The Batteau Railway

We are pleased to have Dan Buchanan speak to us about The Batteau Railway, which is a story of the small wooden railway that was built by Asa Weller across the Quinte portage in 1793.

It carried batteaux across the portage until the early 1820’s when steamboats and decent roads changed travel habits. (The name “batteaux” is French for “boats”. It describes a specific type of flat -bottomed boat).

During the war of 1812, the batteaux became a critical tool of war. For the British in Canada, the St. Lawrence River was a vital supply line. It connected the port of Montreal to the battlefronts in Upper Canada.

The story follows the development of three main families that were the first settlers on the portage, including Asa Weller’s family, Robert Young’s family across the road and the family of Robert Wilkins who settled at the east end of the portage.

For over three decades, Dan Buchanan has immersed himself in Canadian historical research, both scholarly and hands-on. Dan, who lives in Brighton, Ontario, is the author of several acclaimed books.