Of all the places along the Prince Edward Island Railway, Royalty Junction remains a close favourite. I recently had a great opportunity to photograph the station as it remains today. It was moved from it’s original location to it’s current home in Greenvale, PEI in the early 1980’s. Soon after being moved the new owners added a second storey. Except for that change much of the building remains exactly as it was and it is an excellent resource for studying the construction of a typical PEIR station. I thought I’d take a minute and share some of the many photographs I took of the station that evening. Stay tuned, I’ll be completing a drawing of this station and I’ll post that here as soon as it’s done.
Categories: PEIR Borden Subdivision
Prince Street 
Hey Chris,
Where in Greenvale is this? I’ve never seen it from Highway 2. You gotta give me the directions, I’ve never seen a PEI station before and that’s only 10 minutes from Cornwall.
It’s on the north side of the highway. The neighbour’s sell birdhouses and usually have a few at the end of their driveway. I think the civic number is around 19000. While you’re out there anyway, stop by and check out the Fredericton station too, It’s in a very sorry state and won’t last much longer. Both are genuine PEIR articles.
Where is the Fredricton station Chris? Also, do the people usually take kindly to “trespassers” I’m always weary as I’ve been chased off land fishing before, almost with physical force.
The Fredericton train station is just about in the middle of town. It is on private land currently and it appears that it was simply moved back from the rail line when it was purchased by the farm that has it now. I’ve never had any luck finding out who “owns” it but I would really like to. Even in it’s currently dilapated state it’s a great resource and I’d love to be able to photograph it’s interior, etc. for future reference.
It’s easy enough to find though and you can almost see it from Highway 2, as I said, right in the heart of Fredericton, PEI.
I think I see it on Google Maps, seems to be on the “Fredricton Station Road” (of course) I have a good friend who lives on the St Patricks road. Him and I’ll have to go check it out and I’ll get some photos.
I assume you know of the two tank cars behind Matheson Construction on Sherwood Road and my Great Uncle’s locomotive 1762 in Kensington, of course.
As you’re turning in off of Highway 2 you can see it. The station will be on the right hand side of the road. Note that the station is within a farmers field (well inside the fence anyway) so caution will be in order.
I have seen and photographed those tank cars. I remember seeing those arriving and departing on the boat trains during the final years. I’d like to get around to asking the Matheson folks if they’d mind if I cleared a little of the bush around them to properly photograph them (details, details) sometime just in case something ever happened to them.
There used to be a caboose out in Mermaid(?). Wonder if that’s still there?
Then of course, there are the Russian flat cars that may also still be around as bridges.
I’m looking forward to seeing any pictures you get at Fredericton.
The bridge down in Pisquid used to be Russian flat cars till 6 years ago or so. If you’re ever up for an adventure I know of one such bridge that’s still in place on the North River, except I think it has CN markings. It`s way up by route two. I remember seeing it in a picture of one of the provincial biologists books. If I ever get up there doing redd counts or counting fish with the province I’ll get some shots.
Well that sounds interesting. Would make a great adventure.
Hi all,I just stumbled upon this blog as I was googling info on PEI railways for my son that has taken a big interest in trains. These pictures caught my eye especially because it was my father and I that moved the Royalty Junction train station to Greenvale in 82. My grandfather worked for CN on the railways for many years in Hunter River, Vernon River and New Glasgow NS. I would love to get a group together to purchase the old station and move it back to Royalty Junction. It would be a designated heritage building and would love to see it saved. Talk care and have a great Christmas . Robbie
Thanks so much for the comment. Royalty Junction was one of my favorite locations on the railway.
I’d love to hear the story of moving the station if you ever had a moment to share it.
Hopefully you received the info my brother Lou Ranahan wrote to you at the Guardian, my dad was the last station agent there for 10 years, lots of stories from us. Dad was Tim Ranahan.
Thank you for the comment. I don’t work for The Guardian so hope your comment made it to them okay.
I think it’s terrific that your father worked at the station. Royalty Junction was my favourite location to watch the train from. Thanks again for writing.
I’d sure like to hear any stories from the station if you ever had a minute to share them.
Chris
Hello Frances. My grandfather was a CN Station Agent at Bear River and Cardigan many years ago, so I have an interest in such things. Right now, I am doing a bit of research on Royalty Junction. Can I connect with you (or family members mentioned in your comment above)?
