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During the final week of passenger rail service through the Valley, two-year-old George Slipp took his first, and to this
date, only train ride from Wolfville into Halifax - Date/Photographer unknown.
15 January 2014
Valley Railway Anniversary Today
24 Years Since Last Dayliner
Wolfville Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia - It was on this date in 1990 that Wolfville Police Const. Blair MacMurtery had to arrest three
protestors for mischief.
They were blocking the railway track on the final day of passenger service in the Annapolis Valley.
There are those who say the construction of Highway 101 sealed the fate of the diesel Dayliner service.
Changes to the VIA Rail schedule and competing bus service were also blamed for the decline in passengers.
On 15 Jan 1990, the last Dayliner travelled through the Valley.
Passenger trains had begun running back in the 1860s and were critical to bringing students to Acadia University and for military service during two
wars.
Railway historian Gary Ness of Wolfville, who has a new book coming out, has said the 1990 federal government cuts to the VIA Rail operated service spelled the
end for the Halifax-Yarmouth service.
Waterville resident Stuart Johnstone noted in the Berwick Register that there was a time "the trains were so loaded with passengers, men had to stand
until others got off at various places. Very often, the conductor couldn't make his way through the cars to pick up fares."
Wendy Elliott.
A Canadian Pacific Railway Dayliner running on the Dominion Atlantic Railway - Date/Photographer unknown.
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