1895 - Completion of T.H.&B. Railway

As was the custom of the day, the promoters of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway demanded financial assistance from municipalities along the proposed route. Hamilton City Council agreed that the building of a second major railway line into and through the city would be ultimately beneficial economically and agreed to provide $250,000 to the T.H.&B. upon completion of the line.

The terms of the bonus agreement were straightforward. The T.H.&B. railway, as regards freight and passenger service in and out of Hamilton had to be completed by December 31, 1895.

The decided upon route through the city involved one major matter, the creation of a tunnel underneath Hunter Street West between Charles and Queen Street.

Throughout the latter part of 1895, progress on the T.H.&B. tunnel had been hampered by many difficulties. The weather itself had been a major problem as ongoing rainy weather had led to walls of the tunnel collapsing and having to be rebuilt. For weeks, work had been done on the tunnel even on Sundays as it was imperative the line be completed as per the bonus agreement.

With just days remaining, and much work yet to be done, the T.H. & B. officials were hiring as many laborers as possible, and directing them to work on the tunnel project day and night.

On Christmas eve the City of Hamilton as a whole had been plunged into darkness because of an equipment failure as the electric light company. The workers on the tunnel were hoping that perhaps the electricity would not return immediately as they considered the tunnel work dangerous and were reluctant to expose themselves to wall collapses caused by the rainy weather.

The day after Christmas the railway company substantially increased the number of workers hired, both for the tunnel project and other things that had to be completed by the end of the year:

 “Christmas was a busy day on the T.H.&B. Railway from here to Smithville, laborers, track-layers, ballast gangs and switch-builders working from early in the morning until late at night. A similar condition of affairs prevailed at the Hunter street tunnel. Luckily there were no accidents and no landslides. The bricklayers accomplished considerable work on the tunnel proper, and last night the contractors were confident, unless some accident happens, the big cutting will in shape to allow the passage of a train by the first of next week. The track-layers working east from the city reached the Red Hill on Tuesday night with the track, and the gang working west, which crossed the new bridge at Stoney Creek on Monday, made good progress on Tuesday. The work of yesterday knocked out considerable of the distance separating the two gangs, and the two lines of track are expected to be joined together at noon today. Over 600 men are still working on the ballast. At the offices of Good & Co., the contractors for the Welland line, it was stated today that a train can be run in here from Welland tonight.

“The railway company calculate on running a passenger train from Welland through Hamilton to Waterford, a distance of 80 miles, on Monday.”¹

¹ “It Is Almost Completed : The New Railway From Welland to Waterford : Yesterday Was a Busy Time on the Line Between Here and Welland – Track-Layers Will Meet Near Stoney Creek – Rushing the Tunnel Work – A Through Train on Monday.”

Hamilton Times.   December 26, 1895.

 

 

On Boxing Day, 1895, work on the T.H.&B. was rushed ahead but, yet again, the weather conditions were less than ideal:

 “Yesterday afternoon, owing to the continued rain, most of the tunnel laborers had to quit work. This morning, however, the work was started again with a rush, and tomorrow the work of clearing a way through the shoring, etc. between Caroline and Hess streets, for the track-layers will be commenced. Tracks are laid into the eastern portal of the tunnel.

“In response to the advertisements in last evenings papers for 500 laborers, 200 men reported for work at Victoria avenue this morning, and were taken out on the line to Bartonvlille, where they joined the track-laying and ballasting gangs working eastward toward Stoney Creek.

“The Government Inspector started over the line from Welland this morning. General Manager Woodard, Mr. Young and Engineer Wingate are with him. The party expect to get here tomorrow morning.

“Today the offices are being moved into the new station on James street.”²

²“Inspection Commenced : Over the T.H.& B. From Welland  to Hamilton.”

Hamilton Times.   December 27, 1895.

