The Ontario West Shore Railway is a historic railway that operated in Ontario, Canada.
The company started construction on a railway line between Goderich and Kincardine in the early 1900s, but the line was never completed. The company's president was J. W. Moyes of Toronto, Ontario.[1] Moyes was neither wealthy nor a railroad man.
In 1902, Moyes incorporated the Huron, Bruce and Grey Electric Railway and proceeded to lobby local municipalities for capital.[2] He asked the town of Goderich for $50,000, the township of Ashfield for $50,000 and $25,000 each from Colbourne and West Wawanosh townships.[3]
The initial scheme was to build a railroad from Goderich to Dunlop. From Dunlop, the line was to split with one branch to Amberley and another to Dungannon. A third branch would be built from Saltford to Blyth. Freight and daily passenger service would operate on all lines.[4] [5]
Each municipality held a vote on the scheme. Goderich approved the $50,000 investment,[6] but the townships rejected the plan.[7] [8]
In 1906, after the company was renamed the Ontario West Shore Railway, the municipalities provided funding for a single line extending from Goderich to Kincardine. Goderich commits $150,000, Kincardine $50,000, and the townships commit money as well.[1]
In 1908, work on the track is started in Port Albert.[9] By the end of summer 1911, the railroad was completed from Goderich to Kintail.[10] At that point, one car of freight per day, mostly grain, was being loaded along the track.[11]
In January, 1912, the company defaulted on their bonds to the municipalities.[12] The line was never completed.