The Last Stop

Steam to Diesel: The Decline of Railroads in Owen Sound

Organized and curated by the Owen Sound Museums, Curator of Collections, Mindy Gill.

April, 2012 to March, 2012

train at station

This new exhibition focuses on the end of rail in Owen Sound and the surrounding area. This exhibition looks at the later years of local rail history including the last passenger train in 1971 and the final freight train in 1995.

Over the course of 122 years, Owen Sound was linked to the rest of Canada by four railway lines: Toronto Grey and Bruce; Grand Trunk; Canadian National; Canadian Pacific Railway. On November 1st, 1970 the last passenger train left the CN station.  Passenger service at the CPR was also discontinued in 1970. Freight service continued to run until 1987 at which time CN ceased to run trains from Owen Sound.  The Canadian Pacific Railway Freight Service ended in 1995.  CN put out a call for tenders for the removal of the tracks, thus marking a sad end of an era in Owen Sound.

Sponsored by Great Lakes Elevator, Hobart Canada, Riddell Contracting, and Briggs and Pitre Optometrists,