G.T.R. Station Wingham, Circa 1910 - Courtesy of Toronto Public Library
A forgotten piece of history made it possible to cross the county without a car less than 100 years ago.
Rail lines in the area are credited with the explosion of commerce in the early 1900’s – with many local communities owing their roots to their rail connections.
Kevin den Dunnen is a local history enthusiast, his passion for train travel in the area started when he worked at the Elgin County railway museum. He says that the community used to be deeply interconnected,
According to den Dunnen, many local communities owe their establishment and longevity to the addition of rail lines,
London, and Huron Bruce at one point had 4 passenger trains and 2 freight a day between Wingham and London – providing a variety of options for people looking to make the journey.
Although the history of rail lines transporting goods like lumber is well established, den Dunnen says that it had a direct affect on the trade of individuals,
It’s quite remarkable to think about how advanced the rail network was at one time, however it was not to last. Decline in the area started sometime around the Great Depression, and continued to decline in the following years,
Tracks in Exeter which rarely if ever see use anymore, as demonstrated by the overgrowth.
Once regarded as an integral part of any community’s commerce, many of the rail lines that once gave Huron County prosperity, have since fallen into disuse and disrepair.
The decline of rail in Huron County is not an isolated incident, says den Dunnen,
If you want to learn a bit more about the history of rail travel in Huron County, the museum has lots of resources on the topic, you can contact or visit them on the web at huroncountymuseum.ca
Written by: B. Shakyaver