Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway

The Canadian province of Quebec formed the Quebec, Montreal, Ottawa and Occidental Railway (QMO&OR)[1][2] in 1874 to link those cities since private companies, without the usual subsidies from the Federal Government of Canada, could not get financing, mainly because the Grand Trunk Railway was lobbying against it.

[3] This project was a priority for the premier of the province of Quebec, Sir Henri-Gustave Joly de Lotbinière.

In 1869, Curé (parson) Antoine Labelle initiated the Montréal Colonization Railway project between Montreal and St-Jérôme to promote colonization and facilitate the delivery of firewood; in 1872, Montreal businessmen became interested with the project, planning to reach Ottawa.

[3][11] In March 1882, the QMO&OR western division (Montreal-Ottawa) was sold for $4 million to Canadian Pacific Railway (newly formed on 15 February 1881).

The CPR did not meet all expectations of the Quebec bourgeoisie: the company chose Montreal as its headquarters and expanded the railway east through the Eastern Townships and Maine.

On 16 October 1876, the QMO&OR opened a railway between Hochelaga (corner of Ste-Catherine street and Harbour, Montreal) and St-Jérôme.

A car ferry across the St. Lawrence River between Hochelaga and Longueuil allowed connections with railways running into the United States.