Waterloo Central Railway
| Waterloo Central Railway | |
|---|---|
| Waterloo Central Railway equipment parked at the station. | |
| Locale | Ontario |
| Terminus |
Waterloo St. Jacobs |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | Grand Trunk Railway |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Track owned by the Region of Waterloo |
| Operated by | Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1891 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1921 | Canadian National Railway inherits line |
| 1990 | Canadian National Railway sells line to Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway |
| 1997 | Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway commences operation |
| 1999 | Waterloo – St. Jacobs Railway ends operation |
| 2000 | Regional Municipality of Waterloo acquires right-of-way |
| 2003 | Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society steam tour visits |
| 2007 | Waterloo Central Railway commences operation |
| 2015 | Waterloo Central Railway leaves Waterloo and moves operation north to St. Jacobs Farmers Market |
| Headquarters | St. Jacobs, Ontario |
The Waterloo Central Railway (WCR) is a non-profit organization that is owned and operated by the Southern Ontario Locomotive Restoration Society (SOLRS). In May 2007, SOLRS received joint approval from the Region of Waterloo and the City of Waterloo to run trains from Waterloo to St Jacobs and potentially as far north as Elmira. On a typical operating day, the train runs three times a day on Tuesdays (June to August), Thursdays (May to October) and Saturday (April to October). In 2015, the railway lost regular running rights south of Northfield Drive to make way for the Ion light rail project. All Market Train service now departs from the St. Jacobs Farmers' Market.
The WCR operates on the former Canadian National Waterloo Spur now owned by the Region of Waterloo, which connects Elmira, St. Jacobs and Waterloo to Kitchener, Ontario by rail. Through an agreement with the Region of Waterloo, the WCR operates passenger service in daytime hours, and the Goderich–Exeter Railway operates freight service in evening hours. From 2007 to 2014, the WCR leased space in the City of Waterloo Visitor and Heritage Information Centre which was formerly owned by the Waterloo-St. Jacobs Railway. As of 2015, the WCR no longer operates south of Northfield Drive.
The Waterloo-St. Jacobs Railway operated on the Waterloo Spur between 1997 and 2000. When it ceased operations, the Region of Waterloo purchased the railway right-of-way and the City of Waterloo acquired the railway's modern Waterloo station. SOLRS operated on the line briefly in 2003 as part of a province-wide steam tour in Ontario.
The inaugural season began in 2007 with diesel-hauled service serving Waterloo, the St. Jacobs Market and the Village of St. Jacobs on Market Days. exEssex Terminal Railway Steam Engine Number 9 was moved along with most of the SOLRS equipment from St. Thomas to Waterloo Region in the fall. Santa Claus trains begin this season as well. The 2008 season added annual excursions to service the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival. In 2010 a restoration and service shop in St. Jacobs allowed for the reactivation of the restoration programme. Ex. ETR #9 was stored under cover for the first time since it arrived from St. Thomas. Ex. CN 79482 caboose was restored as WCR 482 and returned to service. Ex. CNR 50845 Burro Crane and steam locomotive 124 were relocated to St. Jacobs.
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