Commercial 59

The eastern terminal was to be at Souris, but East or West was the question. The Government decided to build the depot, the freight shed and the round house at the western end of the causeway. The railway line ran along what was later called the Boulevard, skirting the River and out on to Queen’s Wharf at Souris West.

The station might well have remained there if the causeway had had a solid foundation and protection from the sea. After all, in 1875 Souris West was still a thriving shipbuilding center with stores, a forge and several wharves. The west side of Souris River and the Bear River Road running north and south between Lots 43 and 44 were more thickly settled than Lot 45.

The new Souris West Railway Station opened with George B. McEachern, telegrapher, D. H. Macgowan, conductor and brakesmen J.R. Scott and John McLean.“ From the beginning, there was trouble with drifting sand. Sometimes the tracks had to be shovelled off before the train went out in the morning. In a storm September 22, 1877, the tide rose to an unusual height. Part of the railway leading to the freight house was carried off twenty feet from its former location. The Examiner of September 25 had this to say: “The station house presented a sad spectacle. Would that some of the great ones had seen it that day and its speedy removal would surely follow...Some sticks of timber were put on the railway at the turntable by the tide.”

('num-s) l’u'turvs of the Print by iA‘Hrdfl

At the Railway Station, Souris c.1895.

Leaning 0n the engine - Harvey MacEwen, next Harry Stetson. The driver is not identified. Standing third from the left, next to Stetson, is Sandy Clark the Station Agent. The next gentleman is not identified. Behind is Milton Dingwell. The man in the straw hat - George Pierce. The boy is Angus Lavie. The man behind with the Derby hat is Wallace MacLean. The tall man in front, next to Angus Lavie - Tim Cheverie. Next to Cheverie - Conductor Jim McKie. Between Cheverie and McKie -Elijah McVane. Boy in the back looking toward the train - Jim McCormack. Young man in back, looking forward - Harold G. Matthew. Boy in front with short pants -Roy Cox. (The Cox Hotel team met the noon and evening trains.) The two girls in front: Pearl Clarke and Adele Sterns.