This website has been archived from TrainWeb.org/ontariorailways to TrainWeb.US/ontariorailways.

The Campbellford, Lake Ontario & Western Railway

Location: The subject railway is located in south-central Ontario, extending between the communities of Agincourt, to the north of Toronto, and Glen Tay which is located just west of Perth.

History: The Campbellford, Lake Ontario & Western Railway (CLO&WR) was incorporated in September 1904 for the purpose of constructing a railway line parallel to the Lake Ontario shoreline from a point on the CPR controlled Ontario & Quebec Railway (O&QR) near Toronto, through Cobourg and Campbellford, to once again rejoin the O&QR at Blairton. The history of the company, however, stems from the creation of the Cobourg, Northwestern & Pacific Railway. Incorporated in 1889 by citizens of Cobourg to give that community an east west line to compete with the existing Grand Truck Railway, the affairs of the company ended in failure. The majority of the preconstruction work including surveying, granting of government subsidies, and the finalization of CPR lease arrangements, had all taken place but appropriate funding could not be found. Accordingly, no construction ever took place and the remains of the company ultimately formed part of CLO&WR.

Surveying of the line was initiated in 1905. It was felt by CPR officials that the proposed route would serve as an alternative to the busy O&QR line to the north where it was expected double tracking may be required in the near future. Once again, however, further work on the proposed line lagged and it wasn't until May 1912 that grading work commenced. The divisional point chosen for the route was Trenton. In 1913, the line was officially leased for a period of 999 years to the CPR. In conjunction with the work being completed on the CLOR&WR was the double tracking of rail on the O&QR between Agincourt and Leaside, opened for traffic in early 1914. By June of that year, the new line was completed its full intended length from Agincourt to Glen Tay. This resulted in the CPR having two separate lines within the Montreal to Toronto corridor, serving two distinct areas of the Province. As well, the completed route offered the advantage of challenging the existing Grand Trunk and Canadian Northern lines within communities along the lake shore. Known in short as the Lake Ontario Shoreline Route, the new lined offered improved grades and curves over its northern cousin. Ultimately, large portions of the O&QR route was abandoned in favour of the Shoreline tracks for these very reasons.

Approximate Milage: 190 miles.

Current Status: Under Canadian Pacific ownership (St. Lawrence & Hudson Railway), the line now forms the bulk of the Belleville Subdivision that extends from Toronto east to Smith Falls, a total of 211.5 miles.

Principle Stations: Whitby, Oshawa, Bowmanville, Cobourg, Colborne, Trenton and Belleville.

Remaining Stations: The possibility exits that three CLOR&WR railway stations remain. They are as follows:
1. Bathurst: Moved to property on Highway #7 across from Steep Rock Resources as a private residence.
2. Roblindale: Moved to Philoxia complex near Marlbank as a storage shed.
3. Thurlow: Moved as a private residence, location unconfirmed.

Last Updated: September 12, 1998

Return to Canadian Pacific Railway

Return to ORHP Home