Algoma Central Railway

The Algoma Central Railway (reporting mark AC) is a railway in Northern Ontario that operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst. It used to have a branch line to Wawa, Ontario. The area served by the railway is sparsely populated, with few roads.

Algoma Central Railway

Algoma Central Railway's popular tour train stopped in the Agawa Canyon park
Overview
Headquarters	Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Reporting mark	AC
Locale	Northern Ontario,  Canada
Dates of operation	1899–
Technical
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge

Waypoints on the Algoma Central Railway

Agawa Canyon, 1988

Crossing Montreal River

Crossing Montreal River, 1978

Hubert

In Sault Ste. Marie

Bridge over Mattawishkwia River south of Hearst

The railway is well known for its Agawa Canyon tour train. Until 2015, the line also provided passenger train service to canoeists, snowmobilers, cottagers and tourists accessing this wilderness recreation region. The railway connects at its northernmost point with the Ontario Northland Railway and with CN's eastern division to the south. It also intersects with the Canadian Pacific Railway at Franz and with the Huron Central Railway at its southernmost point in the Sault.

History

Early history

 

Algoma Central Railway telephone car, Algoma District, Ontario, [ca. 1925]

The Algoma Central Railway was first owned by Francis H. Clergue, who required a railway to haul resources from the interior of the Algoma District to Clergue's industries in Sault Ste. Marie; specifically, to transport logs to his pulp mill and iron ore from the Helen Mine, near Wawa, to a proposed steel mill (which was later named Algoma Steel). The Algoma Central Railway was chartered on August 11, 1899.^[1] The railway's Dominion and provincial charters gave it authority to build north from Sault Ste. Marie to a junction with the Canadian Pacific Railway's main line, as well as a branch line to Michipicoten Harbour, on Lake Superior near Wawa.

In 1901, Clergue acquired the charter of the Ontario, Hudson Bay and Western Railway, which was intending to build a line between the CPR main line and Hudson Bay. He then changed the name of the Algoma Central Railway to The Algoma Central and Hudson Bay Railway Company, anticipating a connection either to Moose Factory on James Bay or to some point on Hudson Bay.

The Algoma Central fell victim to the bankruptcy of Clergue's Consolidated Lake Superior Company in 1903.^[1] At that time, the line reached 90 km (56 mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie, with a 32 km (20 mi) segment running east from Michipicoten Harbour that did not yet connect with the main line. Construction was stopped, but it was subsequently resumed in 1909 and the line was extended northward through to junctions with the Michipicoten Harbour branch (at Hawk Junction), the Canadian Pacific Railway (at Franz) and the Canadian Northern Railway (at Oba). In 1914, it finally reached Hearst, a town 476 km (296 mi) north of Sault Ste. Marie that was a divisional point on the National Transcontinental Railway.^[1] By that point, Clergue's dream of building a railway to Hudson Bay or James Bay had long been abandoned, and the railway's northern terminus remained at Hearst, around 240 km (150 mi) from James Bay. However, the phrase and Hudson Bay was not removed from the railway's name until June 30, 1965.

The Algoma Central was the first Canadian railway to operate fully with diesel fuel, in 1952.^[2]

The railway had been in the shipping business since 1900, when it had purchased four steamships. Starting during the 1960s, the railway greatly expanded its marine operations and diversified into trucking, real estate, forestry, and mining operations. These operations were more profitable than the railway operations, and on April 30, 1990, as part of a corporate reorganization, the name of the company was changed to Algoma Central Corporation, with the Algoma Central Railway becoming one of its subsidiaries.^[3] A few years later, the Algoma Central Railway was put up for sale.

Wisconsin Central and Canadian National eras

On February 1, 1995, Wisconsin Central Ltd. purchased Algoma Central Railway Incorporated, operating the railway as a separate subsidiary, Wisconsin Central Canada Holdings. In 1998, Algoma Steel closed its iron ore mine in Wawa and the branch line between Michipicoten Harbour and Hawk Junction was abandoned.^[2] Wisconsin Central Ltd. was acquired by Canadian National on October 9, 2001, whereupon the Algoma Central became part of CN's Eastern Division.

