Train to Nowhere

[Ray MacDonald]

This railway line has run through Almonte - across the river and on to North Bay Ontario - since 1860. At one time it was part of Canadian Pacific's Trans Canada rail network. Since CP decided to stop using it for freight service a couple of years ago it's been mostly idle.
Today I heard a few train whistles on the line as service trains ran through Almonte again. That's bad news as CP is now ripping up the tracks further up the Ottawa Valley and using the line to haul the rails away to Montreal. So it looks as if after 150 years this historic railway line will soon be gone.
The problem is that as any sort of commuter line it's really a trip to nowhere. It connects a bunch of small towns running north and west through the Valley and there hasn't been passenger service on it for close to 50 years. It doesn't go into Ottawa, and besides another line that actually did do just that was already ripped out 20 years ago. So much for green commuting I guess.
The one good thing that may happen is that the old right of way may be preserved as a bike/hiking/snowmobile trail over the many picturesque bridges and trestles in our part of the country. Otherwise it seems like a tragedy to destroy so much local history.

[porschefan]

This is what the city has done with old tracks in our current hometown:


And what they've done with old tracks in a town we used to live in:


Hopefully your local tracks will turn into something useful.

[Watchbreath]

I always find it odd that after they tear up the tracks, they want to put them back after 30 years
or so. Like putting back the streetcars, but calling them 'light rail'. Putting back the street cars on
3rd Street in San Francisco is a good example.

[bazman]

It is sad when something that was such a big part of a town is torn up, or left to rot. I hope they do keep the area for public use, but still have something there to show the younger generation what was there before.

[Ray MacDonald]

It is sad when something that was such a big part of a town is torn up, or left to rot. I hope they do keep the area for public use, but still have something there to show the younger generation what was there before.

I'm sure this solid Victorian era railroad bridge will remain and probably be some sort of pedestrian walkway over the river.

[bazman]

I'm sure this solid Victorian era railroad bridge will remain and probably be some sort of pedestrian walkway over the river.

I hope you are right Ray. It's not often that things get changed soley for public use without them bringing in money for the local council or government, especially when they have done in the past.

[Ray MacDonald]

This particular bridge connects two busy streets, is right in the middle of the town, is historic (it was the first bridge ever built in Almonte.) It also gives a spectacular view of the river and the falls and would be a valuable part of the Riverwalk. It'd cost far more to remove than to simply pave it or pour a concrete walkway. I'm pretty sure the town will want to preserve it.

[AAWATCHES]

Its a shame to see these old rail lines go, seems like with rising fuel cost and the increase in puplic transportation somehow they could be used again, not only preserving history but helping the economy. BTW Ray that picture is nice it would look real good blown up and framed.

[bazman]

This particular bridge connects two busy streets, is right in the middle of the town, is historic (it was the first bridge ever built in Almonte.) It also gives a spectacular view of the river and the falls and would be a valuable part of the Riverwalk. It'd cost far more to remove than to simply pave it or pour a concrete walkway. I'm pretty sure the town will want to preserve it.

I suppose that's a bonus with it being so central in the town. It would definitely be better if they turned it into a nice walkway with a plaque showing it's history.

[Ray MacDonald]

There's an interesting story hereabouts concerning the Prince of Wales' Canadian tour in 1860. The Prince (later Edward VII) was in Ottawa to lay the cornerstone of the new Canadian Parliament buildings. After that he went from Ottawa to Arnprior by river steamer, then took a horse and carriage trip from Arnprior to Almonte. The railway ended in Almonte at that time because the bridge across the river was not built yet. Then the Prince took the train from Almonte to Brockville, where he could catch another steamboat west to Toronto.
According to the stories in the local papers of that time, it took him from 5AM to 8 PM to complete this trip, which you could probably do in a morning's drive today. To go directly to Brockville from Ottawa is actually about an hour's drive by express motorway.