Halifax Subdivision

History records that the Nova Scotia Railway completed the first line from Halifax to Windsor in 1858. With the establishment of the Windsor and Annapolis Railway in 1868, they petitioned for and in 1871 were gained a lease on the Halifax from Windsor line. The Nova Scotia Railway became part of the Intercolonial Railway (ICR) in 1872. Although Western Counties Railway briefly took control of the Windsor to Halifax route in 1878, the ICR essentially handed service to Windsor in lieu of the fact it was already serviced by the W&AR.

When the DAR was formed in 1893, they used their inherited right-of-way granted to the Windsor and Annapolis Railway from the Intercolonial Railway to access the Windsor to Windsor Junction stretch and to continue on the Canadian National's Beford Subdivision to run their trains to the Halifax station but maintained its own freight and express shed in Halifax. The DAR was also a part owner of the Lord Nelson Hotel which functioned as the DAR and CPR railway hotel in Halifax.

September 22, 1993 - CP Rail formally abandons the Halifax Subdivision from New Minas (mileage 52.9) to Kentville (mileage 56.1), including the 4.3 mile Kentville Spur from mileage 56.1 of the Halifax Subdivision to the end of track in Coldbrook, as well as the 2.3 mile Kingsport Spur from mileage 56.1 of the Halifax Subdivision to the end of track in Steam Mill.

Gallery

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  Map of the Annapolis Valley Fruit District, 1931 showing warehouse locations on the Kingsport, Kentville and Halifax subdvisions.