Railpictures.ca - Marcus W Stevens Photo: The narrow pathway comprised of old ballast and gravel veering away from the Guelph Junction Railways line through Guelph north of the downtown core does little to attract the attention of those that pass by. For those that know the history of the area, this was once the important connection between CPR and CNR. It originally connected from here to a connection with CN’s Guelph north spur at London Rd and Edinburgh Road. By the 1920’s the line was removed in favour of a new connection better the two railroads in the cities north end. Today the old roadbed is the Royal Recreation trail / CNR spur line trail. This day the pairing of an OSR RS18 and RS23 are seen passing the old connection as they make their way to the newer interchange at the cities north end. | Railpictures.ca – Canadian Railway Photography

The narrow pathway comprised of old ballast and gravel veering away from the Guelph Junction Railways line through Guelph north of the downtown core does little to attract the attention of those that pass by. For those that know the history of the area, this was once the important connection between CPR and CNR. It originally connected from here to a connection with CN’s Guelph north spur at London Rd and Edinburgh Road. By the 1920’s the line was removed in favour of a new connection better the two railroads in the cities north end. Today the old roadbed is the Royal Recreation trail / CNR spur line trail. This day the pairing of an OSR RS18 and RS23 are seen passing the old connection as they make their way to the newer interchange at the cities north end.

Caption: The narrow pathway comprised of old ballast and gravel veering away from the Guelph Junction Railways line through Guelph north of the downtown core does little to attract the attention of those that pass by. For those that know the history of the area, this was once the important connection between CPR and CNR. It originally connected from here to a connection with CN’s Guelph north spur at London Rd and Edinburgh Road. By the 1920’s the line was removed in favour of a new connection better the two railroads in the cities north end. Today the old roadbed is the Royal Recreation trail / CNR spur line trail. This day the pairing of an OSR RS18 and RS23 are seen passing the old connection as they make their way to the newer interchange at the cities north end.

Photographer:	Marcus W Stevens [1061] (more) (contact)
Date:	09/12/2006 (search)
Railway:	Ontario Southland (search)
Reporting Marks:	OSRX 180 (search)
Train Symbol:	Not Provided
Subdivision/SNS:	Goderich subdivision (search)
City/Town:	Guelph (search)
Province:	Ontario (search)
Share Link:	http://www.railpictures.ca/?attachment_id=54661

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Photo ID: 53341

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3 Comments

Jacob Patterson

June 26, 2024 at 11:52 am

Nice shot, Marcus. That line, the CN Guelph Town Spur (or City Spur… have seen both), was removed in 1972. There were at least two customers along the spur, between Woolwich and Exhibition Streets.
Marcus Stevens

June 27, 2024 at 3:04 pm

Thanks
I had always been told it was removed in the 20’s never realized it survived that long.
Jacob Patterson

June 28, 2024 at 6:00 pm

I should also note this was built by the Great Western as an extension of the Galt & Guelph Railway circa 1871, which ended roughly at Edinburgh Road in 1857. That location would today be XV yard, where GWR’s station was for a few years. This left GWR passengers with the need to either transfer to competing GTR trains at Guelph Junction (Alma St.) or find another way to travel one mile downtown. This extension allowed a GWR station to be built along Cardigan Street at the end of GWR tracks. With the GWR being merged with the GTR in 1882, this station was removed from service that same year, and demolished soon after.

GWR station: https://guelph.pastperfectonline.com/photo/62A05CF7-934C-41FA-B01C-344282818700

1972 shot by Donald Coulman at Suffolk Street, showing removal of city spur: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jcWPFor3CSOpjpm_LbtLyV1VZRZKQhq-/view?usp=sharing

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