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The Guelph Junction Railway

Location: The subject line is located in South-Central Ontario, connecting the city of Guelph with the Canadian Pacific Railway to the south at Guelph Junction.

History: In 1884, the Guelph Junction Railway (GJR) was incorporated by the citizens of Guelph to construct a line from a point south of the Grand Trunk Railway in Guelph to a connection with the Credit Valley Railway (Canadian Pacific Railway property) at or near Campbellville. Additional powers included the provision for an extension to a harbour facility on Lake Ontario. At the time, the only railway operating out of Guelph was the GTR, the Great Western Railway having been absorbed in 1882. Being of the opinion that rates and service could be improved, the townsfolk were all for the removal of the GTR monopoly. The charter of the GJR was subsequently amended in 1886 to permit an expansion of the railway to the shores of Lake Huron, thus providing a connection to Guelph for lake bound traffic (see the Guelph & Goderich Railway under separate entry).

Work had commenced on the line by the fall of 1886 with all surveying being completed from Guelph to the CVR in May 1887. During that month, the directors of the company entered into an agreement with the Canadian Pacific for lease and operation of the line upon completion. Construction began in November 1887 with the line opened for traffic in September 1888 under CPR management. The new junction point created with the former CVR tracks became known as Guelph Junction. The lease with the CPR was revised in January 1891 to permit a 99 year term that gave the CPR full control of operations. Proposed extensions to Goderich and Lake Ontario were shelved in the interim given economic conditions and no further construction was ever undertaken by the community.

Approximate Milage: 15 miles.

Current Status: Under the Canadian Pacific, the line became part of the Goderich Subdivision. Effective October 1, 1996, the GJR was transferred to the St. Lawrence & Hudson Railway, a CPR subsidiary. Effective January 1, 1998, the line has been leased to the Ontario Southland Railway for freight movements.

Principle Stations: Guelph and Guelph Junction.

Remaining Stations: There are two stations remaining from the Guelph Junction Railway. They are as follows:
1. Arkell: Moved to the Arkell Cemetery as a caretaker storage building.
2. Corwhin: Moved to a nearby farm property as a residence, location unconfirmed.

Last Updated: December 31, 1997

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