Our 5th article in the historical series “Ontario’s Lost Electric Railways” will focus on Paris, Ontario, which is located along the Grand River in Brant County.

Facing southeast in Paris on March 31st, 2022.

Map of Paris and it’s railways from John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways.” This map shows the GVR station in its current location, which it was moved to shortly after service ended in 1929. It was originally located at the northwest corner of Willow & William, across from the first GVR Station, which is also not marked on the map.

This scenic small town had 2 electric railways that ran through it: the Grand Valley Railway (GVR) and the Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N.) The GVR began passenger service from Brantford to Paris in 1903, with the line reaching downtown Galt in 1905.

The Grand Valley Railway’s first Paris Station at the northeast corner of corner of Willow St. and William St. on the east side of the Grand River, circa 1910. Photo is from the collection of Ken Chrysler.

Grand Valley Railway “toast-rack” open-bench trolley up the hill from Paris, Ontario, in 1904. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Facing the other direction on Paris Hill along the Grand River in 1904. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

The GVR was poorly constructed and plagued with track issues throughout its short life. The following 4 photos depict just one of many derailments that happened on the railway, this one on January 15th, 1908. The car toppled off a small trestle that ran parallel to the Grand Trunk Railway between Paris and Brantford.

1908 photo from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Wreck on G.V.R. near Paris, Jan. 18 1908. Photo from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Interior shot of GVR car #56.

The GVR’s Galt to Paris line ended service in 1916, being replaced by the new Lake Erie & Northern Railway (LE&N), which operated between Galt and Port Dover. Service continued on the GVR between Paris and Brantford until 1929.

Early Lake Erie & Northern Railway electric freight train approaching Paris Station. The Grand Trunk Railway underpass can be seen in the background. Note-the early use of a pantograph, which was later discontinued. Roger Chrysler Collection.

In 1931 the LE&N and the Grand River Railway (GRR) were amalgamated to create the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines (CPEL.) Equipment from the 2 different railways began operating in mixed service as well.

LE&N interurban #955 in Paris, circa 1950. Roger Chrysler Collection.

LE&N interurban #973 at Paris Station during the 1950s. This photo was taken by Bob Sandusky, one of the founding fathers of our museum.

Grand River Railway (GRR) interurban #846 at Paris Station during the final days of service on April 23rd, 1955. This photo is from the Paris Museum & Historical Society.

Passenger service ended on the Canadian Pacific Electric Lines on April 24th, 1955 and electric freight service ended on October 1st, 1961.

Facing north to Paris Station in 1974. This photo was taken by Roger Chrysler.

A.W. Mooney shot of LE&N’s Paris Station, April 2nd, 1978.

The former LE&N tracks looking north towards the CN underpass in Paris. 1978 photo by A.W. Mooney.

The last CP freight train to use the old LE&N tracks ran on July 31st, 1990, and the tracks were ripped up shortly after. Today there is a public trail along this lost electric railway’s right-of-way.

The Grand Valley Railway once ran along Willow Street under the Grand Trunk Railway bridge, which is now used by CN. March 31st, 2022 by Trevor P.S.

The Grand Valley Railway’s original Paris Station at the northeast corner of Willow St. and William St. on the east side of the Grand River. This building was a corner variety store for many years. March 31st, 2022.

Grand Valley Railway’s second Paris Station opened at the northwest corner of William and Willow, across from the much smaller first station. GVR Paris Station closed in 1929 and was moved 2 blocks north to Willow at Joseph Brant St. Photo taken March 31st, 2022.

LE&N underpass below the CN Railway on March 31st, 2022. This photo was taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor Parkins-Sciberras.

A concrete pad is all that’s left of railway buildings that were here. March 31st, 2022.

Abandoned access road for Paris Station. March 31st, 2022.

A large coal transfer used by the lost railway and trucks is still located on the hillside. March 31st, 2022.

Lake Erie & Northern Railway trail on March 31st, 2022.

Lake Erie & Northern Railway trail on March 31st, 2022.

Roger Chrysler’s scale model the yard in Paris.

Roger’s scale model of the LE&N’s Paris Station.

We have the LE&N’s last passenger car #797 preserved at our museum. 2021 photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

LE&N electric locomotive #335 outside in yard #2 during the Covid lockdown of 2020. Photo taken by Museum Volunteer Trevor P.S.

Click here for photos of the Grand River at Blue Lake area, around 5km north of Paris, Ontario!

Click this image to see photos of the lost electric railways of Brantford, Ontario!

You can learn more about the Lake Erie & Northern Railway here: http://www.trainweb.org/elso/len.htm

More archival photos of the Grand Valley Railway here: https://images.ourontario.ca/brant/details.asp?ID=65039

Some of the information and photographs in this article can be found in John Mill’s book “Ontario’s Grand River Valley Electric Railways” and also “Steel Wheels Along the Grand” by George W. Roth.

Please stay tuned for more articles in this series on Ontario’s lost electric railways. You can follow our museum at Facebook and Instagram where photographs like this are posted daily!