Bike the Creek 2024 welcomed Peel and Dufferin’s upcoming historic railway transformation to an active transportation corridor rail trail.
An important tourism draw, this corridor will be used for recreation and commuting between our urban communities, connecting to other trails and network roads along the way.
In keeping with our BtC 2024 theme of cycling through history, the video takes us on a historic rail trip from the Streetsville station, past Meadowvale, Brampton, Snelgrove, Cheltenham, Inglewood, Forks of Credit, Cataract, Melville to Orangeville. Enjoy the ride!
Brampton, Caledon, Orangeville and Mississauga presented a map of the 55.5km corridor. They asked questions of many of the 1,800 registered riders, who will be amongst the main trail users.
History of the Credit Valley Railway
Credit Valley Railway was built in 1870’s. The most southerly stop was Streetsville, just north of the village.
Meadowvale was a flag stop. The next station at Churchville was also a flag stop. It had a small shelter and no platform.
Brampton station was built in 1902 to replace the earlier CVR station, at the corner of Queen & Park Street. You can still see it, because it is now preserved in Mount Pleasant Village Square.
Snelgrove CVR station was same design as Meadowvale. Located just north of what is now Wanless Drive, Snelgrove was flag stop by the 1950’s.
At Inglewood, CRV crosses the CNR branch line to Allandale (south Barrie), on what is now Caledon Trailway Recreational Trail (part of Trans Canada Trail). The Inglewood Station served both lines. There was a water tower on the north side of McLaughlin Rd for refilling steam locomotives.
Forks of Credit is an area that many know, especially when the leaves turn colour in the autumn. The railway ascends to the highest point of the Niagara Escarpment, and crosses a scenic valley carved by Credit River. This station served community of Belfountain. The Bruce Trail intersects here.
Cataract, home to several grist mills, was located at the junction with the Elora subdivision line, which is now the Cataract Trailway Recreational Trail. There was an “Armstrong” turntable, removed around 1932.
At Alton, a depression-era station replaced original CVC station which burned down.
Melville was at one point a junction with the narrow-guage Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway. It was torn up around 1932. Melville was a flag stop by 1950’s. Melville is currently at Willoughby Rd & Highpoint Side Road.
Orangeville was the most expansive of the rail facilities; a divisional point with Owen Sound Subdivision and Teeswater Subdivision. Orangeville had a 5-stall roundhouse built in 1926. This large Victorian-style station closed in 1983, and was moved a few block and repurposed as a restaurant in town.
Orangeville-Brampton Railway
On September 30, 2000, the Town of Orangeville purchased the 55.5km Streetsville to Orangeville portion from CPR’s former Owen Sound Subdivision and renamed it the Orangeville-Brampton Railway. It was used primarily for freight movement for local manufacturers.
Credit Valley Explorer
Orangeville operated the tourist train, called the Credit Valley Explorer from 2004 to 2018. The popular train attracted 14,000 riders annually, but was not financially viable for the Town. Image credit: Dayle Laing, during a train ride in 2006.
End of one Era, Start of the Next…
On July 15, 2022, Region of Peel, City of Brampton, Town of Caledon and City of Mississauga bought approximately 51km of OBRY, from the Orangeville border to just north of Streetsville for $5.8 million.
References
Orangeville News, 2015
Orangeville News, 2019
Dovetail Games
Ray Kennedy’s Old-Time Trains
Cyclists from everywhere are eagerly awaiting development of OBRY into a world-class active transportation corridor for commuting for recreation. Image credit: Dayle Laing, 2020.
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