Page 25 - Mar-Apr2019

hub of railroad activity when several railroad
lines were constructed through the city
from the late 1800’s through the 1950’s
and 60’s becoming a major railway junction.
With the decline of railway transportation
and movement towards moving freight via
truck transport and easy access to Highway
401, the city moved towards light industry
and primary and secondary automotive
manufacturing.
One of the visible reminders of the major
contribution that rail traffic made to this
city is the 855 foot long elevated rail bridge
over a valley and creek running north and
south through the city. The rail line is no

Pictured opposite: an artist's rendering of the
elevated park. This page: St. Thomas has fittingly
been dubbed the Railway Capital of Canada. Above
is the MCR Bridge in 1929 and locomotive 380
at the station in the 1880's. Both images from
elginhistoricalsociety.ca
www.lbmao.on.ca LBMAO Reporter - March-April 2019 25