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The Credit Valley Railway
Location: The Credit Valley Railway is located in South-Central Ontario, extending between the City of Toronto on Lake Ontario, west through Galt, Woodstock and Ingersoll to St. Thomas. In addition, branches were built into the communities of Orangeville and Elora.
History: Constructed with the hopes of creating trade opportunities in Southern Ontario and drawing it into the sphere of Toronto, the Credit Valley Railway (CVR) was incorporated in February 1871 to construct a line from Toronto north to Orangeville via Streetsville (in direct competition with the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway) with branches through Milton to Galt, Berlin (Kitchener) or Waterloo. The principle backer of the financiers responsible for the project was George Laidlaw. The CVR charter was later amended over the next several years to permit a branch into Elora or Salem from Cataract (1872), line extension from Galt to Woodstock, and empowerment to build through to St. Thomas to connect with the Canada Southern Railway (both 1873). Surveys were conducted in 1873 with construction beginning in 1874. Money was short, however, and progress was slow. The first section of track, from Parkdale (Toronto) to Milton was opened for traffic in 1877. By 1879, the line was operational from Milton to Galt and into Orangeville and Elora. The final segment was completed from Galt into St. Thomas in 1881. The railway was able to obtain independent access into Union Station in 1880 through arrangements with the Grand Trunk while on the waterfront between Simcoe and John Streets were dock and wharf facilities.
After completion of the line in 1881, the company was nearly bankrupt and began searching for a buyer or lease arrangement. A number of municipalities that had provided funds for construction were concerned with this event in that it was anticipated that the construction of the line would increase competition and brake the monopoly created by the resident Grand Trunk Railway. A solution was soon found when CVR president George Laidlaw, having built a business relationship with president George Stephen of the Canadian Pacific Railway, attempted to entice him to purchase the Credit Valley line as a link to Stephen's transcontinental route. Laidlaw's efforts proved successful when, in November 1883, a CPR affiliated company known as the Ontario & Quebec Railway was amalgamated with the CVR and the dormant London Junction Railway charter.
Approximate Mileage: Total milage for the CVR as constructed was 181 miles made up of the following: the mainline from Toronto to St. Thomas of 121 miles, the branch from Streetsville to Orangeville of 35 miles, and the Elora branch (Cataract to Elora) of 29 miles.
Current Status: Under CPR ownership, the line was ultimately divided administratively into four components in the following manner: from Toronto to Woodstock as part of the Galt Subdivision, from Woodstock to St. Thomas as part of the St. Thomas Subdivision, the Orangeville branch as part of the Owen Sound Subdivision , and the Elora branch as the Elora Subdivision. The first part of the former CVR line to be abandoned was that from Meleville Junction to Orangeville in 1884. This component of the line was a duplication of the Toronto, Grey & Bruce railway that had been purchased by the CPR at the same time. In December 1987, the Elora Subdivision from Cataract into Elora was abandoned. Effective October 1, 1996, all other components of the CVR as noted above had been transferred to the St. Lawrence & Hudson Railway. In September 2000, the Brampton-Orangeville Railway was created by the Town of Orangeville as a shortline railway extending between Orangeville and Streetsville. Freight traffic is currently operating along this section. Ultimately, the Canadian Pacific Railway extended its tracks through the charters of the West Ontario Pacific Railway and the Ontario & Quebec Railway from Woodstock west through London to Windsor in 1887 to 1889.
Principle Stations: Toronto, Streetsville, Milton, Galt, Drumbo, Woodstock, Ingersoll, Belmont and St. Thomas. Principle branch line communities include Brampton, Orangeville, Erin, Hillsburgh, Fergus and Elora.
Remaining Stations:
A total of fourteen Credit Valley railway stations have survived. They are as follows:
1. Streetsville: Moved as a residence to property at 78 William Street.
2. Milton: Moved as a residence to property at 162 Commercial Street.
3. Galt: In original location at Malcolm Street, remains in railway use.
4. Wolverton: Moved as a storage barn to property within Pt. Lt. 10, Con 8 Blenheim Twp.
5. Innerkip: Moved as a residence to property at 29 George Street.
6. Woodstock: In original location at Drew Street, remains in railway use.
7. Beachville: Moved as a residence to property on County Road No. 9.
8. Gladstone: Moved to property near Windsor on Blue Church Road.
9. Belmont: Moved as a residence to property on Highway No. 74.
10. Brampton: Originally moved as a storage building to property on Creditview Road, now dismantled and in storage.
11. Alton: Moved, location unconfirmed.
12. Orangeville: Moved as a restaurant to property at 35 Armstrong Street.
13. Hillsburgh: Moved to Terra Cotta Conservation Area.
14. Orton: Moved as a residence to property on County Road No. 18.
Last Updated: November 3, 2002
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