JUNE 8, 2003 SPRINGTIME IN PARIS - (ONTARIO THAT IS)....
Once the
Lake Erie & Northern RR, now a rail trail from Brantford to Galt along the Grand River. The
stone piers in the middle of the river at Blue Lake mark the original route of the
Great Western RR built in 1854 which missed Brantford by 6 miles. This railroad was part of the very
first rail line to connect the Atlantic to the Mississippi but the Canadian tracks were built to a gauge
of 5 feet 6 inches causing unnecessary transhipment problems at Niagara Falls and Windsor until regauged
to standard in 1872 (Paris, St. George, Lynden was abandoned around 1940 as a by-pass from Lynden to
Brantford had been in use for about 40 years) The high level bridge in Paris was part of the Buffalo &
Goderich RR also 1854 and now CNR. At the main intersection of Paris the Arlington Hotel - Sunday
Brunch $16.95.