Location: The line is located in Central Ontario, extending between the communities of Port McNicoll on Georgian Bay, and what was once known as Dranoel (just north of Millbrook near Bethany) on the Havelock Subdivision of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
History: During the late 1800's, one of the chief commodities to be shipped by rail from the growing prairie lands in western Canada east to Ontario and Quebec was wheat. The demand itself peaked during the harvest season, tying up all available cars and creating congestion both on main lines and in the larger urban areas. Hoping to alleviate the situation, the Canadian Pacific reviewed the alternatives available, options that included the construction of a French River canal and obtaining running rights over Grand Trunk tracks. By 1903, it was decided that a new rail link would be the most feasible answer, possibly entailing the construction of new terminal facilities. Later that year, definitive routes were investigated that ultimately led to the incorporation of the Georgian Bay & Seaboard Railway (GB&SR) in April 1905, essentially a CPR paper company. The new terminal site chosen on Georgian Bay was located on lands opposite the community of Victoria Harbour. All construction was to be of high standards with favourable grades and curves in order to improve shipment times.
In April 1907, a construction contract was let to the Toronto Construction Company for the section of line extending from Coldwater west to the new harbour site. Here, construction commenced on modern terminal facilities that included a grain elevator, wharf and sheds connected to the main land by a large trestle over Hog Bay. This section of track was opened for service as of June 1909. The site chosen for the eastern terminus of the railway was a point on the CPR Toronto to Montreal line near Bethany south of Lindsay to be named Dranoel. As construction began on this portion of the line, formal arrangements were made permitting the lease of the GB&SR to the CPR for a period of 999 years commencing in 1910. The name chosen for the new port was Port McNicoll. The railway east from Coldwater to Atherly (near Orillia) was completed by December 1911 while the remainder of the line to Dranoel was finished in May 1912. The completed route gave the CPR the ability to ship grain and other products arriving at the new port in a very efficient manner to Montreal. Port McNicoll became the primary harbour for the CPR when all passenger and freight operations were transferred from Owen Sound. Some consideration was given to extending the line south to Cobourg, however, this never took place. The GB&SR disappeared as a corporate entity in 1956.Approximate Mileage: 88 miles.
Current Status: The line was divided into the Port McNicoll and Bobcaygeon Subdivisions. The section from Lindsay to Orillia was abandoned in September 1937, from Coldwater to McMillan in March 1976, from Uthohff to Orillia in 1985, from McMillan to Port McNicoll and Lindsay to Dranoel in December 1987, and from Uthohff to Coldwater in 1992. All rails have been removed.
Principle Stations: Port McNicoll, Coldwater, Orillia, Brechin, Lindsay and Dranoel.
Remaining Stations:
A total of five GB&S stations have survived. They are as follows:
1. Orillia: In original location at the foot of Mississaga Street East on the lake front.
2. Brechin: In original location on Highway 12 at Concession 3 (Mara Township).
3. Eldon: In original location on Highway 46 (Part Lot 17, Con. 2, Eldon Township).
4. Balsam Lake: Moved to property behind former general store in Lorneville.
5. Grass Hill: Moved to a farm property three miles east of Oakwood.
Last Updated: November 2, 2002
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