Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This unique episode was recorded over Thanksgiving weekend in October 2025. It is a documentation of several days of driving, hiking and exploring of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Division, later CN Graham Subdivision, near Silver Dollar, Ontario. Staying at the Silver Dollar Inn, Luna and I recorded the railway grade from Selwyn Lake to Eva Lake and then some. This was my first attempt at this type of video and with any luck, there will be a Part 2 and 3 as we will be returning to Silver Dollar in the fall of 2026 to resume explorations.
Enjoy!
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 
Greg
February 14, 2026 at 09:30
Great video. What a long few days for you . It’s been a while since I have checked in with you .I will definitely pick it up again.
Padwrr
February 14, 2026 at 09:33
Thanks. I was very busy last year. Plenty already planned for this year. I’ve booked the Silver Dollar for a while week this time, so hopefully I can get everything I want to done without rushing.
2oldguyswalking
March 26, 2026 at 13:54
Thanks for prompting a walk down memory lane for me. I spent a Summer in a trailer at Silver Doller back in 1972. I was a student laborer (from Toronto) who lucked out and got a job at the Mattabi iron mine just down 642 west from the silver dollar. I think the mine is now labelled “quarry’ on Google Maps and has filled with water. If that is what’s left of Mattabi, that’s gonna be one damned deep quarry ’cause I remember being on the floor of the pit, and the surrounding walls were so far above us. Thanks again,
Bushwhacker
Padwrr
March 26, 2026 at 18:36
Glad you liked it.
As I mentioned in the video, I’ll be back at Silver Dollar as I need to record the section of the railway grade from Eva Lake, including the start of the Mattabi Spur, to Highway 599. Once I finish the entire line, I’d like to go back and follow the spur up to the mine.
If you’re interested, you can see all of my explorations of the Graham Sub on this YouTube playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPnpUp8lox9ES5wovxDsTXSBi6i-N1TQz&si=Ad73kqzoc057JJFh