Construction railway and Grand Trunk Railway deviation on new Welland Ship Canal.

In connection with the building of the new Welland Ship Canal, described in the Marine Department of Canadian Railway and Marine World for July, there is to be built a section of double track industrial railway for the use of the contractors, and in addition, a section of the G.T.R. Welland branch is to be diverted to make room for the new canal, which follows the course of the old railway line through this section of the canal.

It is proposed to build this construction railway double track and standard gauge, along the west bank of the canal, extending from the shore line of Lake Ontario to the stock piles of rock on section 3 of the work north of the G.T.R. main line, near the site of the tier of three double locks, a distance of about 6 miles. This line is to be built by the Department of Railways and Canals in a semi permanent manner, with at least 56 lb, rails, on good ties at 2 ft. centres, and ballasted with broken stone or gravel.

The general contractors for sections 1, 2 and 3 of the canal, which include all the locks and the terminal piers at the Lake Ontario end, will be allowed the free use of the railway for hauling the excavated material to the dump in the lake, and the contractors for sections 1 and 2 will also be allowed its use of the hauling of stone from the stock piles to the various works. Contractors for the steel and other work will also be allowed the free use of the line. A dispatching station will be maintained, with a dispatcher, who, with switchmen, will have complete control of train movements over the railway. Contractors may also make connections to the line, under approval. Before using the line, the contractors will be required to sign an agreement relieving the Department of all responsible in connection with accidents or breakages on the line.

The section of the G.T.R. Welland Branch to be diverted is about a mile which closely follows the present canal just south of where the Welland Branch leaves the main line. The diversion will leave the main line at the same point, but instead of immediately crossing the canal, will follow the west bank, making a sweep to the west and crossing the canal at right angles about a mile south of the present crossing of the existing canal.

Railways: G.T.Ry.

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