Haliburton Railway Stations

Location: Haliburton, Dysart Township, Haliburton County
Name: Community named after Thomas Chandler Haliburton, who was an author, statesman, and the first chairman of the Canadian Land and Emigration Company
Former Community Names: None
Railway Companies: CNR

Part A – Victoria Railway/Grand Trunk Railway/Canadian National Railway

Original Railway: Victoria Railway 1873 (Midland Railway 1880, Grand Trunk Railway 1883, Canadian Northern Railway 1905, Canadian National Railway 1919) 1878 – 1981
Current/Final Railway: Canadian National Railway
Location/Address: The station is located at 23 York St
Railway Mileage: Haliburton Subdivision Mile 55.52
Surrounding Building Context: The community was founded as a service centre that supported land immigration to the area in addition to extensive logging and timber interests. The dominant employer since its founding has been the lumber industry and has included the establishment of a number of mills within the community and on adjoining lakes. The Victoria Railway arrived in 1878 from Lindsay, terminating within the community. The resource line had several purposes that included immigration and land settlement, logging/timber rights and mining opportunities. The station was located just to the northwest of the commercial centre of the community, close to where the Drag River outlets into Head Lake. As the terminal of the line, railway facilities were fairly extensive and included a freight shed, engine house and turntable, water tank, stock yard and yard tracks.

Station Origin: Original/reconstructed station

Construction Date: The station was originally constructed with the opening of the line in 1878 by the Victoria Railway. It was reported to have been rebuilt in 1901 by the Grand Trunk Railway as part of its station replacement program
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Station Style: To be determined
Exterior Architecture Details: The building was a single storey frame structure, originally a gable roof that was altered to include a trackside gable over a hexagonal operator window
Interior Architectural Details: The station contained a passenger waiting room at the southerly end of the building, an ticket/operator office in the middle, and the combination baggage/freight room to the north
Landscaping & Ground Details: Cinder platform
Building Costs: Unknown
Destruction Date: Not applicable
Current Use: Passenger service continued up until 1960 (which included the noted Haliburton Highlander train) with freight service occurring up until 1978. A washout and burning of a bridge to the south end service altogether in 1981. The station was raised and converted for commercial purposes (currently the Rail’s End Gallery). The former right-of-way now forms part of the Haliburton County Rail Trail
Designations: The station is designated under the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act as per By-law 79-9 passed by the Council of Dysart et al on January 15, 1979