Wikipedia

York–Durham Heritage Railway

The York–Durham Heritage Railway was a heritage railway in both the York Region and the Durham Region of Ontario, Canada, north of Toronto.

York–Durham
Heritage Railway
York–Durham railway coach behind Uxbridge station building
York–Durham railway coach at Uxbridge station
LocaleOntario
TerminusStouffville GO Station
Uxbridge station
Commercial operations
Built byWilliam Gooderham[1]
T&NR(?)
Original gauge3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (until 1883)
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (since 1882)
Preserved operations
Reporting markYDHR
Stations2
Length20 km (12 mi)
Preserved gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened1868[1] as Toronto and Nipissing Railway
Preservation history
1996[1]Opened
2024Permanently Closed
HeadquartersUxbridge
Website
York-Durham Heritage Railway
Route map
Legend
 Uxbridge
Goodwood (Demolished)
Up arrow Durham ¦ York Down arrow
Lincolnville Yard
 Old Elm
only
Stouffville
Stouffville line to Toronto

The railway formerly operated excursion trains from Uxbridge. Trips had various travel times depending on the event or festival.

The railway ran on the tracks of the former Toronto and Nipissing Railway. Metrolinx owns and operates the line south from Stouffville GO Station as the Stouffville line.

In 2022 the railway reported financial difficulties, and as of January 2024 has ceased all operations and filed for bankruptcy protection.

Operations

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The York–Durham Heritage Railway operated non-stop from the Uxbridge Station on the Metrolinx Uxbridge Subdivision.

Trains were usually scheduled on weekends from June through mid-October, and were pulled by an Alco RS-11 diesel locomotive, #3612, which was built for the Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railway in 1956. Coaches included both vintage heavyweights built in the 1910s and 1920s, and lightweight cars from 1954.

The railway cars are stored at an open rail yard on Railway Street/King Street West in Uxbridge, Ontario. Several railway sheds are on the yard. The most significant is the Uxbridge Station, built in 1904.[2]

As of 2022, the YDHR was operated by nine full-time staff supplemented by 88 part-time and seasonal workers and volunteers of the York–Durham Heritage Railway Association.[1] On January 21, 2024 it was announced that all operations were ceased and the railway had filed for bankruptcy protection.[citation needed]

Railway History

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Main article: Toronto and Nipissing Railway

The Uxbridge Subdivision was built in 1871 as the Toronto and Nipissing Railway, a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow-gauge line. The line was converted to 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge shortly after being acquired by the Midland Railway in 1882. Following a series of mergers and acquisitions, the line became part of the Canadian National Railway (CN) in 1923.

In the 1980s, CN began to abandon the line. Tracks north of Uxbridge were lifted, but the line south of Uxbridge was purchased by GO Transit (now Metrolinx) to preserve it for possible Uxbridge - Toronto commuter rail service. Until such a service is introduced, the York-Durham Railway is the sole operator north of Old Elm station.

Rolling stock

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The Budd cars were converted from Rail Diesel Cars to coaches in 2008

Locomotives

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Passenger Cars

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Non-passenger cars

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sentimental journey". thestar.com. June 25, 2008.
  2. ^ "Uxbridge Train Station". Archived from the original on 2012-04-02.
  3. ^ "Our History, & Future" (PDF). Unionville Festival. York-Durham Heritage Railway. 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2016.

Further reading

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44°06′37″N 79°07′29″W / 44.11028°N 79.12472°W / 44.11028; -79.12472

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