The Callander extension.
First through train over the road this winter.
The line now ready for operation—The [illegible] bridge structures [illegible] have been erected—[illegible] by the pay car train.
The first through train over the Northern and Pacific Junction railway went up to La Vase on Thursday last week [January 27, 1886]. A party consisting of Dr. [John] Ferguson, M.P., Welland and Messrs. Adam Brown, J. S. Hendrie, G. M. Hendrie, Wm. Hendrie, Jr., H. C. [Henry Charles] Symmes and C. S. [Charles Stewart] Murray left Hamilton on Wednesday, and was jointed at Allandale by Messrs. Thomas Ridout, Government Engineer; J. C. Bailey, Chief Engineer of the Road; and John Ridout, civil engineer. At various points on the road the resident engineers and their assistants boarded the train to explain the state of the road to the members of the party. The train had the pay car attached, and this necessitated frequent stoppage both going and [illegible returning], but
the average running speed
exclusive of stops, was twenty-five miles hour and over some portions from twenty-right to thirty-five miles was made. At Sundridge Mr. Dawson one of the firm of Hendrie, Symmes & Co., put on board and took charge of the train to La Vase, where the junction with the Canadian Pacific is made. That point was reached at two o'clock in the afternoon, and the train reversed to Callander, where Mr. Dawson entertained the party at [illegible—luncheon]. A start on the return journey from Callander was made at [illegible—four] o'clock in the afternoon, and after frequent stoppages to pay off the men employed on the road the town of Gravenhurst was reached during the night. At some points on the road the party alighted to inspect
the bridges and viaducts
and the big viaduct on which the track was joined underwent a [illegible] examination from the engineers. This structure is [illegible] feet long and [illegible] feet high, and is on the same plan as those on the Ontario and Quebec near North Toronto, but is of much heavier metal. The weight of the iron in the viaduct is a million and a quarter pounds, or six hundred and twenty-five net tons and five hundred fifty-eight gross tons. The immense weight of metal is on solid granite abutments [illegible] it may be said to be as strong and durable a bridge as can be found on any line in the country. There are a number of new villages springing up along the line, and the older places are rapidly filling up. Sawmills are being built every few miles so that
the lumber from this district
will be marketed in from one to two years less time than before the building of this road. The road is in excellent condition, and is practically now ready for opening. One lift of ballast six inches has been laid over every part of the road, and seventy miles of it has received two lifts. The gentlemen who were on this first train expressed themselves delighted with the condition in which they found the line, the engineers being [illegible] [illegible] behind in this expression of approval. All of them agreed in the statement that all structures have the air of solidity and durability. Mr. Ridout returned to Ottawa last night to make his report on the condition of the road, which will probably be in favour of its being in proper condition for the payment of the larger part of the subsidy granted. All work on the road has not ceased till the opening of spring, when ballast train will be put on again.