A plan to Again Open the Brockville Railway Tunnel for Traffic
It is sometimes said that “a tunnel is not a tunnel, unless you can go through it”. And it is the goal of the City’s railway Tunnel Advisory Committee to again see the first railway tunnel in Canada open for traffic.
Over the many years since the rails were removed and the tunnel closed, the City of Brockville has spent considerable resources to maintain the integrity of the tunnel. The portals at both the north and south end have been reconstructed and the first section from the south has been completely reconstructed to allow vehicular traffic to continue to pass over “the hump” as part of Water Street. Signage has also been installed and new large wooden doors replace the “seasoned” doors thus allowing them to be opened daily in the summer months for visitors to enter and view the first 50 feet of the tunnel.
With the election of a new City Council in the fall of 2011, a new City of Brockville Railway Tunnel Advisory Committee was formed under newly elected alderman David LeSueur. The goal of the committee is to find the means to open the tunnel for pedestrian, cycling and eventually replica tour train traffic through the tunnel from end-to-end.
Early in the committee’s mandate, an Engineering study was contracted to evaluate the integrity of the tunnel and the feasibility of opening it for traffic. After all, the tunnel has been in existence for some 150 years. The results of the study were very encouraging and indicated that the tunnel had withstood its history very well and that with some repair work, could likely be opened. Before obtaining a full seal of approval, some geotechnical work was recommended before committing any major work. That effort should be completed by the fall of 2012.
It is felt that the opening of the tunnel will be well received, but if the tunnel is to become a tourist attraction for the City of Brockville additional and peripheral development is needed.
North Service and Museum Area:
As the tunnel exits the north portal, the right-of-way is below grade. A service roadway angles up from the tunnel to a large property to the immediate west of the tunnel. This property is vacant and the goal is to have the City procure the property. The vision is for a replica of the current train station to be built along with locating a number of old engines and rail cars on the property. The property was actually the site of a large turntable in the steam locomotive days. The history of the extensive past railroading activity in Brockville could be displayed within the replica station and rail cars and become an interesting museum to compliment an opened railway tunnel. The area would also be used for parking, ticket sales, novelty gift shop and a point of departure for rides through the tunnel and around town. The area would enhance the reason for visitors to come to Brockville and learn about Brockville as a major railroad division point in the hay-day of railroading, while visiting the first railroad tunnel in Canada.
South Portal Area:
The south portal is a beautiful wide stone entranceway to the railway tunnel that faces Armagh Sifton Price Park and the St Lawrence River. It is a focal point for residents and visitors as they enter and exit Blockhouse Island Parkway. To enhance the experience, the proposal is to locate two old-time dinning railroad cars along the west side of the park facing Bockhouse Island Parkway and Tunnel Bay. The goal is to lease the dining cars to an entrepreneur to operate as a period restaurant. The setting on the St. Lawrence is ideal. The rail restaurant would become another reason to visit Brockville and the railway tunnel while having a meal in virtually a railroad museum. In addition to the dining cars, the vision is to have a low-profile, reasonably small service building connected to the north end of the restaurant cars to serve the restaurant and visitors. The unit could provide washrooms; include a display/interpretation area and once a replica tour train becomes operational serve as a ticket and gift area.
Tour Train Replica:
With the tunnel open and the north and south portal areas enhanced with displays, it is time for some action. Visitors like things to do. They like to see things in motion and be part of that activity. The vision is to eventually have a replica tour train of sufficient size to pull passengers through the tunnel in either direction and to pass through the streets of Brockville on a designated route. The proposal is for the train replica to be rubber-tire based and environmentally friendly. The train would run from the northern parking lot beside the Tunnel Avenue, through the tunnel and past various points of interest such as Blockhouse Island, the Aquatarium, Brockville Museum, Arts Centre, Rotary Park, shopping areas, Court House Square, etc. The operation would be leased during core tourist months, with lease dollars going toward maintenance. A concept is to include a “day fare” allowing riders to jump on and off at various locations, thus extending the ride and facilitate tourists spending time at various city attractions.
An Active and Open Brockville Railway Tunnel
The Brockville railway tunnel was opened in 1860 and is the first railway tunnel constructed in Canada. For 110 years it carried rail traffic from Brockville’s industrial waterfront area, under the City of Brockville to destinations to the north. It is time to again see traffic through this monument of the past. The traffic will be different; that being walkers; cyclists and replica tour train traffic, but no less significant. The first railway tunnel in Canada is worthy of recognition, and what better way than again to see traffic going through the tunnel from end-to-end.
