The Northland RR – Algonquin Highlands Limited

Background

It is 1921.  The Northland RR provides the shortest route from the upper great lakes to the Atlantic ports through its harbour facilities at Crown Point and the rail connection from Georgian Bay to the Ottawa Valley and thence on to Portland Maine.

The big new resort hotel in the Algonquin Highlands is set to open after two years of construction.  This hotel is very luxurious and will be on the social circuit for the crowd that also frequents the resorts of the Thousand Islands on the St Lawrence River.  The only way to get there is by rail and the Northland RR has the most expeditious routing for wealthy east coast holidayers.

The steamship companies on the Great Lakes have made Crown Point a busy port of call.  Steam passenger routes link the city with most points on the American shores of Lakes Huron and Michigan as well as offering a water link to Port Arthur and Ft William at the Lakehead.  There is in particular, a well patronized but small elegant steamer that departs Crown Point weekly on its journey to the Soo via the North Channel and from there across Lake Superior to the Lakehead. And a second equally elegant steamer that goes twice weekly to the famous resorts on Mackinac Island.

The traveling citizenry have become more than a little critical of the Northland’s outdated passenger equipment. Small wooden coaches, some acquired second hand, dating back to the 1890s make up most of the car roster and these are not in keeping with the tastes of the more affluent vacationers now making their way in increasing numbers to Georgian Bay.  The overall post WW I prosperity and the growing passenger traffic have provided the railroad with the means and the impetus to reequip its passenger fleet.