Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway Company
Survey
George Mountain's survey party of 24 men left Ottawa on November 20, 1891 to survey the line through the Nipissing district. They returned March 8, 1892. They had surveyed 120 miles of road to the west and travelled over 500 miles of rough country on foot. Costs of the survey trip were about $60 per day ($2.50 per man). The party met with extraordinary difficulties, having to cut their way through a wilderness of dense bush, travelling on snowshoes and dragging their supplies on sleds behind them. The country is not settled at all, and only a few trappers and hunters were encountered. [Renfrew Mercury, March 11, 1892]
Mountain’s plans, profiles and estimates were to be presented to Mr. J. R. Booth in mid-March, 1892.[Renfrew Mercury, March 11, 1892]
Description
The line was carefully graded and ballasted. When it was suggested that trains would be able to travel at 40 mph, Booth replied that his trains would go at 60 mph or he would have no use for them. [Renfrew Mercury, 1893-08-23]. The original rails were manufactured in Sheffield, 72 lbs; track had 3000 ties per mile (350 more than any other railway in Canada at the time) [Lavallee 64].
Construction
Subsidies
Unknown
Parry Sound Colonization Railroad received a grant for $64000 for twenty miles [Renfrew Mercury, 1894-07-20].
Federal
Provincial
In April, 1892, Dr. Dowling, M. P. P., introduced a deputation consisting of J. R. Booth, and F. Fleck, as well as several Renfrew-area men of importance. The company wished to ask for government aid in building that part of the road which extended through the colonization and unorganized districts. [Renfrew Mercury,April 15, 1892]
In April, 1893, JRBooth again interviewed the provincial government, asking for a grant of $3000 per mile for the portion of line between Barry's Bay and Scotia. [Renfrew Mercury, 1893-04-28]
A cash subsidy was granted to Fauquier to build 35 miles west of Barry's Bay, conditional on fire protection regulations. The Toronto Board of Trade opposed the grant as it was practically a private line. [Renfrew Mercury, 1894-05-01]
Municipal
Operations
1893-05
Regular freight is operating as far as Arnprior. Train of ten loads, two empties taken west from Ottawa this morning. [Lavallee 64]
1893-12-18
Regular passenger service from Renfrew to Ottawa started. The first train of two passenger cars arrived on time despite very cold weather and heavy snow. The only passenger from Renfrew was Mr J.A.Ferguson of Arnprior; no passengers alighted in Renfrew (despite report in Ottawa Evening Journal to the contrary). [Renfrew Mercury, 1893-12-22]
1894-04-06
Lots of lumber going through to Albany and Boston. [Renfrew Mercury, 1894-04-06]
1894-07-20
Excursion fares from Renfrew: Portland return at $9.95. Moncton return at $12.05 [Renfrew Mercury, 1894-07-20]
1894-03-22
Two two-car trains of dynamite (10 tons per car) dispatched from Ottawa to Whitney four hours apart. Arrived Whitney early Saturday 1894-03-23. [Renfrew Mercury, 1895-03-29]
1895-03-29
The train between Eganville and Whitney is two cars long; often standing room only. [Renfrew Mercury, 1895-03-29]
1894-04
Passenger traffic rivals CA [Ottawa Journal, 1895-04-12]
1895-09-06
Mr M.T.Stafford of Renfrew shipped several carloads of pressed hay from Renfrew to Whitney. [Eganville Star, 1895-09-06]
1895-10-07
Mail dispatched over PSCRy between Parry Sound, Emsdale, Sprucedale and Seguin. [Huntsville Forester, 1895-10-18]
1896-01-31
Booth experimenting with winter sawing. Logs to be shipped directly to Chaudiere from Egan limits on Madawaska [Renfrew Mercury, 1896-01-31]
1896-02-17
Passengers now running to Whitney [Eganville Leader, 1896-02-17]
1896-10-09
First through freight train from Parry Sound to Ottawa. It was 35 cars long. [Huntsville Forester, 1896-10-09] How this was accomplished given the rails weren't completed until 11-02, boggles the imagination.
1896-11-02
Regular passenger trains to commence between Madawaska and Ottawa. Mixed train service between Madawaska and Canoe Lake. [Ottawa Journal, 1896-10-31]
1896-11-18
First three cars of freight loaded from Ottawa to Depot Harbor within a 35-car train. [Arprior Semi-Weekly News, 1896-11-20]
1896-12-21
First through passenger train left Ottawa on Monday, Dec 21 at 8am and arrived at Depot Harbor at 8pm. No through passengers from Ottawa to Depot Harbor, but several officials made the trip. Regular service from Depot Harbor leaves 7am, arrives Ottawa at 6:30 pm and Montreal, 10:15pm. [Renfrew Mercury, 1896-12-25]
1896-12-31
First through passenger from Parry Sound to Ottawa was William Taylor, his wife and daughter. [Ottawa Journal, 1896-12-31]
1897-05-21
Excursion fare Renfrew to Parry Sound and return for $2.75 [Renfrew Mercury, 1897-05-21]
1898-01-21
Excursion fares for races at Lansdowne: Douglas $1.55, Renfrew $1.30 [Fleming: Renfrew Mercury]
1898-05-27
Reported 100 loaded cars eastbound and 50 loaded cars westbound per day. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1898-06-03
No train may pass a station until the preceding train has passed the next station. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1898-11-04
12 million bushels of grain, 100,000 tons of flour, glucose, pork etc from Parry Sound to Ottawa this season [Huntsville Forester, 1898-11-04]
1898-12-19
12 to 20 eastbound trains a day during the navigation season this year. Westbound freight as high as $25,000 per month [Huntsville Forester, 1898-12-19]
1899-03-31
Mail contract for year ended 1898-06-30 gave OA&PS $6999.92. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1899-04-28
OAPS to run 14 trains per day through Pembroke (?). Summer traffic to be 48 trains per day. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1899-04-28
Discussion regarding freight boats year round. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1899-06-23
OAPS starting weekly reefer shipments from Renfrew to Montreal. [Fleming:Renfrew Mercury]
1908
Summer 1908 GTR timetable shows one train each way daily except Sunday, meeting at Eganville. 53 (Westward) departed Ottawa at 11:50 AM and arrived at Depot Harbor at 9:20 PM. 52 (Eastward) departed Depot Harbor at 7:15 AM and arrived in Ottawa at 4:30 PM. [Lavallee 64]