In January 2014, CN announced it was cutting the service from Sault Ste. Marie to Hearst, blaming the Canadian federal government for cutting a subsidy necessary to keep the service running. The passenger service, which runs three days per week, provides year-round access to remote tourist camps and resorts. The average annual ridership is estimated to be 10,600 passengers. It has been argued in the past as an essential service; however, the service has always been deemed financially uneconomic.^[4]

In February, a working group attempting to save the line hired BDO Canada LLP, an accounting firm, to assess the financial impact to the region when the service is scheduled to end April 29. The working group, composed of municipalities, first nations, and cottager associations, all had a vested interest in the continuation of the service.^[5] According to preliminary findings, BDO determined passenger rail service in the Algoma district generates between $38 million and $48 million in annual economic activity. It supports as many as 220 jobs and delivers more than $5 million in tax revenues.^[6]

In April 2014, the federal government extended funding for one year so that CN would continue to provide the passenger service. The $2.2-million subsidy was to facilitate the provision of service until 2015.^[7] In March 2015, Railmark Canada Ltd assumed the passenger service with the intention to increase services and marketing.^[8]

In March 2015, the Canadian government guaranteed funding of the service for an additional three years.^[9]

In June of the same year, Canadian National said it would stop the service on July 15 after it was unable to make a deal with Railmark Canada. The government subsidy still stood, but a new rail operator needed to be sought by the regional stakeholders group. Railmark was unable to secure a line of credit from a lending group, which hindered its ability to take over services.^[10]

Canadian National announced its intent in July 2020 to sell off non-core lines in the Upper Midwest as part of a rationalization programme, all of which were previously part of the Wisconsin Central system.^[11] In December 2021, the sale of the former Algoma Central lines along with CN trackage in Wisconsin and Michigan was approved by the Surface Transportation Board.^[12]

Watco purchase

In March 2021, Watco announced that it would acquire the Algoma Central from Canadian National, along with the Wisconsin lines, sale of the latter being subject to final approval by the United States Surface Transportation Board. Simultaneously, Watco committed to a continuance of the Agawa Canyon Tour Train, as well as signing a memorandum of understanding with the Missanabie Cree First Nation regarding a potential partnership.^[11] On April 20, the Missanabie Cree First Nation, N1 Strategy Inc. and The Machine Shop also signed a memorandum of understanding around logistics and operations of a resurrected tourist train.^[13]

Tourism

Agawa Canyon Tour Train

In the 1960s, the railway began to promote the natural beauty of the District of Algoma to tourists, especially the Agawa Canyon, a canyon carved by the Agawa River, located 114 rail miles (183 km) north of Sault Ste. Marie, and not accessible by road.^[14] The Algoma Central developed a tourist stopover here and it proved to be a great success for the railway. Owing to the popularity of the Agawa Canyon excursions, the Algoma Central ran the longest passenger trains in North America, often up to 20 to 24 cars long. During the 1970s and 1980s, around 100,000 people per year toured Agawa Canyon.

Moments of Algoma Group of Seven

In 2015, White Pine Pictures released the award-winning documentary film "Painted Land: in Search of the Group of Seven" ^[15][16] which was shot along the rail corridor. In 2016 the Moments of Algoma project was launched by the Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association,^[17] inviting tourists to follow the Group of Seven's travels, experiences and expressions of the region. The driving tour begins in Bruce Mines and follows the shoreline of Lake Huron and Lake Superior as far as Nipigon. Rail passengers will find more interpretive Installations in Agawa Canyon and at the train station in Sault Ste. Marie.^[18]

In popular culture

The railway is the subject of the song "Algoma Central 69" by Stompin' Tom Connors.

