Dominion Atlantic Railway Digital Preservation Initiative - Wiki
Use of this site is subject to our Terms & Conditions.
Kentville Station
Kentville Station
The Kentville station was built in 1869 by the Windsor and Annapolis Railway. It served as divisional and corporate headquarters for the DAR as well as serving Kentville's passenger, baggage and telegraph traffic. A lunch room also operated in the west end of the station for most of its history. A 30 foot baggage room was added to the east in 1889.[1] A major addition, designed in 1902 and completed by 1904, added a central tower, all-round platform awnings and a 40 foot extension to the west. Another 40 foot extension with six dormers was added to the west in 1914-1915. The station was initially a straw yellow colour with dark red trim. It was given an a dark red and black trim paint scheme in World War Two. The platform awnings were gradually cut back over the years and many offices became vacant as Canadian Pacific centralized operations. In 1970, the dispatcher's office was closed as the CP office in Saint John took over dispatching duties.[2] VIA Rail moved its passenger service out of the old station in May 1988.[3] VIA's new station was a brick structure with a tower that echoed the tower of the old wooden DAR station. It was built at a cost of $240,000. The new station opened for passengers in late May and was officially opened in June.[4] The new station served only a year and a half until passenger service was canceled. The DAR's wooden station was demolished in 1990. The VIA brick station now serves as a bus station.
Windsor & Annapolis Railway Wood Station 1869 - 1889
Original Station.
Station painted straw yellow with dark red and white trim.
The first recorded photo of the Kentville Station taken in August 1869, also showing the Freight Shed and Car Shop.
Kentville Station and Yard July 27, 1871
Dominion Atlantic Railway Wood Station 1889 - 1904
Original station with a 30 foot baggage room added to the east in the 1889[5].
Station painted straw yellow with dark red and white trim.
Kentville Station circa 1890
Kentville Station circa 1900
Dominion Atlantic Railway Wood Station 1904 - 1914
A major addition, designed in 1902 and completed by 1904, added a central tower, all-round platform awnings and a 40 foot extension to the west.
Station painted straw yellow with dark red and white trim.
Kentville Station circa 1904-1914
Kentville Station circa 1904-1914
Kentville Station circa 1914-1918
Dominion Atlantic Railway Wood Station 1915 - 1990
Another 40 foor extension with six dormers was added to the west in 1914-1915.
1915 - 1943
Station painted straw yellow with dark red and white trim.
- KentvilleStationg.jpg
Kentville Station circa 1930 incorrectly showing station painted red.
- KentvilleStationf.jpg
Kentville Station 1942 still painted yellow although the coloured bands of shingles on the tower are gone.
1943 - 1967
Station painted dark red with black trim and white windows.
No. 470 at the Kentville Station on July 3, 1954 leading Train No. 13 for Kingsport.
No. 470 at Kentville 1954 with Kingsport Mixed.
No. 2617 at Kentville Station August 10, 1956.
An eastbound freight passes the Kentville Station in August of 1959.
1967 to 1990
Station painted solid dark red.
D.A.R. Headquarters, Kentville Station, Kentville on July 20, 1967.
No. 9059 at Kentville Station in 1968.
Kentville Station, circa 1970.
Dayliner No. 9057 at Kentville Station, Kentville in August 1973.
Dayliner No. 9057 at Kentville Station, Kentville in August 1973.
Dayliner at Kentville Station on July 18, 1975.
Kentville Station, Kentville NS August 17 1977.
The Apple Blossom Special at the Kentville Station is blue flagged while the power is turned on May 30, 1987.
Passengers and on lookers wait at the Kentville Station while VIA 6781 is turned for the Apple Blossom Special on May 30, 1987.
No. 9059 at Kentville Station on an evening in January 1977.
No. 9059 at Kentville Station on an evening in January 1977.
Other Known Images
Kentville Station in 1969 - Canada Science and Technology Museum Image STR04091a.
VIA Rail Station 1988-1989
Kentville Station circa 1988. Old station in foreground, new brick station in background to right.
References and Footnotes
- ↑ Construction date of 1889 addition given in transcript of the Department of Railways and Canals, Engineer's Report, 1889, compiled by J.B. King, Scotia Railway Society Collection, Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, RG28 Series S Vol. 4 File 15
- ↑ Bob Mohowski, "Dominion Atlantic Railway", Railpace Newsmagazine, March 1984, p. 33
- ↑ Kentville Advertiser, July 19, 1988, article located by by Conrad Davison
- ↑ Kentville Advertiser, "Kentville's New Train Station", June 3, 1988, article located by Conrad Davison
- ↑ Construction date of 1889 addition given in transcript of the Department of Railways and Canals, Engineer's Report, 1889, compiled by J.B. King, Scotia Railway Society Collection, Nova Scotia Archives and Records Management, RG28 Series S Vol. 4 File 15
- Canadian Railway Station Guide Bruce Ballantyne, Bytown Railway Society, 1998
- Devil's Half Acre Mabel Nichols Kentville Centenniel Committee, 1986
- Former Kentville Railway Station, Kentville, Nova Scotia Robert Hunter, Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada report, RSR 6
