Extra Information from Quiz Committee: Although all the interior of south-west Ontario was at least sparsely settled by 1850, ordinary travel was prohibitive for most people: a trip from Toronto to London, at 4 to 5 cents/mile by stage coach, cost a labourer one month’s wages and perhaps a week of time.
The first Ontario trains only reached 6 miles per hour, but at least a train didn’t get stuck in ruts forcing the passengers to get out and push. The coming of railways made the transport of goods and people cheaper and (often) on time. It opened up a new era of prosperity to south-west Ontario and brought in more immigrants to people the many smaller communities that arose along the route of the spreading rail lines. The same thing was to happen later throughout the Western Provinces.
After 1881, the line was taken over by the Grand Trunk Railway and a third rail added to allow the running of U.S. rolling stock that used the narrower 4 foot 8.5 inch gauge (the standard today). Ed Bennett, our local historian, notes that the Chief Engineer and owner of the company, Gzowski and Company, that constructed the Grand Trunk from Toronto to Sarnia was Sir Casimir Stanislaus Gzowski. He was the great-grandfather of Peter Gzowski, the broadcaster. Sir C.S. Gzowski also built the International Bridge across the Niagara.
Sources:
- Ed Bennett, local historian
- Doug M. Symons, ‘The Village That Straddled A Swamp,’ p. 65 (Oxford Historical Society)
- Dean, Heidenreich, McIlwraith and Warkentin, ‘Concise Historical Atlas Of Canada’ Plate 19
- Encyclopedia Canadiana (Oxford Historical Society)