Brockville Tunnel facts for kids
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| The southern entrance of the Brockville Railway Tunnel, located south of Water St. within sight of the St. Lawrence River, prior to the 2015 renovations | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 44°35′23″N 75°40′55″W / 44.58972°N 75.68194°W |
| Status | Heritage |
| System | Canadian Pacific Railway (former) |
| Operation | |
| Work begun | 1854 |
| Closed | 1970 |
| Owner | City of Brockville |
| Technical | |
| Length | 530 metres (1,740 ft) |
| No. of tracks | Single (former) |
| Width | 4.3 metres (14 ft) |
The Brockville Railway Tunnel is a cool historic tunnel in Brockville, Ontario, Canada. It's also known as the Brockville Tunnel. This tunnel was the very first railway tunnel ever built in Canada!
Work on the tunnel started in September 1854. The first train went through it on December 31, 1860. Today, it's not used for trains anymore. Since 2017, it has been a fun place for tourists to visit. You can walk through it for free during certain times of the year.
Contents
Exploring the Brockville Tunnel
The Brockville Tunnel runs from north to south. It starts near Water Street and goes for about 527 meters (1,730 feet). The tunnel even passes right under Brockville City Hall, which was built in 1863–64.
Why Was the Tunnel Built?
The tunnel was built by a company called the Brockville and Ottawa Railway. Its main purpose was to connect the timber (wood) industry from the Ottawa Valley to the St. Lawrence River. This river was a major shipping route. So, trains could bring wood to Brockville, and then ships could carry it away.
The Railway's Journey
The Brockville and Ottawa Railway company started in 1853. Their railway line went from Brockville, through places like Smiths Falls, all the way to Sand Point. They also had a branch line to Perth. The very first train from this railway left Brockville on January 25, 1859. This was almost two years before the tunnel was finished!
Later, in 1878, the Brockville and Ottawa Railway joined with another company. Eventually, in 1881, it became part of the big Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).
From Trains to Tourists
Trains used the tunnel for many years. First, there were special steam engines that were a bit shorter to fit. Then, diesel trains used it until the mid-1970s. In the 1980s, the train tracks and wooden ties were removed. The tunnel was no longer used for trains.
In 1982, the Canadian Pacific Railway gave the tunnel to the City of Brockville.
The Tunnel's New Life
Between 2016 and 2017, the tunnel got a big makeover. Workers made it safe for people to walk through. Now, visitors can walk all the way from the south end to the north end. You can then exit at the north end and walk up a ramp to the street. Before this work, people could only go a short distance inside.
The tunnel fully opened to the public on August 12, 2017. Since then, thousands of people have visited! It now has a cool LED light system that changes colors. There's also music playing as you walk through, making it a unique experience.
The Caboose Experience
Right next to the tunnel, you'll find a refurbished CPR caboose. A caboose is a special car that used to be at the very end of a freight train. It was like a small office and living space for the train crew.
The Canadian Pacific Railway donated this caboose to the city in 1987. There's a detailed sign nearby that tells its story. Today, this caboose is used as an escape room game, which sounds like a lot of fun!
Images for kids
