Author Rod Clarke talks about his book Narrow Gauge Through the Bush and stories of rail service through Whitchurch-Stouffville at the public library Thursday. A
locomotive blew up at the Stouffville Station, killing at least two and injuring several others in 1874.
Whitchurch-Stouffville
May 10, 2008 11:33 PM
By: Hannelore Volpe
Author Rod Clarke of Whitby brings his enthusiasm for trains and railways to Stouffville in a talk at the Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library Thursday.
Mr. Clarke has been interested in the work and lives of pioneer Canadian engineers, especially those plying the Ontario narrow gauge railways built in the 1870s.
His interest in the Toronto and Nipissing Railway and the Lake Simcoe Junction branch, which ran through Stouffville and Whitchurch, turned into 20 years of research.
Narrow Gauge Through the Bush is the result, a history of the Toronto & Nipissing, and Toronto Grey & Bruce railway lines, the first such pioneer lines in North America.
The Toronto and Nipissing reached Coboconk via Markham, Stouffville, Goodwood, Uxbridge, Sunderland, Cannington and Woodville.
Today, all that remains of the line is the portion between Toronto and Stouffville, which is the route of GO Transit trains, and the stretch between Stouffville and Uxbridge which is operated by the York-Durham Heritage Railway.
Stations at Markham and Unionville are part of the original line, Mr. Clarke said.
In 1874, a Shedden locomotive blew up at the Stouffville Station, killing at least two and injuring several others.
The book is available from the author and by visiting cvrco.com
Mr. Clarke’s talk is from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Call the library at 905-642-7323 for more information. Admission is free.