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The Brockville, Westport & North-Western Railway

Location: The railway is located in Eastern Ontario, connecting the city of Brockville on the St. Lawrence River with the community of Westport to the northwest on the Rideau Canal.

History: A company by the name of the Brockville & Westport Railway was chartered by the residents of Farmersville, 12 miles east of Brockville, in 1871 to construct a railway north to Westport. The matter remained a paper company and nothing ever came of the good intentions put forward. This event was followed by the incorporation of the Brockville, Westport & Sault Ste. Marie Railway Company (BW&SR) in March 1884 by the citizens of Brockville to exploit the natural resources of the Rideau Lakes area to the north. Being extremely optimistic, citizens hoped to ultimately extend their line to access the perceived wealth of the distant community of Sault Ste. Marie. A contract for construction was placed in 1885, however, work progressed slowly given the lack of funds. The line was opened for traffic in late 1886 from Lyn Junction, four miles west of Brockville, to Westport. From Lyn Junction to Brockville, the company had hoped to obtain running rights over the GTR tracks. Relations between the two companies, however, were stained. As nothing could be worked out, a set of tracks parallel to the GTR were built and opened for traffic in July 1888.

Further subsidies for extension of the line west towards Sault Ste. Marie were not granted by the Government. As a result of not being able to access markets further afield and in view of the limited amount of local traffic available, the property failed and was foreclosed upon in January 1903 by the Knickerbocker Trust Company of New York. The trust company promptly reorganized the railway as the Brockville, Westport & North Western Railway Company (BW&NWR) with plans drafted for further rail expansion to the west in connection with a river navigation company. In spite of good intentions, these plans were never fulfilled and the company was sold to the Canadian Northern Railway at a low price as a feeder line for its Toronto to Ottawa main line in July 1910. Assumed by the Canadian National in 1923, the railway soldiered on until being abandoned in August 1953.

Approximate Milage: 40 miles.

Current Status: Under Canadian National ownership, the line was known as the Westport Subdivision. The first segment to be abandoned was that from Brockville to Lyn Junction in 1925. The remainder north to Westport was abandoned in 1953. All rails have been lifted.

Principle Stations: Brockville, Athens, Newboro and Westport.

Remaining Stations: A total of six BW&SR stations have survived. They are as follows:
1. Lyn Junction: Moved as a residence, location unconfirmed.
2. Forthton: Moved to property at the junction of Highway No. 29 and 42, may be vacant.
3. Glen Elbe: Moved to property near Tincap as a auto mechanic garage.
4. Athens: Moved to property outside of town on Plum Hollow Road as a residence.
5. Soperton: Moved to property on Upper Beverley Lake as a summer residence.
6. Westport: In original location at 52 Concession Street as hotel offices and tourism centre.

Last Updated: June 25, 2003

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