The Northern Railway Company of Canada
In May, 1853, The Ontario, Simcoe and Huron Union Railroad Company ran the first steam train in this province, from Toronto to Aurora. By January, 1855, the company had completed its 153 km "portage line" from Toronto to Collingwood. The line was renamed "The Northern Railway Company of Canada" in 1858. Companies closely affiliated with the Northern built connecting lines to Meaford, Penetanguishene and Gravenhurst. Though the Northern sought traffic moving between the upper lakes and Lake Ontario and Atlantic ports, mainly grain from the U.S. Mid-West, much of its freight was firewood, farm produce and timber from along its own lines. In 1888 the Northern was absorbed by The Grand Trunk Railway Company.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Ontario Plaques. Full page here.