About Me

Hey everyone, my name is Dave and this is my blog about the Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway (P.A.D.& W). I thought I’d take this opportunity to tell you a little about myself.

I’m a forty-something guy from Thunder Bay, Ontario who has been researching the history of this small railway since 1994. I first became interested in the PD or Pee Dee Railway (as it’s commonly called) way back in the fall of 1990, but I really did not begin any formal research on it until four years later. Since then I’ve been hooked, and my plans are to write a book at some point in the future. That might seem a bit strange, given that there is already a book out there about the railway, but I feel that there is still so much to say about it. I guess this is one of the reasons why I started this blog, so people can see what is new with my research efforts. I do occasionally hijack this blog for some personal or history related stuff.

In December of 2012 I became the Co-President (now president) of the newly formed Silver Mountain and Area Historical Society, which is headquartered out of the Silver Mountain Station, the last remaining station on the railway line. One of the chief mandates of the society is to help preserve and promote the history of the railway.

When I’m not surfing the net for information, posting pictures and video or tromping through the bush on field work (aka railway archaeology), I moonlight as a history teacher and instructional leader at St. Patrick High School. I absolutely love my job, and feel very privileged that I’ve been able to do this for the past 18 years. When I’m not in the classroom enlightening young minds (hopefully!), I can be found at certain times of the year on the football field. I’ve coached our junior football team for the past 17 years, 14 of them as head coach. It gives me an opportunity to help kids outside the classroom and interact with them in a different medium. I’m also a former Army reservist, having served time with the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment (38 CBG, 3 Cdn Div) back in the early 1990’s.

My other hobbies include hiking and photography, as well as being a pretty ardent Dallas Cowboys fan. I’m married and have two great boys.