CROMBIE'S STATION
In 1872, the Toronto, Grey and Bruce Railway (TG&BR) arrived in Dufferin County. The train stopped at larger towns like Orangeville and Shelburne on the way to Owen Sound, but flag stops or “flagging stations” were also needed for less populated areas in between. Passengers would wave a green and white flag to an oncoming train, signaling the conductor that they would like to get on. Flag stops were also used as shipping points for local farmers to send their produce or wares to other towns. As the train schedule could be unreliable, passengers often found themselves waiting at the flag stop for long periods of time. This small building served as a place to keep warm in the winter and take shelter from the hot sun in the summer.
Meet the Crombie Family
Crombie’s Station was built in 1882 on the property of Martha and Samuel Crombie in Amaranth Township, Dufferin County (approximately 10 miles north of Orangeville). Having a flag stop on their land meant that their daily lives revolved around the train schedule. Samuel Crombie charged a small fee to take care of passenger’s horses while they were on their train trip. Upon their return, travelers would find their horses hitched up and patiently waiting for them, along with a friendly cup of tea offered by Martha.
All Aboard!
Before 1881, the Toronto, Grey & Bruce Railway was a narrow-gauge track (3 feet, 6 inches or 1067mm). One of the most famous narrow-gauge trains that travelled the route to Crombie’s Station was the “Caledon”, a Fairlie Type locomotive of English design. Unfortunately, the train had difficulties hauling tonnage up the Caledon Mountain and was known to frequently “jump the rails.” After the switch to standard-gauge track (4 feet, 8.5 inches wide or 1435mm) and the purchase of the TG&BR by Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1884, the “Caledon” was scrapped. Learn more about the history of the railway in Dufferin here.
From the Archives
Fees
A poster from 1900 advertises a train excursion to the Dufferin Farmer’s Institute Central Fair. For just $1.20, passengers could board at Crombie’s Station and travel all the way to Guelph.
Schedules
Amaranth Township Council wrote this letter in 1891 to the Canadian Pacific Railway, asking them to cease operation of the railway on Sundays. The request was denied by CPR.
Vandalism or Artifacts?
The original graffiti inside of Crombie’s Station is now preserved – the earliest carving dates to 1891! Bored passengers waiting for their train etched their names into the walls, with more graffiti being added by local youth after the station was abandoned. We ask that visitors refrain from adding their names! Here are the stories from a few of the original graffitied names inside…
Lloyd Farnell
Lloyd Farnell (1909-1969) of East Garafraxa, Dufferin County, enlisted in 1939 with the Second World War with the Royal Regiment of Canada. After serving 6 years overseas, he returned to East Garafraxa and then later settled in Buffalo, N.Y.
R. W. Madill
Robert W. Madill ran a family trucking business and later became a fruit and vegetable inspector for the Ministry of Agriculture. He was also a member of the Loyal Orange Lodge in Rosemont, Dufferin County, pictured here is his L.O.L. membership badge.
End Of An Era
The passage of railway north of Orangeville was especially treacherous in the winter, regular snow blockades slowed shipping and caused several accidents. Passenger service to and from Crombie’s Station stopped in 1934, as automobiles and roads in the area became more reliable. Crombie’s Station sat abandoned for several decades until 1969 when it was moved to the Dufferin County Historical Society Site in Shelburne – a “pioneer village” that was a popular field trip destination for local schools in the 1960s and 1970s.
A New Home
Crombie’s Station was moved to the interior of the newly built Museum of Dufferin in 1993. By this time, the base of the building had rotted, requiring a new foundation and interior paneling. After the restoration of the station, sitting Dufferin County Council Members were invited to carve their names into the new woodwork. The interior and exterior of the building were restored to reflect the station’s condition in the 1920s, complete with a Monarch stove.
