Windsor and Annapolis Railway: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(23 intermediate revisions by 14 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox SG rail
{{Infobox rail | gauge={{Track gauge|ussg|allk=on}}
| railroad_name = Windsor and Annapolis Railway
| railroad_name = Windsor and Annapolis Railway
| system_map =
| system_map = {{maplink-road|from=Windsor and Annapolis Railway.map}}
| map_size =
| map_size =
| locale = [[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]]
| locale = [[Nova Scotia]], [[Canada]]
Line 7: Line 7:
| end_year = 1894
| end_year = 1894
| length = {{convert|118|mi}}
| length = {{convert|118|mi}}
| old_gauge =  built to {{RailGauge|66}} [[broad gauge]] but converted in 1875
| old_gauge =  built to {{RailGauge|5ft6in}} [[broad gauge]] but converted in 1875
| marks = W&AR
| marks = W&AR
| successor_line = [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]] 1894-1993
| successor_line = [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]] 1894-1993
Line 15: Line 15:
The '''Windsor and Annapolis Railway''' (W&AR) was a historic Canadian railway that operated in [[Nova Scotia]]'s [[Annapolis Valley]].
The '''Windsor and Annapolis Railway''' (W&AR) was a historic Canadian railway that operated in [[Nova Scotia]]'s [[Annapolis Valley]].


The railway ran from [[Windsor, Nova Scotia|Windsor]] to [[Annapolis Royal]] and leased connections to [[Nova Scotia]]'s capital of [[City of Halifax|Halifax]]. The W&AR played a major role in developing Nova Scotia's agriculture and tourism industries, operating from 1869 until 1894 when it evolved into the larger [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]].
The railway ran from [[Windsor, Nova Scotia|Windsor]] to [[Annapolis Royal]] and leased connections to [[Nova Scotia]]'s capital of [[City of Halifax|Halifax]]. The W&AR played a major role in developing Nova Scotia's agriculture and tourism industries, operating from 1869 until 1894 when it evolved into the larger [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]].


[[File:W&ARGabriel.jpg|300px|left|thumb|The locomotive ''Gabriel'' in [[Kentville, Nova Scotia]]; one of the W&AR's [[Fox, Walker and Company]] broad gauge locomotives]]
[[File:W&ARGabriel.jpg|300px|left|thumb|The locomotive ''Gabriel'' in [[Kentville, Nova Scotia]]; one of the W&AR's [[Fox, Walker and Company]] broad gauge locomotives]]
The W&AR was formed by British railway investors and Nova Scotian railway promoters in 1864. The company's operations centre was in [[Kentville, Nova Scotia|Kentville]], although corporate headquarters remained in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]. The Windsor and Annapolis negotiated running rights over the government-owned "Windsor Branch" of the [[Nova Scotia Railway]] to connect Windsor to the city and harbour of [[City of Halifax|Halifax]]. Vernon Smith, an experienced railway manager and engineer from Britain was the engineer in charge of construction and became the first general manager.
The W&AR was formed by British railway investors and Nova Scotian railway promoters in 1864. Investors were attracted by the traffic potential to link Halifax with Bay of Fundy and New England ports as well as the apple orchards in the Annapolis Valley.<ref>[http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Windsor_and_Annapolis_Railway "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" ''Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Institute'']</ref> The company's operations centre was in [[Kentville, Nova Scotia|Kentville]], although corporate headquarters remained in [[London]], [[United Kingdom]]. The Windsor and Annapolis negotiated running rights over the government-owned "Windsor Branch" of the [[Nova Scotia Railway]] to connect Windsor to the city and harbour of [[City of Halifax|Halifax]]. [[T. T. Vernon Smith|Vernon Smith]], an experienced railway manager and engineer from Britain was the engineer in charge of construction and became the first general manager. The resident engineer was [[Henry Ernest Milner]], also from England.
Construction began in 1866 with locomotives landed for work crews at Windsor, [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]] and Kentville. The line began operation between Kentville and Annapolis Royal on June 26, 1869 while work continued on the line's two large bridges east of Kentville over the large estuaries of the [[Avon River (Nova Scotia)|Avon River]] at Windsor and the [[Gaspereau River]] at [[Hortonville, Nova Scotia|Hortonville]]. An official opening was celebrated on August 18, 1869 with dignitaries including [[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|Lord Lisgar]] the Governor General of Canada arriving by rail from Halifax, although shuttled over the uncompleted bridge works by [[stage coach]]. The devastating [[Saxby Gale]] on October 5, 1869 destroyed much of the newly-built line between Hortonville and Wolfville which required hasty rebuilding. Despite these challenges, the railway opened for full operation on December 18, 1869 when the Avon and Gaspereau Bridges were complete and first train ran across the entire line from Halifax to Annapolis Royal.<ref>Marguerite Woodworth, ''History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway'', Kentville Publishing (1937) pp. 66-70</ref>
Construction began in 1866 with locomotives landed for work crews at Windsor, [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]] and Kentville. The line began operation between Kentville and Annapolis Royal on June 26, 1869 while work continued on the line's two large bridges east of Kentville over the large estuaries of the [[Avon River (Nova Scotia)|Avon River]] at Windsor and the [[Gaspereau River]] at [[Hortonville, Nova Scotia|Hortonville]]. An official opening was celebrated on August 18, 1869 with dignitaries including [[John Young, 1st Baron Lisgar|Lord Lisgar]] the Governor General of Canada arriving by rail from Halifax, although shuttled over the uncompleted bridge works by [[stage coach]]. The devastating [[Saxby Gale]] on October 5, 1869 destroyed much of the newly built line between Hortonville and Wolfville which required hasty rebuilding. Despite these challenges, the railway opened for full operation on December 18, 1869 when the Avon and Gaspereau Bridges were complete and first train ran across the entire line from Halifax to Annapolis Royal.<ref>Marguerite Woodworth, ''History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway'', Kentville Publishing (1937) pp. 66-70</ref>
[[File:WAR1885.jpg|thumb|right|Map of the Windsor & Annapolis and the Western Counties railways in 1885]]


