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!

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.)