Hi Mike
I am Lou Ranahan and grew up in Royalty Junction. My family lived there 1946 until 1957.My dad was the station agent. I’d be happy to share some stories of Royalty Junction if you are interested.
Hi Lou, it is great to hear from you. Thank you! Are we able to communicate directly via email? How does that work?
Hi Lou,
Thank you for your quick response. Would be very pleased if we could extend the conversation. Thank you.
Mike >
Mike and Lou, it’s been so enjoyable to see your posts. Please feel free to keep the conversation going. Royalty Junction was a favourite place on the railroad, for me, and I’d love to hear more of your experiences.
Chris
Royalty Visits Royalty Junction
It was November 9, 1951. My dad was the station agent at Royalty Junction and told our family that we were going to have a visit from Princess Elizabeth and Prince Phillip. They were due about 11AM on the Royal Train. It was a bright sunny day. My mom dressed my brother Tom (4) and I (5) up in new jackets for the occasion. Because there were lots of puddles, we still wore our rubber boots. I remember her telling us not to play in the puddles because we were going over to the station to see Royal visitors. We lived in the station house about 200 yards from the station. Of course we got in trouble because we could not resist the puddles. When we got to the station, there were about 50 people who also came to see the Royal visitors. Usually, there was no one there in the waiting room, which could accommodate about 25. The only people we ever saw there were the section men eating their lunch. The Royal Train came up around the curve from Winsloe and everyone was on the station platform to wave. The train slowed and the Princess and Prince were on the platform at the rear car of the train and waved as the train went by. Then everyone went home, but for me, it seemed pretty special. Not many people could say Royalty came to visit them, and since my family (6) was the entire population of Royalty Junction, it seemed like they came to see us.
Lou Ranahan
SLOW DOWN ON WASH DAY!
At Royalty Junction, the railway house where we lived was right beside the tracks, not far from the station. My earliest memory was seeing a steam engine from either Georgetown or Murray Harbour pull away from the station towards Charlottetown putting out a huge cloud of smoke and soot. My mom came out in the yard and was extremely angry as the weekly wash was still on the line. I remember my dad getting instructions at supper time to tell those engineers to ease up leaving the station if she had her wash out. This was about 1950 and the PEI railway became the first to go diesel shortly thereafter.
I remember seeing on one Sunday morning a lone steam engine passing by on its way to Borden and off the island. It was unusual to see any trains moving on a Sunday. My dad told me that was the last steam engine on PEI.
The steam locomotives were 4-6-0’s and I believe one or two are still at museum’s like this one
http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=1328481
Lou Ranahan
Well this thread gets better and better. Lou, my family followed yours into Royalty (with a slight pause). We moved into the dwelling in 1959. The electricity was put in by a railroad team from Moncton, after Mom made a strongly worded request to the superintendant, wanting a Cristmas tree with lights for our family.
We were there until the spring of 1963, when Dad got a transfer to New Glasgow, NS.
I have a lot of great memories from there: starting school; the maple, chestnut and cherry trees in the back yard; going up the ladder in the garage to check on a new robin brood; filling the waiting room with snow by opening the east side door to watch the wing plow; going up the wye with Dad as he checked car lists. Learning to read from the Guardian, spread on the waiting room floor.
The kitchen was also renovated while we were there, and we got an escape ladder on the outside wall of the house. Perfect for a boy of six…
And my mother also had to deal with laundry on the line; our soot source was the asphalt plant at the end of the lane…
Hi Gord
Good to hear from you. I recall the name of your family. Lucky you with electricity! The railway house was moved just after you left to 213 Royalty Junction Road. It was towed on skids by a bulldozer in the winter. CN sold it for $500. In the summer of 2018, we visited the owner who showed us around inside and gave us the history. It was in remarkable shape, with the original shingles. I believe the house was built around 1900 if not before. If you Google Maps the address, you can see the house. If you send me your email, I can share some pictures of the house with you.
kind regards
Lou
Hi Lou. Yes, the photos would be nice… I live on the Island, close to East Point, after thirty-plus years working in Quebec City. Visiting the house is on my to-do list, but given some vision issues, I have to convince herself, the designated driver, to get involved.