Midland Railway of Canada in Port Hope
The Midland Railway of Canada ran from Port Hope to Midland, Ontario. The Railway was originally created to become a link between Peterborough and Port Hope. It was named "The Peterborough and Port Hope Railway Company" and chartered on 16 Dec 1846. After several years of inaction a new charter was enacted in 1854 to instead create a railway between Port Hope and Lindsay. This new railway was to be known as the "Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway." Eventually becoming the Midland Railway of Canada, the northerly directed railroad ran right up Ontario Street and out of town.
Enjoy this exhibit of photographs and documents related to the Midland period in the railway history of Port Hope!
Enjoy this exhibit of photographs and documents related to the Midland period in the railway history of Port Hope!
Midland Railway Timeline
1846 - Peterborough and Port Hope Railway Company chartered (never materialised)
1854 - Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway Company chartered
Railway ran from Port Hope through Hope Township to Millbrook in Cavan Township, over to Bethany in Manvers Township then north to Lindsay
1856 - Construction began - Port Hope advanced nearly $700k for a 1/3 share
1857 - First journey to Lindsay completed
1858 - Branch line built from Millbrook to Peterborough
1869 - Renamed Midland Railway of Canada
1871 - Line opened up to Beaverton
1893 - Grand Trunk Railway obtained full ownership over the Midland group of railroad companies
1920 - Railroad was absorbed into the Canadian National Railway system
1951 - Last passenger train "Cannonball Express"
Northbound train No. 95 discontinued between Port Hope - Campbellford - Millbrook
100 passengers took the last ride - Mayor Wilbur Moore shook the hand of engineer Ernie Rainbow
1951-1970s - Railroad for freight to Rutter Granite and Nicholson File Co.
1979 - Railway tracks through Lents Lane and Ontario Street removed
c1980 - Former rail-line (now walkway) re-named "Lents Lane" after Lent Travel (and former A.W. Lent Coal Co.)
1854 - Port Hope, Lindsay and Beaverton Railway Company chartered
Railway ran from Port Hope through Hope Township to Millbrook in Cavan Township, over to Bethany in Manvers Township then north to Lindsay
1856 - Construction began - Port Hope advanced nearly $700k for a 1/3 share
1857 - First journey to Lindsay completed
1858 - Branch line built from Millbrook to Peterborough
1869 - Renamed Midland Railway of Canada
1871 - Line opened up to Beaverton
1893 - Grand Trunk Railway obtained full ownership over the Midland group of railroad companies
1920 - Railroad was absorbed into the Canadian National Railway system
1951 - Last passenger train "Cannonball Express"
Northbound train No. 95 discontinued between Port Hope - Campbellford - Millbrook
100 passengers took the last ride - Mayor Wilbur Moore shook the hand of engineer Ernie Rainbow
1951-1970s - Railroad for freight to Rutter Granite and Nicholson File Co.
1979 - Railway tracks through Lents Lane and Ontario Street removed
c1980 - Former rail-line (now walkway) re-named "Lents Lane" after Lent Travel (and former A.W. Lent Coal Co.)