The Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company was a short-lived railroad in Quebec at the end of the 19th century.  It was incorporated in Quebec in 1895 (58 Vic., Cap. 64) and authorized to build a railway from a point on the boundary line of Quebec and the State of New York to a point in Soulanges County, and then onward to Montreal.

In 1896 the Dominion government legislated agreement to the sale of a portion of the Chateauguay and Northern to the Montreal Island Belt Line Railway (59 Vic., Cap.27).  This sale was confirmed in 1898 (61 Vic., Cap. 79).

Quebec then authorized  in 1899 the further construction of branch lines so long as there was no interference with the Montreal and Southern Counties Railway nor with the Montreal Park and Island Railway (Quebec 62 Vic., Cap. 75).

By 1900, the Dominion government had passed legislation subsidizing the line from Montreal to Joliette and for two bridges (63-64 Vic., Cap 8.)  The general subsidy to railways by virtue of that act was to be not more than $3,200 per mile, each mile subsidized to not cost more than $15,000 per mile with a subsidy of 50% of the cost of mileage exceeding $15,000 per mile not to exceed $6,400 per mile.  (At a distance of 42 miles from Montreal - Joliette this would amount to a minimum subsidy of $134,400.)  The railway was to proceed

from a point in Hochelaga ward, Montreal, to a point on the Great Northern Railway in or near the town of Joliette, passing near the town of L'Assomption, Quebec, together with a spur into the said town, not exceeding 42 miles.

To achieve this, a subsidy of $150,000 was authorized for a bridge from bout de l'île to Charlemagne at the eastern tip of the island of Montreal.  The Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company was empowered to build

...a single-track standard railway bridge, with two roadways 10 feet wide, for free vehicular and foot passenger traffic, the same as upon a public highway...

An additional clause allowed for the subsidy of $15,000 to the Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company for construction of a bridge across the Lac Ouareau River (63-64 Vic., Cap 8).

In 1903 another subsidy was authorized for the Rawdon Branch, and for a bridge (3 Edw. VII, Cap 57).  More legislation followed pertaining to trust deeds, bonds, damage claims, time limit, and the Rawdon Branch.

Two other pieces of legislation appeared before eventual amalgamation with the Great Northern Railway and others.  These dealt with another subsidy in 1904 by the Dominion Government (4 Edw. VII, Cap. 34) and an agreement in 1905 with the Great Northern Railway Company (4-5 Edw. VII, Cap. 99).

Finally in 1906 legislation was passed permitting the amalgamation of the Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company, the Great Northern Railway Company, and the Quebec New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Railway Company, under the name of Canadian Northern Quebec Railway Company (P.C. July 19, 1906).

In 1907, the Powers of the Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company were confirmed to the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway Company (6-7 Edw. VII, Cap 73.), and in 1912 authority was granted for the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway Company to complete the line of the Chateauguay and Northern Railway.  The Chateauguay and Northern Railway Company had ceased to exist buts its plans and its operations lived on in its successor the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway.

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References (Chronologically)

58 Vic., Cap. 64
59 Vic., Cap.27
61 Vic., Cap. 79
Quebec 62 Vic., Cap. 75
63-64 Vic., Cap 8
3 Edw. VII, Cap 57
4 Edw. VII, Cap. 34
4-5 Edw. VII, Cap. 99
6-7 Edw. VII, Cap 73
P.C. July 19, 1906
Canada Department of Transport. (1938).  A statutory history of the steam and electric railways of Canada, 1836-1937.  Ottawa: J.O. Patenaude.

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Glenn F. Cartwright, January 14, 2001
Revision 12. Last revised 2005/12/05