Talk:Ontario Northland Railway

Southern terminus?
The map shows leased lines leading to the shore of Lake Ontario. What line is this? It is the former Central Ontario? Maury Markowitz (talk) 17:59, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

Algonquin Railway / Ontario Northland Railway
In the early 70s I had to produce a study on profitability of AR. As we know: 1971 was doomsday of all railrods in northern America. Algonquin still reported a (small) profit. Owned tackage small: North Bay to somewhere Lake Ontario. But it operated the Ontario Northland since existance probabely and had vast trackage rights on CN and CP. There was a daily passenger train operated by AR Toronto-Cochrane, extended thee times a week to Moosonee, year round. A daily passenger connection to Timmins was abadoned 1971.

Income on passenger trains generated around 87 Cents per Dollar. Freight around 1.06 per Dollar. The latter rate was not even topped at that time by UP, ATSF or SP. In 1973 a brilliant performance. I was not astished that Algonquin (and not Ontario Northland) purchased the RAm/TEE in 1977 for use as "Northlander". Why did these trains fail ?

The RAm/TEE were designed for european mainlines. They operated Zürich to Amsterdam and Bruxelles dayly, until all these lines were fully electrified (1975). The problem were the locomotives. The intake of air was for Canada to low down, as due to lesser traffic deep snow drifts are common. This leads to icing up of air intakes, the end of a diesel.

Unfortunately I have not followed up the fate of AR. I understand that the track of AR is now owned by CN and the ONTC has taken over the trackage rights of the passed away Algonquin.

To the question above: the red line is the old trackage of Algonquin, the first 30 miles from Toronto do not follow old trackage right for passenger trains nowadays, but freight still follows the old Algonquin.

I am astonished that I did not easily find information to the now extinct Algonquin Railroad. And please mind that AR was standard gauge, only shortlived branches were narrow gauge, this was standard even with PRR for "trial" branches. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.245.78.135 (talk) 03:07, 14 April 2011 (UTC) Ruedi Walt 87.245.78.135 (talk) 03:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC) 87.245.78.135 (talk) 03:14, 14 April 2011 (UTC)

PS: anybody around with details to the Algonquin Ralway Company ? This Railroad was created 1914 as outlet to the south for the Nipissing Central and possibly ended in Whitby, Lake Ontario, with trackage rights to Detroit on CN. After takeover the Northlander was rerouted on the last around 25 miles. My records are lost - please add any knowledge, thank you. Ruedi Walt (talk) 02:13, 16 April 2011 (UTC)

Sry, I was thrown out by wiki before signing Ruedi Walt (talk) 03:19, 14 April 2011 (UTC)

Suggestions
In 1907 the company changed name to Nipissing Central Railway and got authorized to build to Moosonee. The last 200 miles were built 1931/33 only as a consequence of work programs.

Passenger trains ran from Totronto to Cochrane since 1916 and subsequently to various mining towns. Since 1933 there were trains Toronto-Cochrane-Moosonee.

1975 the passenger equipment was to be replaced. This led to the purchse 1977 of three Dutch/Swiss luxurious TEE diesel trains. They did not withstand the harsh conditions in winter, but became a brand symbol for the Nothlander.

Please extend this list with your knowledge.

Thank you Ruedi Walt (talk) 02:40, 16 April 2011 (UTC)