Location
The County of Lambton - Sarnia
On the north side of St. Andrew Street west of Vidal Street South
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Photographer
Alan L Brown
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More Information
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Posted
September 19, 2004
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Text from the Plaque
The first international submarine railway tunnel in North America was built here, 1889-9, by the Grand Trunk Railway Company of Canada. It connects Sarnia with Port Huron, Michigan. To compete with U.S. railways for the lucrative Chicago and mid-western freight and passenger traffic, the Grand Trunk required uninterrupted access to these areas. A ferry service across the St. Clair was considered unsatisfactory and a bridge impracticable. The tunnel and its approaches, over two miles long and including 6026 feet of iron tube, were built under the direction of Joseph Hobson. Electrification of the line through the tunnel was completed in 1908 and remained until the introduction of diesel trains.
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