The railway struggled at first with inexperienced staff, limited equipment and especially with extensive and ongoing repairs required on the sections of the line along the [[Minas Basin]] damaged by the Saxby Gale. However passenger traffic quickly blossomed, helped by early tourism promotion of steamship connections to the emerging [[New England]] [[tourism]] market. Freight traffic began more slowly but an explosion in apple shipments in the early 1880s ensured the prosperity of the line.
The railway struggled at first with inexperienced staff, limited equipment and especially with extensive and ongoing repairs required on the sections of the line along the [[Minas Basin]] damaged by the [[1869 Saxby Gale|Saxby Gale]] in 1869. However passenger traffic quickly blossomed, helped by early tourism promotion of steamship connections to the emerging [[New England]] [[tourism]] market. Freight traffic began more slowly but an explosion in apple shipments in the early 1880s ensured the prosperity of the line.


The railway was built at first to the Canadian [[broad gauge]] of {{RailGauge|5'6"}}. It converted to the [[standard gauge]] of {{RailGauge|nasg}} in 1875. The W&AR bought out the thriving branchline, the [[Cornwallis Valley Railway]] in 1890 which ran from Kentville to [[Kingsport, Nova Scotia|Kingsport]] through rich apple districts.
The railway was built at first to the Canadian [[broad gauge]] of {{RailGauge|5ft6in}}. It converted to the [[standard gauge]] of {{RailGauge|sg imp}} in 1875. The W&AR bought out the thriving branch line, the [[Cornwallis Valley Railway]] in 1890 which ran from Kentville to [[Kingsport, Nova Scotia|Kingsport]] through rich apple districts.


==Merger and renaming==
==Merger and renaming==
[[File:Work at the Trestle.jpg|thumb|160px|left|"Work at the Trestle" sculpture by Ruth Abernethy in [[Wolfville, Nova Scotia]] showing the [[T. T. Vernon Smith|Vernon Smith]] planning the W&AR.]]
A formidable rival to the W&AR was the [[Western Counties Railway]] (WCR), based in [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia]], which used political allies to threaten the exclusive W&AR access to the critical "Windsor Branch" connection into Halifax. However, the W&AR was able to buy out the WCR in 1894 to create the [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]], thus providing a through line from Halifax to Yarmouth. The W&AR set the direction for the new united company which took over the W&AR headquarters in Kentville as well as the W&AR's "Land of Evangeline" identity.
A formidable rival to the W&AR was the [[Western Counties Railway]] (WCR), based in [[Yarmouth, Nova Scotia]], which used political allies to threaten the exclusive W&AR access to the critical "Windsor Branch" connection into Halifax. However, the W&AR was able to buy out the WCR in 1894 to create the [[Dominion Atlantic Railway]], thus providing a through line from Halifax to Yarmouth. The W&AR set the direction for the new united company which took over the W&AR headquarters in Kentville as well as the W&AR's "Land of Evangeline" identity.


