FOUR ANTIQUE GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY CHATHAM STATION DEPOT ONTARIO CANADA POSTCARDS For Sale

• Location:Chatham, Harwich and Raleigh Townships, Kent County
• Name:Community named in 1851 after the Township for a community of the same name along the banks of the River Thames in England
• Former Community Names:McGregor’s Creek, Raleigh
• Railway Companies:GWR/CNR, CPR, PMR/CSX, CW&LER

Part A: Great Western Railway/Grand Trunk Railway/Canadian National Railway

• Original Railway:Great Western Railway Company (Grand Trunk Railway 1882, Canadian National Railway 1923) 1853-Current
• Current/Final Railway:Canadian National Railway
• Location/Address:The station was located on the west side of Queen Street, north of Edgar Street
• Railway Mileage:Chatham Subdivision 61.61
• Surrounding Building Context:The community of Chatham originally began as a naval dockyard on the banks of the navigable Thames River and then developed as a regional agricultural centre. A number of the early industries established in the community, such as mills and foundries, were dependent on agriculture. With the coming of the railway, industry began to diversify with a number of firms focused on automotive, food products and a related canning industry. Proximity to the United States and excellent rail and highway connections assisted in manufacturing growth, which also resulted in substantial residential growth in the community. The CNR station is located well to the south of the commercial centre of Chatham. Railway facilities included a freight shed, cattle pens, coaling station and extensive yard tracks to serve area industry

Station Origin:Original station

• Construction Date:The building was constructed in 1854 with the opening of the line by the Great Western Railway
• Station Style:To be determined
• Exterior Architecture Details:The building was a single storey frame structure with a gable roof, complete details unknown
• Interior Architectural Details:The station contained a passenger waiting room, ticket and operator office, and a large freight and express room
• Landscaping & Ground Details:Cinder platform
• Building Costs:Unknown
• Destruction Date:The building was believed to have been removed with the opening of the new station in 1879, details unknown
• Current Use:Not applicable
• Designations:Not applicable

Station Origin:Second station

• Construction Date:The building was constructed in 1879 by the Great Western Railway
• Station Style:To be determined, similar to stations constructed in Windsor, Sarnia, Hamilton and Niagara Falls
• Exterior Architecture Details:The building is a large two storey brick structure with a complex hip roof featuring cross gables, a slate covering and tall chimneys. A bracketed canopy surrounds the entire building to provide passenger protection. Trackside is a projecting hexagonal operator window. Some of the original architectural details of have either been removed or obscured.
• Interior Architectural Details:The station originally contained on the ground floor passenger waiting rooms, ticket and operator offices, customs office and express/freight rooms. At one time, the building contained a lunch room. Over time, these basic arrangements were changed based on multiple renovations, most of which were not sympathetic. Accordingly, much of the original detailing has been removed or lost
• Landscaping & Ground Details:Cinder platform
• Building Costs:Unknown
• Destruction Date:Not applicable
• Current Use:The building remains in railway use as a VIA station stop
• Designations:The station was designated in 1995 under the Heritage Railway Station Protection Act (Report RSR 261)