Although Rawdon basically had two different railways in two different centuries, and was served by a third railway nearby, throughout railway history at least five different companies built, owned, or operated the tracks.  If we stretched our imaginations a bit and were to include yet another railway proposed by J.H. Dorwin but never built, it could be said that Rawdon had not one, two, or three but actually six past railway schemes!  Counting as the seventh the VIA Rail service that still operates from Montreal through Joliette, and the future potential for  AMT commuter service from Mascouche-Montreal, St. Jerome-Montreal, and plans for l'Assomption-Montreal and the number rises to ten.  Surprised?   Here they are:

1. J.H. Dorwin's  Industry Village and Rawdon Railroad (1852-1856)

The Industry Village and Rawdon Railroad, touted as "The Cheapest Railway in the World" is thought to have operated for about four years between Montcalm and Industry Village (now Joliette) where it connected with the St. Lawrence and Industry Railway (La Compagnie du Chemin à Rails du Saint-Laurent et du Village d'Industrie - incorporated 1847) to Lanoraie.

At the age of 88, Dorwin returned to Rawdon with a dream to build yet another railway to Rawdon.  It was never built.

Incorporated in 1892, the GNR ran between Quebec, Joliette, Montcalm, St. Julienne, St. Jerome, Ottawa, and beyond.  At Montcalm station, passengers alighted for Rawdon, about 6 miles away.   There was a Great Northern Hotel in Joliette.

The plan was to build from Rawdon - Hamilton - Cordon - Rawdon Junction (intersecting with the Great Northern Railway)  - St. Alexis - St. Jacques - St. Georges -   l'Epiphanie (intersecting with the line from Montreal-Joliette).

In 1906, the Great Northern Railway and the Chateauguay and Northern Railway merged to form the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway which ran, serving Rawdon, until 1919.

In 1919 a number of railways across Canada, including the Canadian Northern Quebec Railway,  were merged  to form the (federal) government-owned Canadian National Railways (CNR).  The CNR continued to run the railway to Rawdon until the tracks were torn up in 1963.

At  present, the closest passenger railway service is at Joliette where the combined Jonquière and Senneterre VIA Rail train to/from Montreal stops three times a week.  The Joliette station is about 18 miles from Rawdon and service is not convenient.

It was  announced (Montreal Gazette, March 22, 2003) that  by the end of 2004 AMT (Agence Métropolitaine de Transport) will begin to run commuter trains on the former Canadian Pacific line from Mascouche to St. Martin Junction connecting with the Blainville commuter line to Park Avenue, Vendome,  and Windsor Terminus (now Lucien l'Allier).    It now appears that the advent of this service will be delayed  as there is now talk that the Mascouche line will only go as far as the new Concorde Metro station in Laval.  Thus this will be the first rail commuter line not to terminate on the island of  Montreal.  It also appears that the line is in jeopardy in that it may be in competition with the proposed train to l'Assomption (see number 10 below).   If the Mascouche line does become operational, perhaps one day a bus service will connect Rawdon with the Mascouche commuter trains and Rawdonites will be served by rail once more.

Plans are under way to extend the Windsor Station-Blainville line to St. Jerome. Tenders have been called for August 2005 for  the improvement of 8 kms. of track from Blainville to St. Jerome.

A citizens group is planning to lobby for commuter rail service between Central Station and l'Assomption.  The line would have a stop at Pointe-aux-Trembles, presumably Montreal North (Nord) and Pie IX.  Discussions are ongoing as to the type of motive power (hybrid or dual mode) to be able to use the Mount Royal tunnel to terminate at Montreal's Central Station.  This future of this line may be in competition with the proposed Mascouche-Concorde Metro (or on to  Windsor Terminal/Lucien l'Allier train (see number 8 above).  Latest reported opening date is projected for December, 2007.

September 21, 2000
Last revised 2005/09/09