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The Tillsonburg, Lake Erie & Pacific Railway

Location: The subject railway was constructed in Southern Ontario between the Lake Erie community of Port Burwell, north through the industrial town of Ingersoll, to Embro.

History: Conceived by a group of Tillsonburg businessmen, the Tillsonburg, Lake Erie & Pacific Railway (TLE&PR) was incorporated in March 1890 to connect the Lake Erie town of Port Burwell with the CPR at Ingersoll or a variety of lines at Woodstock. Arrangements were made with the Grand Trunk for construction and operation of the line with the intention being to connect the property with that company's Brantford, Norfolk & Port Burwell Railway at Tillsonburg. In October 1892, Government subsidies were secured, however, for some reason, the GTR declined to be further involved with the company. The directors decided to push on, completing surveys of the line in 1884 and commencing construction in 1885. The first 16 miles of track were opened for service from Port Burwell to a junction with the GTR Canada Air Line three miles south of Tillsonburg in January 1896. Arrangements were made with the GTR to permit access into Tillsonburg in addition to the sharing of terminal facilities and some equipment.

In the meantime, plans were being considered for the construction of port facilities at Port Burwell to bring coal over from the United States, while the three mile gap into Tillsonburg was completed in December 1898 that included a connection with the Canada Southern Railway . The railway was now prepared to expand to either Ingersoll or Woodstock. After considering various alternatives, it was decided to build to Ingersoll. Construction began immediately and the railway was open for business in December 1902. At the same time, construction was nearing completion on the docks in Port Burwell. In 1904, arrangements were made with the Canadian Pacific Railway to lease the line for a period of 999 years. Plans were drawn up for further expansion to Collingwood via Stratford in addition to an extension from Ingersoll north to Embro where a connection would be made the next year with the St. Marys & Western Ontario Railway . The first portion of the Embro extension was completed in June 1908 from Zorra to Embro. The remainder from Zorra to Ingersoll was eventually completed in June 1910. No further construction ever took place on the Embro line while the Collingwood route never materialized. The CPR took advantage of the port facilities in Port Burwell, shipping in most of the coal used on its Southern Ontario railways. In 1958, the company disappeared as a separate entity.

Approximate Milage: 45 miles.

Current Status: Under the Canadian Pacific, the line became known as the Port Burwell and St. Marys Subdivisions. From Tillsonburg to Port Burwell and from Ingersoll to Zorra, the line was abandoned in 1987. Effective October 1, 1996, the remaining tracks were transferred to the St. Lawrence & Hudson Railway, a CPR subsidiary. The railway proposes to discontinue service from Ingersoll to Tillsonburg in the near future.

Principle Stations: Port Burwell, Vienna, Tillsonburg, Mount Elgin, Ingersoll and Embro.

Remaining Stations: There are a total of four stations remaining. They are as follows:
1. Vienna: Moved to property on Third Line as a residence.
2. Eden: Moved to property on Highway No. 19 in town as a storage building.
3. Tillsonburg: Moved to property on Hale Street beside GWR building as a commercial use.
4. Springford: Moved to a nearby farm as a residence, location unconfirmed.

Last Updated: December 31, 1997

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