The Railroad of the Pontiac

The railroad of the Pontiac

The abandoning of the railroads

The PPJ

The Shawville Train Station

The PPJ enters the train station

Agricultural Steam Engine

Since the Pontiac was an important supplier of wood to the railroad industry, it was natural that the Montreal Northern Colonization Railroad Company decided to install a part of the Trans-Canada Railroad in the Pontiac. To guarantee the laying of the rails, the Pontiac had to buy $150 000 worth of shares, which was an enormous amount of money in that era. The motion was then voted and adopted. Unfortunately, bad luck came upon the firm which collapsed under suspicious circumstances, and the Pontiac didn't have to pay this amount.

The provincial government took possession of the railway, and promised the Pontiac that they would soon get their railroad. The railroad called the Pontiac Pacific Junction (PPJ) was incorporated in 1880 and a charter was given which authorized them to establish a railroad going from Aylmer to Pembroke. This charter was to encourage the provincial government to complete the original line from Montreal to Pembroke, which was necessary if the railway of the Pontiac was to be joined to the vast Pan-Canada network. However, it rapidly became obvious that the provincial government was bankrupt and the PPJ had no other choice than to find the essential funds themselves.

The Pontiac Council was once again asked for a contribution of $100 000 for the construction of the line. Since the railroads of that era depended exclusively on public funds, the question had to be voted on and validated by the majority of voices. The evident advantages of a railroad might give the impression that the vote would be easily won. However, this didn't happen. The creation of the PPJ was done in a troubled atmosphere. The population was divided, even in families. The opposition won the first part of the fight, but the promoters didn't admit defeat for all that. The Council was reunited in September after the farmers who had opposed the project were gone out to the woods. Now that the influence of those opposing the project was reduced, the vote was favourable! It is not surprising that the mention of the railroad still causes some anger in a few people.

However, bad luck wasn't over. In 1884 the Pontiac was opposed    to covering the cast of the interest on the obligations of the $100 000. Suddenly taking of the heavy deduction that it would represent for a region that was note not so heavily populated, the Council decided not to honour its contract under the pretence that the PPJ hadn't respected its obligations.

The mills and small industries developed, and the municipalities along the railway prospered. Local wheat represented an important crop until 1930. From then to 1934, the price of wheat went down. The improvement of the transportation system made it cheaper for the importation of cereals from the West, which provoked the collapse of prices. The inclination towards a bigger industrialization and specialization was felt in all the areas of life in the Pontiac. The small farmers who devoted themselves to mixed farming found themselves without a market and the younger people moved to the cities. At the end of World War II, the bigger flour mills and the distributor of this food had the lion's part in the flour market. The Clarendon flour mill closed its doors in 1944.

The CD proceeded to dissolve of most of its companies on lease in 1958, acquiring all their properties and their assets. During a large part of the 20^th century, the Waltham subdivision was a profitable and well stocked line. The passenger service and the numerous of clients declined inevitably with the improvement of the roads and the growing popularity of automobiles. In 1930, the two daily passenger trains merged together to do one daily run. This train, carrying both passengers and cargo, was stopped in 1955. The service was completely terminated in 1959, while the number of passengers became very small. Nevertheless, the line was still essential for the Hilton iron mine in Bristol. In 1977, the closure of the mine signaled the end of the CD in the Pontiac. In 1984, less than 100 years after its establishment, the railroad was dismantled from Wyman to Waltham. The same thing happened between Wyman and Aylmer in 1987.

An important page of the Pontiac's history was turned.

The Abandoning of the Railroad

Every year, millions of kilometers of railroad are abandoned. In Quebec, close to a hundred railroad fragments, covering over 3500 km, are abandoned. These railroads once used for the transportation of passengers and cargo, are now used for recreation and tourism.