Parry Sound Colonization Railway

The Parry Sound Colonization Railway Company was a local company formed in 1884, by citizens of Parry Sound with the intention of getting a railway line into their isolated community. Over the years they kept working on the scheme.

On Saturday, January 16th, 1886, at 8:00 p.m., a public meeting was called in Parry Sound regarding this proposed Railway.

On February 5th, 1886, a deputation waited upon the Ontario Government to ask for a subsidy to aid in construction of this line, which was described as "an important feeder to the Northern & Pacific Junction Railway (then) under construction from Gravenhurst to Callander. The Colonization line was to be built from Parry Sound in an easterly direction to connect with the N.& P.J. Railway near Burks Falls. Beginning at Scotia Junction some work was done as far as Bear Lake before construction was haulted, due to lack of funds.

In 1892 the Parry Sound Colonization Railway was acquired by Ottawa lumberman J.R. Booth and merged with his Ottawa, Arnprior & Parry Sound Railway, then under construction from Ottawa to Georgian Bay. When Booth selected Depot Harbour as the western ternimus of his railway, the citizens of Parry Sound felt betrayed.

Following acquisition of the Parry Sound Colonization Railway by J. R. Booth, the locomotive from his Nosbonsing & Nipissing Railway was used for construction of this line, west of Bear Lake, during the winter months when that line was shut down for the season.