Renfrew Railway Stations

Location: Renfrew, Horton Township, Renfrew County
Name: Community named in 1848 for the county, which was named for a Scottish county southwest of Glasgow.
Former Community Names: Second Chute, Renfrewville
Railway Companies: CAR/CNR, K&P/CPR, CCR/CPR

Renfrew Railway Map Download

Part A – Canada Atlantic Railway/Grand Trunk Railway/Canadian National Railway

Original Railway: Ottawa, Arnprior & Renfrew Railway 1888 (Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway 1891, Canada Atlantic Railway 1899, Grand Trunk Railway 1905, Canadian National Railway 1923) 1894-1988
Current/Final Railway: Canadian National Railway
Location/Address: The station was located on the south side of Renfrew Av between Carswell St and Bonnechere St
Railway Mileage: Renfrew Subdivision Mile 54.2
Surrounding Building Context: The community was initially founded as a regional centre for logging activities in northern Ontario and Quebec, in addition to being a service town for the surrounding agricultural areas. Several mills were established on the Bonnechere River. The first railway to arrive was the Canada Central Railway in 1876, which formed part of the original Canadian Pacific transcontinental railway route west from Montreal towards Sudbury. This was followed by the Kingston & Pembroke Railway in 1884 which had been developed as a resource line that would transport the mineral and lumber resources of Frontenac County and beyond to the harbour facilities of Kingston. The last line to arrive was the Canada Atlantic Railway in 1894, again a resource line that looked to accommodate traffic (in particular lumber) between Georgina Bay (Depot Harbour) through Quebec to Vermont. The number of railway connections allowed for the development of a varied industry base that included a number of factories (see map for details). The Canadian National station was located to the southwest of the commercial centre of the community. Railway facilities included a wooden water tower and several spur lines and yard tracks.

Station Origin: Original station

Construction Date: The building was constructed with the opening of the line in 1893 by the Canada Atlantic Railway
Architect/Builder: George Tomlinson
Station Style: To be determined (similar to Arnprior)
Exterior Architecture Details: The building was a long single storey brick structure with a hip roof that incorporated a central hexagonal tower that rose one storey above a hexagonal operator window
Interior Architectural Details: The station contained passenger waiting rooms, ticket/operator office and a large freight/express room
Landscaping & Ground Details: Cinder platform
Building Costs: Unknown
Destruction Date: The building was removed at some point in the early 1990’s. A townhouse development has been constructed on the former site
Current Use: Not applicable
Designations: Not applicable

Part B – Canada Central Railway, Kingston & Pembroke Railway/Canadian Pacific Railway

Original Railway: Canada Central Railway 1861 (Canadian Pacific Railway 1881) 1876 – 2011 and the Kingston & Pembroke Railway 1871 (Canadian Pacific Railway 1903) 1884 – 1977
Current/Final Railway: Canadian Pacific Railway
Location/Address: Station Origin: Original station
Railway Mileage: Chalk River Subdivision Mile 58.8, Kingston Subdivision Mile 103.6
Surrounding Building Context: See above for general Renfrew information. The arrival of the Canada Central Railway was connected with the broader construction of the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway east from Montreal to connections in the west beyond Sudbury. A separate venture was the Kingston & Pembroke Railway, which had intended as its terminus Pembroke. With the assimilation of both lines into the CPR, this destination was never reached as it would have duplicated the tracks of the Canada Central. It is believed that the K&P did not constructed a station in Renfrew and made use of the CCR/CPR building. Railway facilities included a engine shed, water tank and freight shed.

Station Origin: Original and replacement stations

Construction Date: The original station was constructed with the opening of the line in 1876 by the Canada Central Railway. Limited information is known about this structure. It was subsequently replaced by a new station c1900 by the Canadian Pacific Railway. The details below pertain to this station
Architect/Builder: The station was designed by Edward Maxwell, serving as a prototype for others in the Ottawa valley
Station Style: To be determined
Exterior Architecture Details: The building was a single storey stone structure with a bellcast hip roof and a rectangular operator window. The eaves were removed at a later date
Interior Architectural Details: The station contained passenger waiting rooms, ticket/operator office, and a freight/express room
Landscaping & Ground Details: Surrounding the station were well tended lawn and garden areas
Building Costs: Unknown
Destruction Date: The building was removed at some point in 1982 and replaced by a modern structure clad in aluminium siding
Current Use: Not applicable
Designations: Not applicable

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