Against what seemed like impossible odds, the tunnel under Hunter street was completed to such a degree that trains could pass through, the conditions required to earn that substantial bonus had been met:

 “Shortly before 6 p.m. on Saturday, the first train to make the trip from Welland to Hamilton over the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway entered the city and was greeted with cheers by an immense crowd of people assembled at the new depot at the corner of James and Hunter streets. The tracks for a distance of several blocks east of the station were lined with interested citizens. The train consisted of but one car, and the locomotive. (all on board named.)

“The train stopped at the station long enough to take on about fifty people, and then proceeded on its trip through the tunnel. When halfway through, the train was delayed for half an hour, owing to the necessity for removing electric lights which had been hung out over the tracks. At Garth street, the train was sidetracked and the passengers found their way via the street cars back into the city.

“Yesterday Inspector Cady walked through the tunnel making a careful examination of its construction. It is understood that he found the line from here to Welland in satisfactory shape for traffic, and that the required permit from the Government will be forwarded to the railway company within a few days.

“All day yesterday, the new station and the tunnel were thronged with sightseers.

“Three watch towers for the gates at John, Hughson, James, MacNab and Charles streets are being erected today. An abandoned brick house at the corner of Locke and Hunter streets is being turned into a temporary depot for West Hamilton.

“The first train for Welland left this morning.”³

³ “Welland to Waterford  : T.H.&B. Railway Now Open for Traffic : Inspection Train Arrived From Welland Saturday Evening – Made the Trip Through the Hunter Street Tunnel – Trains Running From East End to End of the Line Today.”

Hamilton Times.   December 30, 1895.

On the last day of December 1895, the Hamilton Times carried the following item about the T.H.&B.:

 “Trains are not yet running on schedule time on the T.H. & B. Railway, but the number of passengers east and west continues to increase. Tomorrow between 10 and 12 and between 2 and 4 o’clock the new station will be open to public inspection.

“The work on the uncompleted portion of the tunnel progresses slowly, but good headway is being made with the second track through it.

“A flagman has been stationed at James street to warn vehicles of the approach of trains. A large number of cars are in use hauling ballast.”⁴

⁴ “Open For Callers : New Year’s Day at the T.H. & B. Station.”

Hamilton Times.   December 31, 1895.

So great had been the interest about the T.H.&B., particularly the tunnel, that a game had been created about the subject and it went on sale:

 “A game which promises to have an extensive sale in this city and city has just been put upon the market. The name, ‘T.H.&B. Tunnel Game, or Earning a $225,000 bonus,’ fully indicates its nature. The many difficulties confronting the contractors in building the tunnel and the intense interest manifested by the citizens from the beginning have suggested to the inventor of the game a very interesting and instructive scheme. The game contains a complete and accurate history of the building of the tunnel, giving every item of note, with date from the first injunction to the passing through of the first train last Saturday evening. Popular price, 25 cents.”⁵

“A New Game.”

⁵Hamilton Times.   December 31, 1895.

As New Year’s day would be a holiday for many Hamiltonians, and as interest in the line was so high, the T.H.&B. officials reported to the city papers the state of the project and invited citizens to make an inspection of the new station:

 “Trains are not yet running on schedule time on the T.H. & B. Railway, but the number of passengers east and west continues to increase. Tomorrow between 10 and 12 and between 2 and 4 o’clock the new station will be open to public inspection.

“The work on the uncompleted portion of the tunnel progresses slowly, but good headway is being made with the second track through it.

“A flagman has been stationed at James street to warn vehicles of the approach of trains. A large number of cars are in use hauling ballast.”⁶

⁶ “Open For Callers : New Year’s Day at the T.H. & B. Station.”

Hamilton Times.   December 31, 1895.

As reported in the Times, a very large number of citizens headed to Hunter and James street area on New Year’s day to both go to the open house at the new station and to inspect the tunnel:

“The T.H.&B. station was thronged with visitors all day yesterday. Passenger business was brisk, particularly in the morning. Large crowds of people visited the tunnel during the day. Work on the uncompleted portion of the tunnel is progressing fairly. Trains were on time, both east and west.”⁷

⁷ “On the New Railway : Many New Year’s Visitors at the Hunter Street Station.”

Hamilton Times.   January 2, 1895