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Spring Hill and Parrsboro Railway

By John R. Cameron

The Spring Hill and Parrsborough was an early coal railway from the mines at Springhill (then spelled as two words) to tidewater on the Bay of Fundy at Parrsboro, long an important harbour. The Spring Hill and Parrsboro Coal and Railway Company was incorporated in 1872 (c.70) as both a mining and a railway company. Its proposed route (shown as built on an admittedly optimistic Atlas) would join the Intercolonial at Spring Hill Junction with the mines and Parrsborough. It was one of three railways (the others being New Glasgow to Louisburg and Annapolis to Yarmouth) for which provincial subsidies were promised (1872, c.17). The subsidy was confirmed in 1874 (c.12): 10,000 acres, and $5,000 per mile in cash or bonds. The company received borrowing authority (1874, c.72). The next year the company had to get a statute to explain its borrowing authority: 1875, c.69. Then, in 1883 (c.85), the company had to be liquidated. The railway was clearly in existence at the time. However, the revenues were insufficient to pay the interest on the bonds and the company was bankrupt. Interestingly, this railway appears not to have received a free right of way.

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

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