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Nova Scotia Southern Railway

By John R. Cameron

Another contender on the South Shore was the Nova Scotia Southern, which had switched it focus from the Annapolis to Liverpool route; it was formerly the Annapolis and Atlantic.

The Annapolis and Atlantic was originally incorporated in 1888 (c.82) to build a railway from Annapolis to Liverpool, with a main branch to Shelburne and Sand Point and branches to Barrington and Lockeport. An extension was granted in 1890 (c.76) and again in 1891 (c.128). In 1892, the company was authorized to build a line to Halifax (c.69), provided that the line from Annapolis to Liverpool was built first. The name was changed to the Nova Scotia Southern in 1893 (c.65), at which time the prohibition on connecting with Halifax before the railway between Annapolis and Liverpool was opened was taken out and the entire focus of the railway shifted to the south shore. The statute was reworked in 1894 (c.76). Extensions were granted in 1895 (c.133) and in 1897 (c.88. The company was to build from Shelburne to New Germany and from Indian Gardens to the Liverpool and Milton Tramway by the end of the year (1897, c.88), although, if thirty miles of track were laid, the company could have an extra year. From this statute and others that gave construction rights to other companies, subject to the Nova Scotia Southern building its railways, it is apparent the government was losing patience.

Then, in 1898 (c.129), the company lost the right to run into Liverpool as the cost of its latest extension, and was to build from the northern end of the Liverpool and Milton to Caledonia.

In 1899 (c.134), the railway lost its line to Annapolis and was required to build fifty miles of track, ten of which were to be north of Liverpool (from Indian Gardens). The lines left were from Sand Point on Shelburne Harbour to the Central Railway in Lunenburg County and from Indian Gardens to the Liverpool and Milton's northern terminus. A further time extension (1900, c.185) saw the Nova Scotia Southern get back its line from the Central Nova Scotia to Chester and Halifax.

Then in 1903 (c.3), the railway was simply vested in the Halifax and South Western. There is no hint of the reason or authority for the action. Other sources suggest the statute merely confirms a sale. Nothing further is heard of the Nova Scotia Southern until 1909 (c.7), when a statute was passed to provide compensation with respect to lands taken by the Nova Scotia Southern outside the limits of the New Germany to Caledonia line acquired and completed by the Halifax and South Western.

[SOURCE: A Legislative History of Nova Scotia Railways, by John R. Cameron, 1999.]

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