The [[Windsor and Hantsport Railway]] continued to operate over portions of the old Windsor and Annapolis mainline.
The [[Windsor and Hantsport Railway]] continued to operate over portions of the old Windsor and Annapolis mainline until 2011.


A monument to the Vernon Smith and his work constructing of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway was installed beside the line at the waterfront park in [[Wolfville]] in 2013.<ref>[http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/Local/2013-09-21/article-3401437/Sculpture-unveilled-in-Wolfville/1 "Sculpture Unveiled in Wolfville", ''Nova News Now'', Sept. 21, 2013]</ref>
A monument to the Vernon Smith and his work constructing of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway was installed beside the line at the waterfront park in [[Wolfville]] in 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/Local/2013-09-21/article-3401437/Sculpture-unveilled-in-Wolfville/1# |title="Sculpture Unveiled in Wolfville", ''Nova News Now'', Sept. 21, 2013 |access-date=2013-09-23 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130923001255/http://www.novanewsnow.com/News/Local/2013-09-21/article-3401437/Sculpture-unveilled-in-Wolfville/1# |archive-date=2013-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
* Gary Ness ''Canadian Pacific's Dominion Atlantic Railway (Vol. I)'', page 1 and (Vol. II), page 13.
* Gary Ness ''Canadian Pacific's Dominion Atlantic Railway (Vol. I)'', page 1 and (Vol. II), page 13.
* Marguerite Woodworth, ''History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway'', 1937, p. 51-87.
* Marguerite Woodworth, ''History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway'', 1937, p.&nbsp;51-87.


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/trains/h30-2101-e.html#d "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" ''Canada By Train'' - Virtual Exhibit Library and Archives of Canada]
* [http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/trains/h30-2101-e.html#d "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" ''Canada By Train'' - Virtual Exhibit Library and Archives of Canada]
* [http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/articles/SignificantDatesInNSRailwayHistoryPart2.html Ivan Smith "Significant Dates in Nova Scotia's Railway History (1850- 1899)" ''Railways of Canada Archives'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050301090050/http://www.trainweb.org/canadianrailways/articles/SignificantDatesInNSRailwayHistoryPart2.html Ivan Smith "Significant Dates in Nova Scotia's Railway History (1850- 1899)" ''Railways of Canada Archives'']
* [http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Windsor_and_Annapolis_Railway "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" ''Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Institute'']
* [http://dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Windsor_and_Annapolis_Railway "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" ''Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Institute'']
* [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F01E2D81F31E033A25752C1A9649C94659ED7CF "Windsor and Annapolis Line" New York Times February 11, 1894, Wednesday, p. 2]
* [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1894/02/11/106897543.pdf "Windsor and Annapolis Line" New York Times February 11, 1894, Wednesday, p. 2]
* [http://ns1758.ca/rail/railways.html#windannap-rail Windsor & Annapolis Railway]
* [http://ns1758.ca/rail/railways.html#windannap-rail Windsor & Annapolis Railway]


Line 47: Line 49:
[[Category:Transport in Kings County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Transport in Kings County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Transport in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Transport in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia]]
[[Category:Transport in the Halifax Regional Municipality]]
[[Category:Transport in Halifax, Nova Scotia]]
⚫
[[Category:Defunct Nova Scotia railways]]

[[Category:Defunct Nova Scotia railways]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Nova Scotia]]
⚫
[[Category:History of Nova Scotia]]

Latest revision as of 14:37, 31 December 2022

Windsor and Annapolis Railway
Map
Overview
HeadquartersCorporate: London, England; Operational: Kentville, Nova Scotia
Reporting markW&AR
LocaleNova Scotia, Canada
Dates of operation1869–1894
SuccessorDominion Atlantic Railway 1894-1993
Technical
Track gauge4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Previous gauge built to 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge but converted in 1875
Length118 miles (190 km)

The Windsor and Annapolis Railway (W&AR) was a historic Canadian railway that operated in Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley.

