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The Cobourg & Peterborough Railway Company
Location: The Cobourg & Peterborough is located in Central Ontario, extending between the Lake Ontario port of Cobourg and the industrial town of Peterborough.
History: The Cobourg & Peterborough Railway (C&PR) was incorporated in November 1852 by the citizens of Cobourg in hopes of drawing trade to their community from lands north to Peterborough and beyond. A contract was signed with Samuel Zimmerman in February 1853 that stipulated construction be completed in three years. Following the abandoned route of the Cobourg & Rice Lake Plank Road & Ferry Company, the railway was opened for traffic to Harwood on Rice Lake in May 1854. Operations could not proceed any further that year, however, as problems were being experienced with the building of the Rice Lake bridge by ice jams and footing placement. As well, the company was fraught with financial problems and shoddy workmanship. By late 1855, the line was nominally opened to Peterborough for traffic and leased to various groups for operation. Over two successive winters, the span across Rice Lake was totally destroyed, severing the line in half. Taking advantage of the situation, the Port Hope, Lindsay & Beaverton Railway opened their Millbrook branch to Peterborough, eliminating that community's further need for the subject line.
Entirely bankrupt by 1865, the property was reorganized as the Cobourg, Peterborough& Marmora Railway & Mining Company in August 1866 to pursue potential local iron ore bodies in the Marmora area. Track was constructed 9 miles (14 km) from the Blairton iron ore mine at Marmora to the Trent River. From there, small steamers moved material south to Trenton, a practice that continued until abandonment of the small line in 1883. By 1877, the parent company was bankrupt again. Looking for sources of income, the Rice Lake to Peterborough section of track was leased to the Grand Junction Railway in July 1880. A subsequently reorganization created the Cobourg, Blairton & Marmora Railway & Mining Company in June 1887 that continued to operate the Rice Lake stub to Cobourg (abandoned December 1895). In 1890, the Grand Trunk purchased the property and assumed what little operation remained. The company disappeared as a corporate entity in 1893. The GTR last used the line to store empty box cars after World War One. A subsidiary of the C&PR was the Peterborough & Chemong Lake Railway Company. Established as an eventual extension of the Cobourg & Peterborough in 1857, the first four miles were opened for traffic in 1859. The line was taken over by the GTR in March 1888 and extended the line the remaining four miles by July 1891.
Approximate Mileage: Pending.
Current Status: All C&PR milage has been abandoned. In certain places, the right-of-way remains traceable. The footings from the causway are still visible from both shores across Rice Lake.
Principle Stations: Cobourg, Harwood and Peterborough.
Remaining Stations: The only remaining C&PR station is the Harwood building, reconstructed as community building in Roseneath.
Last Updated: October 4, 1999
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