New York and Canada Railroad
| Company type | Railroad company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Rail transport |
| Founded | March 16, 1872 |
| Defunct | May 23, 1908 |
| Fate | Merged into Delaware and Hudson Railway |
| Headquarters | Northern New York , United States |
Area served | Northern New York, USA; Canadian border |
| Products | Rail transport services |
| Parent | Delaware and Hudson Railway |
The New York and Canada Railroad operated in the northern region of New York between 1873 and 1908, uniting several local railroads to create a continuous north–south corridor along the western shore of Lake Champlain. Service reached Plattsburgh, New York by 1875, extended further to Rouses Point, New York in 1876, and ultimately connected to the Canadian border in 1906. Throughout its existence, it remained under the control of the Delaware and Hudson Railway, which formally absorbed it in 1908. Presently, this route forms part of the Canadian Pacific Kansas City's Canadian Subdivision.
History
Initial attempts by supporters of the Whitehall and Plattsburgh Railroad to construct a line on Lake Champlain’s west side through the Ausable River valley collapsed by 1871. This left isolated segments between Plattsburgh, New York and Ausable, New York, as well as between Port Henry, New York and Fort Ticonderoga. The latter segment was leased by the Rutland Railroad to prevent competition.
Prominent figures such as New York State Assemblyman Smith Mead Weed and Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad president Isaac V. Baker Jr. obtained financial support from the Delaware and Hudson Railway for a revived project. The New York and Canada Railroad was incorporated on March 16, 1872, and by April 1873 had consolidated with both the Whitehall and Plattsburgh and the Montreal and Plattsburgh Railroad companies.
Abandoning the Ausable River alignment, the company constructed a more direct route along Lake Champlain’s shoreline: a 24-mile stretch from Whitehall to Addison Junction was finalized in November 1874, followed by the demanding segment between Port Henry and Plattsburgh opening in November 1875. The former Whitehall and Plattsburgh line to Ausable was retained as a branch. Initially, trains traveling to Montreal utilized existing routes through Mooers and the Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain Railroad before connecting with Grand Trunk Railway tracks.
To enhance operational efficiency, a 13-mile link from Chazy, New York to Rouses Point was completed in September 1876, removing dependence on Mooers. Additionally, a five-mile spur running through Ticonderoga, New York to Baldwin at Lake George’s northern end commenced service in May 1875.
To further improve cross-border connectivity, the company backed the formation of the Napierville Junction Railway in 1906. This entity built a 27-mile line extending northward from near Rouses Point to join the Canadian Pacific Railway at Delson. The New York and Canada Railroad added a brief connecting track to the border, with service beginning in May 1907. Shortly thereafter, on May 23, 1908, the Delaware and Hudson formally merged with the New York and Canada Railroad.
Lines
The primary route of the New York and Canada Railroad stretched from Whitehall, New York, through Plattsburgh and Rouses Point up to the Canadian border, constituting a vital segment of Canadian Pacific Kansas City’s Canadian Subdivision. The railroad also managed three branch lines:
- The Ausable Branch—originally part of the Whitehall and Plattsburgh line extending southward from Plattsburgh—was discontinued in 1981.
- The Baldwin Branch, a five-mile track running from Montcalm Landing to Baldwin on Lake George, included a short spur known as the Ticonderoga Railroad serving Ticonderoga.
- The Mooers Branch—initially the Montreal and Plattsburgh line connecting Plattsburgh to Canada—declined in significance after the Rouses Point cutoff opened and was eventually abandoned in 1925.