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Canadian National Electric Railways

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Canadian National Electric Railways
Overview
HeadquartersToronto, Ontario
Reporting markCNER
LocaleOntario and Quebec
Dates of operation1923–
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The Canadian National Electric Railways (CNER) was a subsidiary of the Canadian National Railways created to operate a few electric lines. It was formed in November 1923, with headquarters in Toronto.[1]

Acquired lines

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The CNER inherited the following lines or systems from the Canadian Northern Railway and unified them under one management:[1]

Associated lines

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The CNER was closely associated with three railways which Canadian National Railways inherited from the Grand Trunk Railway. These railways never became a corporate part of the CNER:[1]

Radial network

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With the creation of the CNER, CNR president Henry Thornton was enthusiastic to develop Canadian National's own network of electric railways. This followed setbacks that Adam Beck had in promoting an Ontario Hydro radial network with its subsidiary the Hydro-Electric Railways.[2]

Thornton planned to link the unfinished Toronto Eastern Railway to the Toronto Suburban Railway's Guelph line via the Toronto Belt Line Railway running through northern Toronto.[2] There was also another plan to extend the Guelph line from its "temporary" terminal at Keele Street and St. Clair Avenue to downtown via the nearby CNR line.[3] The CNER's Toronto Suburban district never turned a profit,[2] and its abandonment in 1931 was the result of huge deficits from that line.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c John M. Mills (1967). Niagara, St. Catherines & Toronto. Upper Canada Railway Society & Ontario Electric Railray Historical Association. pp. 14: Canadian National Electric Railways.
  2. ^ a b c Robert M. Stamp (1989). Riding the Radials, Toronto's Suburban Electric Streetcar Lines. The Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1-55046-008-0. Retrieved April 16, 2016. Chapter 9 - Who Wants to Run the Radials?
  3. ^ Robert M. Stamp (1989). Riding the Radials, Toronto's Suburban Electric Streetcar Lines. The Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1-55046-008-0. Retrieved April 16, 2016. Chapter 6 - The Toronto Suburban Railway
  4. ^ Robert M. Stamp (1989). Riding the Radials, Toronto's Suburban Electric Streetcar Lines. The Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1-55046-008-0. Retrieved April 16, 2016. Chapter 10 - The End of The Line
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