The railway ran from Windsor to Annapolis Royal and leased connections to Nova Scotia's capital of Halifax. The W&AR played a major role in developing Nova Scotia's agriculture and tourism industries, operating from 1869 until 1894 when it evolved into the larger Dominion Atlantic Railway.

The locomotive Gabriel in Kentville, Nova Scotia; one of the W&AR's Fox, Walker and Company broad gauge locomotives

The W&AR was formed by British railway investors and Nova Scotian railway promoters in 1864. Investors were attracted by the traffic potential to link Halifax with Bay of Fundy and New England ports as well as the apple orchards in the Annapolis Valley.[1] The company's operations centre was in Kentville, although corporate headquarters remained in London, United Kingdom. The Windsor and Annapolis negotiated running rights over the government-owned "Windsor Branch" of the Nova Scotia Railway to connect Windsor to the city and harbour of Halifax. Vernon Smith, an experienced railway manager and engineer from Britain was the engineer in charge of construction and became the first general manager. The resident engineer was Henry Ernest Milner, also from England. Construction began in 1866 with locomotives landed for work crews at Windsor, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Kentville. The line began operation between Kentville and Annapolis Royal on June 26, 1869 while work continued on the line's two large bridges east of Kentville over the large estuaries of the Avon River at Windsor and the Gaspereau River at Hortonville. An official opening was celebrated on August 18, 1869 with dignitaries including Lord Lisgar the Governor General of Canada arriving by rail from Halifax, although shuttled over the uncompleted bridge works by stage coach. The devastating Saxby Gale on October 5, 1869 destroyed much of the newly built line between Hortonville and Wolfville which required hasty rebuilding. Despite these challenges, the railway opened for full operation on December 18, 1869 when the Avon and Gaspereau Bridges were complete and first train ran across the entire line from Halifax to Annapolis Royal.[2]

Map of the Windsor & Annapolis and the Western Counties railways in 1885

The railway struggled at first with inexperienced staff, limited equipment and especially with extensive and ongoing repairs required on the sections of the line along the Minas Basin damaged by the Saxby Gale in 1869. However passenger traffic quickly blossomed, helped by early tourism promotion of steamship connections to the emerging New England tourism market. Freight traffic began more slowly but an explosion in apple shipments in the early 1880s ensured the prosperity of the line.

The railway was built at first to the Canadian broad gauge of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm). It converted to the standard gauge of 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) in 1875. The W&AR bought out the thriving branch line, the Cornwallis Valley Railway in 1890 which ran from Kentville to Kingsport through rich apple districts.

Merger and renaming[edit]

"Work at the Trestle" sculpture by Ruth Abernethy in Wolfville, Nova Scotia showing the Vernon Smith planning the W&AR.

A formidable rival to the W&AR was the Western Counties Railway (WCR), based in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, which used political allies to threaten the exclusive W&AR access to the critical "Windsor Branch" connection into Halifax. However, the W&AR was able to buy out the WCR in 1894 to create the Dominion Atlantic Railway, thus providing a through line from Halifax to Yarmouth. The W&AR set the direction for the new united company which took over the W&AR headquarters in Kentville as well as the W&AR's "Land of Evangeline" identity.

The Windsor and Hantsport Railway continued to operate over portions of the old Windsor and Annapolis mainline until 2011.

A monument to the Vernon Smith and his work constructing of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway was installed beside the line at the waterfront park in Wolfville in 2013.[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Windsor and Annapolis Railway" Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Institute
  2. ^ Marguerite Woodworth, History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway, Kentville Publishing (1937) pp. 66-70
  3. ^ ""Sculpture Unveiled in Wolfville", Nova News Now, Sept. 21, 2013". Archived from the original on 2013-09-23. Retrieved 2013-09-23.
  • Gary Ness Canadian Pacific's Dominion Atlantic Railway (Vol. I), page 1 and (Vol. II), page 13.
  • Marguerite Woodworth, History of the Dominion Atlantic Railway, 1937, p. 51-87.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Windsor_and_Annapolis_Railway&oldid=1130701451"