They would have to wait until the G.T.R. amalgamated with the Great Western Railway.

The two railways amalgamated in 1882. The reasons for the union were, essentially, efficiency and cost-saving. By bringing the two railways together, they could eliminate duplication of directors and other officials. Also, the G.T.R. could save mileage by using the more direct routes of the G.W.R., especially those routes through Hamilton.

While the G.T.R. took over all the assets of the former G.W.R., it did not make any changes to the routes or stations in Hamilton. The station at Stuart Street continued to serve in this company as it had in the last one.

On April 28, 1889, an accident occurred in close proximity to the site of an earlier tragic accident that had involved the Great Western Railway. Over 20 people were killed, and another dozen were injured, when a train derailed at the "Y" junction between Copetown and Dundas, Ontario. According to the coroner's jury, a combination of a broken wheel and exessive speed was to blame for the loss of life.

GTP massive trestle with train stopped (note smoke blowing to one side) posed for photograph. Camrose, AB 1918

The Canadian National Railway tracks, as seen from the Stuart Street bridge (July 2000)

In 1919, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (G.T.P.R.), a holding of the G.T.R., became unable to continue profitably. The G.T.R., its parent company, was having troubles of its own and was not able to save the G.T.P.R. The Dominion Government took over the stock of the two rails, and all of the G.T.R.'s other holdings, in 1919. In 1923, the G.T.R. and G.T.P.R. became amalgamated with the Canadian National Railways.

An interesting fact about the G.T.R. is that Thomas Alva Edison worked at the Stratford branch as a telegraph operator. He was fired for neglecting his work in favour of his hobby, inventing.

References
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway. Special Collections, HPL.
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway (Accident 1889). Special Collections, HPL.
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - History. Special Collections, HPL.
Currie, A.W. The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1957.
Hamilton Herald Scrapbook - vol. R0.1 Railways. Special Collections, HPL.
Hamilton Times Scrapbook - vol. R0.1 Railways. Special Collections, HPL.
Picture Collection - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway. Special Collections, HPL.

INDUSTRIAL HAMILTON: A TRAIL TO THE FUTURE
The Grand Trunk Railway

Material is from Canada's Digital Collections (CDC). CDC was operated by Industry Canada between 1996 and 2004 to provide young Canadians with skills and experience in preparing digital Canadian content of local, regional and international interest. The various collections that were produced during this time period have now been archived by Library and Archives Canada. It is no longer online and was resurrected here from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive.

Predecessor roads

Buffalo Brantford and Goderich
Later, Buffalo and Lake Huron

Cobourg and Peterborough
Later, Cobourg, Peterborough and Marmora Railway and Mining Company.

Georgian Bay and Wellington

Northern Railway of Canada
Predecessor; Ontario, Simcoe and Huron.

Wellington Grey and Bruce

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Grand Trunk Railway

Location: Across Canada and into midwestern U.S.; 1859-1923
Headquartered in Montreal, Quebec.

Grand Trunk Pacific 1906 map
Combined GTP and NTR before completed.
Shows numerous alternate routes proposed.

Grand Trunk System 1908 article

GTS lines east map

GTS lines west map

Brantford Railways 1901 article

Shipper invoice GTR 1915

GTR Toronto Suburban Service
Time Table 1891

Predecessor roads
Scroll to very bottom for links

The Grand Trunk Railway (G.T.R.) was officially opened between Sarnia, Ontario, and Portland, Maine, on November 21, 1859. This first version of the G.T.R. did not run through Hamilton, Ontario; instead, it ran north of Hamilton through Toronto and Guelph. It was not until the G.T.R. amalgamated with the Great Western Railway (G.W.R.) that it came to Hamilton.

Conductor's ticket. 1911 These were issued for onboard sales where no station personel on duty.

A postcard depicting the Grand Trunk Railway station in Hamilton
Valentine & Sons Ltd.

Postcard cancelled 3.30 PM March 20,1911 in Galt, Ontario.
Promoting International Limited between Montreal, Toronto, Detroit and Chicago.
"The finest and fastest train in Canada"
Old Time Trains Archives

Travel brochure

Bridge over River Humber in Weston, ON. Early painting.

Bridges over the Niagara Gorge. Note: Behind the railway bridge is an almost hidden second (road) bridge.

In 1845, the cities of Montreal, Quebec, and Portland, Maine, agreed to build two railways that would meet at some point between them. John A. Poor, on behalf of Portland, chartered the Atlantic and St. Lawrence Railway Company (A.St.L.). Alexander Galt of Sherwood, Quebec, chartered the St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railway Company (St.L.A.). However, construction was often delayed due to financial concerns, especially on the Montreal side.

