Jackson’s Point Marine Railway is a threatened historical dive site located in the southeastern part of Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada. A marine railway is a mechanism used to haul boats and ships out of the water for maintenance or to protect them from winter ice. The railway at Jackson’s Point is significant in size, measuring 24 feet wide between the outer rails, with 200 feet of track that has survived.
The marine railway at Jackson’s Point has three rails, suggesting that it was capable of handling large lake steamships. However, the cart and tackle that were once used for hauling boats are no longer present, and the dry-land tracks have been obscured by a parking lot and a boat-launch ramp. Only the portion of the tracks in the water remains visible.
The site is currently threatened due to ongoing development in the area. Efforts are being made to monitor the impact of a new breakwater, which was built nearby, on the marine railway, particularly concerning issues related to silting. Preservation and protection of this historical site are essential to maintain its significance as part of Lake Simcoe’s maritime heritage.
