C.N.Rys. Newmarket M88.29

Moveable Bridge: NarrowsThe Narrows is the neck of land that separates Lake Simcoe and Lake CouchichingFrim-2002, p. 76.
Subdivision: Newmarket
Mileage: 88.29
Location: Download KML file for Google Earth Show in Google Maps North of Highway 12
(Simcoe County, Orillia Township)

Interlocked Drawbridge and Junction .... Narrows ... Mileage 88.4 (B.T.C. 71039)

Footnotes history
Date Footnotes
1914-09-20/1925-09-27 Railroad crossings, junctions and draw bridges
Orillia (2.1 miles North)...Draw bridge, governed by semaphores; Not interlocked; No derails.
1929-09-29 Non-interlocked drawbridge
Narrows ... Mileage 88.3
1935-09-29/1938-01-09 Non-interlocked drawbridge
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4
1940-09-29/1945-09-02 Interlocked drawbridge
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4
1946-06-23/1946-09-01 Interlocked Drawbridge and Junction
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4
1947-04-27/1948-09-05 Interlocked drawbridge and junction
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4 ( B.T.C. 56069)
1949-04-24/1956-09-30 Interlocked drawbridge and junction
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4 (B.T.C. 71039)
1957-04-28/1960-10-30 Interlocked drawbridge and connections
Narrows ... Mileage 88.4 (B.T.C. 71039)
Permanent slow orders history
Date Mileage   Miles per Hour
Passenger Freight
1909-06-27   Orillia Jct. (2.1 miles North) 12 8
1925-09-27   Atherley—Over Narrows Drawbridge 10
1929-09-29/1938-01-09 88.4 Drawbridge 10 10
1940-09-29/1954-09-26 Not stated
1955-04-24/1955-09-25 88.3 to 88.4 All trains between signals Nos. 883 and 884 Atherley Drawbridge B.T.C. 81737 20
1956-04-29/1961-10-29 88.3 to 88.4 Between signals Nos. 883 and 884 Atherley Drawbridge—B.T.C. 81737 20
1965-04-25 88.4 Interlocked Drawbridge (B.T.C 111257) 35 25
Date Event
1897 G.T.Ry. builds new 28 span, 539' bridge with 130' swing spanGTR.ND.1907, p. 40.
1899 G.T.Ry. builds new top on approachesGTR.ND.1907, p. 40.
1904-04/05 G.T.Ry. upgrades swing bridge to accommodate heavy Mogul type locomotives. A temporary siding was laid for the boarding cars. Traffic was maintained using a shoofly, which closed the passage to navigationThe Newmarket Era, 1904-04-01, pg. 8, col. 2; 1904-05-20, pg. 1, col. 7; GTR.ND.1907, p. 40.
1912-03-30 G.T.Ry. authorized to rebuild swing bridgeB.R.C Order 16216.
1919-12-12 G.T.Ry. authorized to rebuild swing bridgeB.R.C. Order 29115Bailey states swing bridge was constructed in 1912Bailey-1991, p. 51..
1921-03-18 G.T.Ry.authorized to use swing bridgeB.R.C. Order 30715.
TBD C.N.Rys. replaces wooden trestle with steel ballasted deck bridgeTBD.
Date Image Notes
1897/1898 Enlargement not Available
John Edward Gardiner Curran collection / NAC / PA-143084
View of the road bridge between Orillia and Atherley as seen from a ship transiting the passage between Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching. In the distance is the G.T.Ry.'s swing bridge and to the left the bridge tenders tower.
1897/1898 Enlargement not Available
John Edward Gardiner Curran collection / NAC / PA-143085
The stone pier is all that remains of N.Ry.C.'s bridge, removed after the G.T.Ry. acquired the N.&N.W.Ry. on February 24, 1888.
1904/1910 Enlargement not Available
Orillia Public Library
Eastbound G.T.Ry. passenger train led by 4-4-0 American type locomotive no. 435 passes bridge tenders tower and enters Narrows swing bridge bound for Atherley. No. 435 was built by the G.T.Ry. in 1890, renumbered in 1910 as no. 2225, became C.N.Rys. no. 297 class B-15-b in 1923 and was scrapped in October 1925O-SHO-ME Plan No. 164; Al Paterson—correspondence.
1925c Click to Enlarge
JPS collection
Postcard view of The Narrows and Orchard Point from the Air, Orillia, Ontario, Canada.—17 looking towards Lake Simcoe (Orillia is towards right and Atherley is towards the left). The C.N.Rys. swing bridge and tower are in the foreground and the Highway 12 swing bridge is in the background. Published by Photogelatine Engraving Co. Limited, Ottawa. Postally unused.
1954c Click to Enlarge
JPS collection
Postcard view of the Narrows looking towards Lake Couchiching (Orillia is towards the left and Atherley is towards the right). From foreground to background are: Highway 12 bridge, C.N.Rys. swing bridge and remains of G.B.&S.Ry./C.P.Ry. bridge. Published by Canadian Post Card Co., Limited, Toronto. Postally unused.
1954c Click to Enlarge
JPS collection
Postcard view of the Narrows looking towards Lake Couchiching (probably taken from Highway 12 bridge). Published by Schnieder Enterprises & Gifts Ltd., Woodstock. Postally unused.
1954c Click to Enlarge
JPS collection
Postcard view of the Highway No. 12 bridge with Newmarket Subdivision in background. Published by Royal Specialty Sales, Toronto. Postally unused. Wilson-2010, p. 90
1954-09-15
Robert Sandusky photo
. Wilson-2010, p. 90
1964c Click to Enlarge
JPS collection
Postcard view of the Narrows looking towards Lake Couchiching. Note newly constructed Highway 12 bridge. Published by the Peterborough Post Card Co., Peterborough. Postally unused.
1988-09 Image Not Available
Bram Bailey photo
Narrows swing bridge.
1988-09 Image Not Available
Bram Bailey photo
Bill Nixon and Pete Devries opening span.
1988-09 Image Not Available
Bram Bailey photo
Narrows swing bridge.
Date Reference Railway Subject Description
1954c J.P. Smith C.N.Rys. Narrows Swing Bridge