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Construction of the railway started in the early 1890s. Its purpose was to provide access to remote communities and inland resources for export. For a brief period, Norris Arm was the only area in Notre Dame Bay reached by the railway. The town served as a transportation link for both passengers and freight to be carried to other accessible parts of the Island. The railway provided many jobs, attracting people from other communities to relocate; as a result, Norris Arm's population and business increased. The railway was a major factor of the town's growth and prosperity.

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Railway video
24 August 2004
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada

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Video Transcription:

This was the First Railway station, erected in the 1890s in Norris Arm by the Reid Newfoundland Railway. It accommodated passengers in transit and also helped cope with the overflow of travelers by providing lodging. With the construction of the railway through Norris Arm, it provided more employment and attracted settlers to the area, thus aiding in the prosperity of the town. The railway commenced in St. John's and for a short period of time, ended here in Norris Arm. Passengers from smaller communities in the outlying areas commuted by boat and solely relied on Norris Arm for its railway. This vast structure burned down around 1912, cause unknown.

Norris Arm's second railway station was built soon after the first one burned down. It was a much smaller structure and served only as a station. It was dismantled approximately in 1966 or 1967. Some of the station agents included Mr. Ron Kent, Mr. O'Leary, Mr. Ted Connolly and Mr. Michael Hogan.

After the station was dismantled the only structure left was the station's storage shed. It was used to store materials off-loaded from the train. The building was later purchased by Bernard Higgins and still stands near his home in Norris Arm today.

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2nd Railway Station
1952
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada

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The second railway station was much smaller than the first station but was still located in the same area. Even though this station did not provide overnight accommodations for passengers, it continued to be a busy place.

Audio Transcription:

KD - Karen Dunphy
MH - Mark Higgins

KD - What about the railway? Cause the railway was here for a long time and the stations.

MH - Yeah, I knew most of the fellas that worked there, the station agents. Well, the first one I can remember was Jim O'Leary. He moved to Grand Falls, station agent in Grand Falls. And then, from there on, then they were sort of coming here every couple of years changing over. Ron Kent was there. Jim Kent was there. Ted Connolly was there.

KD - So was the station a busy place?

MH - Well, it was busy then because twas alot of trains...was trains every hour then.

KD - Yeah, so did people come from everywhere to catch the train here?

MH - Used to come from Botwood, I suppose, to get the train here. And maybe they used...probably they used to go up around to Bishop's Falls because was a railway line to Bishop's Falls then, from Grand Falls to Bishop's Falls. People who had the mill in there, the paper mill, they had a, they had a railroad used to go down to Botwood. Used to haul their paper down there. And the ore from Buchans, that was hauled to Botwood.

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Second Railway Station
1940
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada

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In addition to the railway activity, this locale was known as the main business area because of the hangar, hotel accommodations, post office, stores and restaurants. The railway provided independence for residents and business owners so they could travel freely to other communities.

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Early train that ran through Norris Arm
1945
unknown

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The old steam engines would usually stop at Norris Arm twice a day, once at 8:00 in the morning and again, returning, at 8:00 in the evening. This train would carry passengers as well as freight.

Mr. Philip Walker, a life-time Norris Arm resident, recalls activity around the "station stand". "...the way freight'd come and put off this luggage, you know, for the stores and everything else. Sometimes they'd spot a box car right behind the wareshed and so everything was the same height, they'd take it from the box car and put it in the shed. Well, the Saunders and Howell Co. had the big store, pull it up with the horse or put a trolley on track when they'd know there was ne'er any trains coming and bring it up that way."

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Speeder Car
1940
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada

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Donald Kennedy, Norris Arm local, recollects "the old speeder cars were used to transport Section crews to different work areas. A section may be from Jumper's Brook to the "Junction". Mr. Mick Flynn used to be section foreman and his father, James, was a section foreman before him. Some of the crews' duties were inspecting the railroad, fire patrol, changing ties, cutting brush, and shoveling snow."

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Margaret (Basha) Connolly, unknown lady, Madeline Basha, Jennie Lacey, unknown man
1942
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada

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This trolley was usually filled with tools and equipment and towed behind a speeder car. It was used when repairs were needed to be made on the railway tracks. This picture shows eager residents hoping to get a ride.

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Madge Beaton
1960
Norris Arm, Newfoundland, Canada