History

The railway played an important role in shaping the growth and development of this community. The city of St. Thomas' railway history dates back to the completion of the London and Port Stanley Railway (L&PS) in 1856. Since then numerous railways have passed through town giving St. Thomas its title the "Railway Capital of Canada".

The town was incorporated in the 1852 and at the time the population was only 1300 people. It was with the advent of the railway that the population grew dramatically to over 8,000 by the 1880s.

The L&PS (London & Port Stanley) was constructed to facilitate freight and passenger traffic between London and Port Stanley. This railway opened up new markets for farmers and merchants, and as the centre point between the two locations, St. Thomas prospered.

The Canada Southern Railway made St. Thomas its headquarters and completed the impressive Canada Southern Railway Station(CASO) in 1873. The Great Western Railway entered St. Thomas soon after, and was followed by the Wabash, the Grand Trunk, the Pere Marquette, and the Canadian Pacific Railway. All but the Canadian Pacific made St. Thomas their divisional headquarters. The success of the railroad sparked phenomenal growth and the railway became a way of life in St. Thomas for the next half a century.

The railroad was the basis of wealth in St. Thomas and at its peak, the city flourished. Many men and some women were employed in the railway administration, repair shops and on the trains. Hotels and merchants did big business, and large and ornate buildings were erected across the city. In 1906 approximately 46 passenger trains and numerous freight trains came in & out of St. Thomas on a daily basis.

The popularity of automobile transportation after World War II caused the railway to decline. Innovation and foresight allowed the city of St. Thomas to move away from the declining railway industry and into the auto and manufacturing industries. With recent uncertainty surrounding these industries, St. Thomas is once again on the brink of a new age.

Check our Directory listing to see what there is to discover in Elgin County and St. Thomas