St Henri Train Station on the Grand Trunk Railroad
from Collection Bibliotheque Nationale, Quebec
1836: Canada's First Railway
The Champlain & St. Lawrence Railroad, Canada's first railway trunk was built in 1836 between
Montreal's South Shore and St. Jean-sur-Richelieu.
This 26 km long link was a considerable shortcut since the initial waterway route (St. Jean - Sorel - Montreal)
was more than 150 km long.
1847: Montreals's First Railway
The Montreal and Lachine Railroad was inaugurated several years's later in 1847 to provide a land link to bypass the treacherous section of the St Lawrence before the Lachine Canal was built. This railroad went through the middle of through St Henri and stopped near the corner of St Jacques and St Henri. Other stops included Bonaventure, Montreal West, and Beaconfield
The Grand Trunk Railroad
In 1853, the Grand Trunk Railway was formed from an amalgamation of several smaller rail companies including the
Montreal and Lachine Railroad. The first part of this line extended from Sarnia to Toronto and then Montreal.
The second part ran from Montreal to Levis (on the South Shore of Quebec City) and then to the border of New Brunswick
(then a separate British colony) where it met with the Intercolonial Railway.
Rapid expansion and heavy competition resulted in The Grand Trunk's bankrupcy in 1919.
The Federal Government took over the railway that year, placing it under the management
of the Canadian National Railways in 1923.
a later picture of St Henri Train Station on the Grand Trunk Railroad
from Collection Bibliotheque Nationale, Quebec
Grand Trunk Railway steam locomotive no. 209 approx: 1859.
from Canadian Science and Technology Museum
The old bridge under Notre Dame Street where the old trains used to rumble by.
a plack next to the old train station: Railroad Park:
Commemorates the first railroad on the Island of Montreal -
The Montreal and Lachine Railroad.
Inaugurated in 1847.
The CLSC now stands on the site of the old train station.
The bicycle path is a reminder of the route of the old rail line.