Meanwhile, in 1852, the Canadian government and British contractors began planning what was going to be, at the time, the longest railway in the world. The government wanted to build a main rail line (or "trunk") connecting all settled areas of Canada to railways with an Atlantic port. Existing railways were not expansive enough, and canals were useless when they froze over in the winter. The first conception of this "grand trunk" railway would have stretched from Hamilton (and the Great Western Railway) to Montreal (where it would connect with the St.L.A.). However, an unfinished line from Montreal to Toronto, Ontario, inspired Prime Minister Hincks to change his plans for the G.T.R.

Instead of simply connecting various other lines, the G.T.R. would amalgamate or lease these lines under its own name. The G.T.R. was re-conceived along the following lines:

* the G.T.R. "proper" would run from Sarnia to Guelph (both in Ontario).
* amalgamate with the St.L.A. of Montreal.
* lease the A.St.L. of Portland.
* absorb Quebec and Richmond Railway.
* acquire Montreal to Toronto line once it has been constructed.

An advertisement for the Grand Trunk Railway

The G.T.R. would, at that point, stretch from Sarnia on the western border of Southern Ontario, to Quebec City in the east, and south-east to Portland, Maine.

The original plan for a 330-mile line from Montreal to Hamilton had grown into a 1,100-mile expanse across some of the most-populated areas of the country. The expected cost rose from £3 million sterling to £9.5 million.

Unfortunately for residents of Hamilton, the new plan did not include their city. They would have to wait until the G.T.R. amalgamated with the Great Western Railway.

The two railways amalgamated in 1882. The reasons for the union were, essentially, efficiency and cost-saving. By bringing the two railways together, they could eliminate duplication of directors and other officials. Also, the G.T.R. could save mileage by using the more direct routes of the G.W.R., especially those routes through Hamilton.

While the G.T.R. took over all the assets of the former G.W.R., it did not make any changes to the routes or stations in Hamilton. The station at Stuart Street continued to serve in this company as it had in the last one.

On April 28, 1889, an accident occurred in close proximity to the site of an earlier tragic accident that had involved the Great Western Railway. Over 20 people were killed, and another dozen were injured, when a train derailed at the "Y" junction between Copetown and Dundas, Ontario. According to the coroner's jury, a combination of a broken wheel and exessive speed was to blame for the loss of life.

GTP massive trestle with train stopped (note smoke blowing to one side) posed for photograph. Camrose, AB 1918

The Canadian National Railway tracks, as seen from the Stuart Street bridge (July 2000)

In 1919, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (G.T.P.R.), a holding of the G.T.R., became unable to continue profitably. The G.T.R., its parent company, was having troubles of its own and was not able to save the G.T.P.R. The Dominion Government took over the stock of the two rails, and all of the G.T.R.'s other holdings, in 1919. In 1923, the G.T.R. and G.T.P.R. became amalgamated with the Canadian National Railways.

An interesting fact about the G.T.R. is that Thomas Alva Edison worked at the Stratford branch as a telegraph operator. He was fired for neglecting his work in favour of his hobby, inventing.

References
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway. Special Collections, HPL.
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway (Accident 1889). Special Collections, HPL.
Clipping File - Hamilton - Railways - History. Special Collections, HPL.
Currie, A.W. The Grand Trunk Railway of Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1957.
Hamilton Herald Scrapbook - vol. R0.1 Railways. Special Collections, HPL.
Hamilton Times Scrapbook - vol. R0.1 Railways. Special Collections, HPL.
Picture Collection - Hamilton - Railways - Grand Trunk Railway. Special Collections, HPL.

INDUSTRIAL HAMILTON: A TRAIL TO THE FUTURE
The Grand Trunk Railway

Material is from Canada's Digital Collections (CDC). CDC was operated by Industry Canada between 1996 and 2004 to provide young Canadians with skills and experience in preparing digital Canadian content of local, regional and international interest. The various collections that were produced during this time period have now been archived by Library and Archives Canada. It is no longer online and was resurrected here from the Wayback Machine Internet Archive.

Predecessor roads

Buffalo Brantford and Goderich
Later, Buffalo and Lake Huron

Cobourg and Peterborough
Later, Cobourg, Peterborough and Marmora Railway and Mining Company.

Georgian Bay and Wellington

Northern Railway of Canada
Predecessor; Ontario, Simcoe and Huron.

Wellington Grey and Bruce