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train has continued to operate as a separate entity since 2015.^[19] The 2020 season of the Agawa Canyon tour train was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[20]

Rail sidings

Rail sidings along the ACR route are named, from south to north: Odena, Heyden, Northland, Goulais, Wabos, Achigan, Ogidaki, Mashkode, Mekatina, Summit, Batchewana, Regent, Hubert, Frater, Canyon, Eton, Agawa, Tabor, Perry, Limer, Hawk Junction (Yard), Alden, Goudreau, Wanda, Franz, Scully, Hilda, Mosher, Dana, Langdon, Oba, Hale, Horsey, Mead, Coppell, Stavert (at the community of Jogues) and Wyborn (part of and on the west side of the town of Hearst).

See also

•  Railways portal
•  Ontario portal

• Algoma Eastern Railway
• Huron Central Railway
• List of Ontario railways

References

1. Wilson, Dale (1984). The Algoma Central Railway Story. Sudbury, Ontario: Nickel Belt Rails. ISBN 0-920356-05-2. See also: Duncan McDowall, Steel at the Sault: Francis H. Clergue, Sir James Dunn and the Algoma Steel Corporation, 1899-1956, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, hb 1984 & pb 1988 ISBN 0-8020-5652-0
2. Boldt, Hans; S. Grisonich-Boldt. "Algoma Central Railway". from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-15.
3. "Algoma changes its name to inform investors it's more than a railway". Northern Ontario Business. Laurentian Publishing. 10 (9): 16. 1990-06-01.
4. "CN to cut passenger service to Hearst". Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
5. "BDO to assess impacts of ACR passenger service". SooToday. Retrieved 2014-04-06.
6. "Passenger rail provides "substantial economic benefit"". Northern Ontario Business. 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2014-04-23.
7. Kelly, Lindsay. "Feds extend funding for Algoma passenger rail". Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 2014-04-14.
8. "Railmark finalizes agreement to run ACR passenger rail service". Northern Ontario Business. Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
9. "Harper government approves funding for ACR Passenger Rail Service under Railmark". Retrieved 2015-04-01.
10. Ross, Ian. "CN pulls the plug on Algoma passenger trail". Northern Ontario Business. Northern Ontario Business. Retrieved 2015-06-12.
11. "Watco to acquire Algoma Central and upper Midwest lines from CN". Railway Gazette International. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
12. "Rail News - STB approves Watco purchase of Wisconsin, Michigan rail lines; Begeman moves on. For Railroad Career Professionals".
13. "Sault partners ink agreement to bolster rail tourism". Northern Ontario Business. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
14. . Canadian National Railway. Archived from the original on 6 December 2006. Retrieved 15 December 2006.
15. Ellis, Phyllis (2015). Painted land: in search of the group of seven. [film]. White Pines Pictures.    [1]
16. Armstrong, Kenneth (Mar 8, 2017). "No one more surprised than Michael Burtch at winning Canadian Screen Award". SooToday. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
17. Algoma Kinniwabi Travel Association (2016). "Moments of Algoma Group of Seven".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
18. Petronio, Steffanie (2014). "Algoma District Tourism: Jobs, Turbines, Trains and the Group of Seven". Northern Hoot.
19. "Looking back, moving ahead". from the original on 2016-03-18. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
20. "Agawa Canyon Tour Train". Archived from the original on 11 June 2020. Retrieved 11 June 2020. It is with regret that we are announcing that the entire Agawa Canyon Tour Train 2020 season is cancelled in the interest of public health and safety. This decision is in line with existing restrictions at both the provincial and federal levels, as we continue to witness extended states of emergency and limitations on non-essential travel.

Further reading

• Nock, O. S. (1975). Algoma Central Railway. London, UK: Adam & Charles Black.
• Wilson, D. (1974). Tracks of the Black Bear, the Story of the Algoma Central Railway. Sudbury: Green Tree Publishing Company Ltd.
• Wilson, D. (1984). The Algoma Central Railway Story, The Clergue Era. Sudbury, ON: Nickel Belt Rails Publishers.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Algoma Central Railway.

• Agawa Canyon Tour Train
• Algoma Central Corporation
• Unofficial Algoma Central Railway Home Page
• Moments of Algoma