Dominion Atlantic Railway Stations

The DAR had a family of station styles which began with the designs of its predecessor companies the Windsor and Annapolis Railway and the Western Counties Railway. To these were added a variety of standard CPR designs as well as some station styles from branchlines absorbed into the DAR. A final flourish of station building occurred in the 1980s as VIA rail upgraded stations and shelters.

W&AR Original Wood Stations ~1869

10 Stations were constructed for the original W&AR in 1869. In 1873, the MacNab report^[1] indicated there were 23 stations and platform stops. Which stations exactly were of the original 10 are not known at this time but Kentville, Windsor and Annapolis Royal definitely were part of the original 10.

Large Stations

The only large station at the time was Kentville. Kentville was 74' x 32' in size. The station platform was 350' x 12' and on the freight station side the platform measured 260' x 12'. The two storey station housed the general office upstairs.^[1]

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  The first recorded photo of the Kentville Station taken in August 1869, also showing the Freight Shed and Car Shop.

Medium Large Stations

Wolfville at 50' x 22' and Bridgetown and Annapolis at 50' x 20' appeared to be a lengthened version of the medium size station. The Waterville station had the same footprint as a medium station at 40' x 22' but had a residence built on the second storey.^[1]

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  Wolfville Station platform of wooden station, Wolfville.

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  The first Annapolis Royal Station station, circa 1880.

Medium Stations

Hantsport, Grand Pre, Port Williams, Waterville, Berwick, Aylesford, Middleton, Lawrencetown and Paradise measured out at 40' x 22' with platforms 150' - 300' long by 11' to 13' in width.^[1] From the photos we have, they all appear to be the same design. Interesting that Coldbrook although listed in 1873 as just a platform was in 1949 an original station like the rest in this size. One wonders if a few stations didn't get moved around.

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  Grand Pre Station.

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  Coldbrook Station in August 1949

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  Paradise Station and warehouse. Date unknown.

Medium Small Stations

There were only two medium small station at Falmouth at 26' x 15' and Horton Landing at 25' x 12'.^[1]

Small Stations

The smallest stations were located at Avonport at 9' x 12', Cambridge at 18' x 10', Kingston at 18' x 10' and Round Hill at 18' x 10'.^[1]

W&AR Second Generation Wood Stations ~1890

The Windsor & Annapolis Railway began to replace its small first generation stations with a larger design which had a distinctive gothic window at one end and a shallow bell curve awning over the platform. This design was found in two sizes at many locations and was often expanded by extending the freight shed.

WCR Original Wood Stations 1870-1890

The Western County Railway built a series of stations with very wide overhanging eaves and ornate brackets. Smaller stops received simple shelters.

CPR Third Generation Stations 1911 Onwards

After the Canadian Pacific Railway took over the DAR they used a variety of standard CP designs to replace small stations or more commonly to replace stations destroyed by fire.

CVR Original Wood Stations 1889

The Cornwallis Valley Railway adopted the W&AR 2nd generation station plan for all of its stations, aside from a few passenger shelters of unknown design.

MRC Original Wood Stations

The Midland Railway designed its own stations using a simple functional design in several sizes with few ornamental touches.

Weston Line 1914

The North Mountain Railway, often called the Weston Line, used the a standard CPR branchline station design, Station No. 4 for all of its stations. However they were modified to provide both station function and housing for section crews.

References and Footnotes

External Links