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The Ontario & Rainy River Railway

Location: The Ontario & Rainy River Railway is located in northwestern Ontario, extending between Rainy River on the Ontario - Minnesota border and Thunder Bay on the western shores of Lake Superior.

History: The origins of the Ontario & Rainy River Railway (O&RRR) date back to the creation of the Canadian Northern Railway in the heartland of Manitoba in the late 1890's. In response to increasing Canadian Pacific (CPR) grain trafficking rates, the Lake Manitoba Railway & Canal Company was incorporated in 1889 by local Manitoba interests to construct a series of portage prairie lines, both east and west from central Manitoba, to compete with the CPR. Given the lack of funds available and the political climate, however, the project languished until being purchased by William Mackenzie and Donald Mann in January 1896, two eastern Canadians who had been involved in CPR construction and other projects in the past. Having the full support of the Manitoba government that included financing guarantees and rate controls, construction was initiated immediately. That same year, Mackenzie & Mann purchased the Manitoba & South Eastern Railway (M&SER), incorporated in 1889 to construct a line form St. Bonafice (across the Red River from Winnipeg) to the American boundary near the Lake of the Woods. Having substantial land grants tied to its charter, the line was viewed by Mackenzie and Mann as a possible way of challenging the CPR's monopoly on eastern grain traffic by extending the line to the Lakehead, thereby providing grain growers an alternative for shipment to the terminals. Accordingly, construction began on the line with it being open to Marchment, Manitoba in 1898. A year later, all Manitoba lines then under construction or operating were consolidated by Mackenzie and Mann as the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR).

In order to accomplish full construction of the line to Lake Superior, the railway had to deal with three separate jurisdictions, those being the Provinces of Manitoba and Ontario, and the State of Minnesota for that portion of the line that had to extend south below Lake of the Woods. The M&SER would be used to construct to the American border. The Minnesota portion was to be built under the charter of the Minnesota & Manitoba Railway Company (M&MR), purchased by the CNoR in May 1899 from state lumber interests. The Ontario portion would be completed under the charter of the Ontario & Rainy River Railway (O&RRR). This line was incorporated in 1886 to construct a railway from Port Arthur west to Rainy River. It was intended that the majority of traffic would be generated by local lumber, in particular around Fort Frances, and iron ore deposits originating from fields near Atikokan and Matawin. In addition, it was known that certain areas abutting the line contained fertile soil and settlement potential. At the time when the principles of the O&RRR were approached by Mackenzie and Mann to purchase in 1899, only limited work had been completed on the project given a lack of funds. It has been said that the company was sold at a high price.

Once under the control of the Canadian Northern, construction began on all three components of the line. For entry into Port Arthur, the company intended on using the final 18 miles of the Port Arthur, Duluth & Western Railway (PAD&WR), another project recently purchased by the CNoR (see separate listing). The 62 miles from Marchment to Sprague, Manitoba on the US border was completed in December 1900, around the same time that the 44 mile American portion was finished. The tracks from Rainy River to Fort Frances (total 55 miles) were opened for traffic as of October 1901. The remainder of the line into Stanley at the junction with the PAD&WR, a total of 212 miles, was not completed until December 1902 given heavy grades, muskeg, rock cuts and the necessity for substantial trestle work across Rainy Lake east of Fort Frances. The bridge between Rainy River, Ontario and Baudette, Minnesota was completed in 1901 by the Minnesota & Ontario Bridge Company, incorporated in 1899.

It was originally planned that, upon completion of the line, the entire unit would be transferred to the Canadian Northern under a long term lease, thus finally permitting a second through route from the prairies east to the Lakehead to challenge the superiority of the Canadian Pacific. It was decided in May 1900, however, that the route would be merged with the CNoR as part of its efforts to secure financing for future projected lines. The opening of the O&RRR was celebrated at Port Arthur with a large banquet held in honour of Mackenzie and Mann. At Port Arthur, the CNoR constructed substantial terminal facilities including docks, warehouses and grain elevators capable of holding a million bushels in order to support the expected wheat trade, all built under the name of the Lake Superior Terminals Company. Financing for much of the line had been provided by both federal and provincial governments, and the community of Port Arthur in its attempts to supersede Fort William. Over time, a fair amount of local traffic was generated by mining interests and local farms.

Approximate Milage: The milage of the O&RRR, all located within Ontario, is approximately 267 miles. West of Rainy River to St. Bonafice, the milage is approximately 145 miles.

Current Status: The O&RRR tracks continue in service, now forming part of Canadian National's Fort Frances and Kashabowie Subdivisions. The tracks west from Rainy River through Minnesota to Winnipeg are known now as the Sprague Subdivision.

Principle Stations: Thunder Bay (Port Arthur), Atikokan, Fort Frances and Rainy River.

Remaining Stations: A total of four O&RRR stations remain. They are as follows:
1. Rainy River: In situ on Atwood Ave. (Highway #11) as municipal offices and seniors centre.
2. Stratton: Moved to property within community at end of Theker Street, vacant.
3. Barwick: Moved to property on Lake Road north of community, vacant.
4. Fort Frances: In situ at 140 Fourth Street West as office space and community use.
5. Thunder Bay (technically not part of O&RRR): In situ on North Water Street as commercial and offices.

Last Updated: January 1, 1998

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