St. Marys Junction station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
St. Marys Junction
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| Location | 480 Glass St, St. Marys, Ontario Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°16′18.3″N 81°07′52.4″W / 43.271750°N 81.131222°W |
| Platforms | None |
| Tracks | 1 |
| Construction | |
| Architect | Francis Thompson |
| History | |
| Opened | 1858 |
| Closed | 1941 |
The St. Marys Junction station was an important train station for the Grand Trunk Railway. It was located about one kilometer north of the town of St. Marys, Ontario, in Canada. This station helped people travel by train from 1858 until 1941. Even after it stopped serving passengers, the building was still used for other railway tasks until the 1970s.
Today, the railway junction itself is gone. The old Grand Trunk railway line that went directly from St. Marys to Sarnia is no longer used. Now, trains going from St. Marys to Sarnia take a different path. They travel first towards London, and then use the old Great Western Railway line from London to Sarnia.
What the Station Looked Like
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The St. Marys Junction station building was designed by a British architect named Francis Thompson. He created a special plan called 'A First Class Way Side Station' for the Grand Trunk Railway, and this station followed that design.
Inside the station, there were different areas for travelers. There was a place to buy tickets, a room for luggage, and separate waiting rooms. One waiting room was for 'ladies' and another was for 'gentlemen'.
A Brief History of St. Marys Junction
The St. Marys Junction station first opened in 1858. At that time, it was the end of the Grand Trunk Railway line coming from Toronto. The station was built outside the town of St. Marys. The people in St. Marys thought this location was too far away. They wanted the station closer to the town center.
In 1859, the Grand Trunk Railway line was extended west from St. Marys to Sarnia. A year later, in 1860, another line was added, going south to London. Both of these new railway lines met at the St. Marys station. Because of this, the station became known as St. Marys Junction. The building then became very important for controlling the railway switches where the lines met.
Later, in 1879, a new station called St. Marys Town GTR station opened. This station was inside the town of St. Marys, on the line towards London. It was much easier for people in town to reach this new station. The St. Marys Junction station became even less important for passengers when the current St. Marys station opened in 1907.
The St. Marys Junction station officially closed its doors to passengers in 1941. However, the building was still used by the railway for other purposes until the 1970s.
