History teacher, railway historian, football coach, outdoorsy guy, photographer, former reservist & Cowboys fan. Researching the PAD&W Railway since 1994.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Nested alongside the Trans-Canada Highway in Northwestern Ontario lies the skeletal remains of a once-bustling railway hub. In this video, we are exploring the former Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) and later Canadian National Railways (CNR) divisional point at Jellicoe, Ontario. Established in 1914 by Canadian Northern Railway (originally named Hector), Jellicoe was a vital steam-era divisional point complete with a roundhouse, repair shops, section houses, and a station. Originally the intersection between rail line sections or subdivisions, Jellicoe lost much of its importance in 1960 when the lines to the east and west were merged into a single subdivision, the Kinghorn. After serving the region’s forestry and gold rush booms for decades, the Kinghorn saw its last train in May 2005, and the rails were completely lifted by 2010.
Join us for the first of two videos and the twelfth part in our sub-series on the Kinghorn Subdivision as we walk the old right-of-way, discover what remains of the Jellicoe yard—including the station, eastern section house and wye—and uncover the history of this forgotten Northern Ontario rail station. Enjoy!
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
After 32 years of researching and documenting local railway history, you’d think I would have grown weary of public lectures—but the thrill of sharing these stories with future generations never gets old! 🚂
In this video, I describe my experiences presenting local history over the years, in particular the opportunities I had this spring to talk about my latest railway projects to fellow history buffs and model railroaders. I was incredibly excited (and admittedly a bit nervous!) to share the stage at a few fantastic local events: ● May 1st: Focussing on the Graham Subdivision at the Transportation Museum of Thunder Bay fundraiser. ● May 22nd: A double-header at the NMRA Thousand Lakes Region Convention! First, a combined deep dive into the Graham and Kinghorn Subdivisions, followed by an evening presentation on the Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad (and my book on the subject).
As an educator, preserving the past is only half the job; sharing it is where the magic happens. Thank you to everyone who attended!
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Join Luna and me as we head 122 miles northwest of Thunder Bay deep into the Ontario bush to uncover the forgotten railway station of Quorn!
The History of Quorn
Originally a bustling stop on the Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Division and later the CN Graham Subdivision, Quorn was the “Q” station in the GTP’s alphabetical naming pattern, sitting right between Petry and Reba. Once a site of considerable railway activity, it now sits isolated in one of the most remote and inaccessible stretches of this abandoned line.
Why We Went Back
During my last visit in October 2025, I connected with two locals, Murray and Susan. They helped me locate the old water tank and shared an incredibly detailed 1935 photograph of the original station. With this new historical evidence in hand, we took a shortcut up the Rush Creek and Rambler logging roads this past May to revisit the site and do it justice.
Behind the Scenes
This episode gives you an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to document these historical grades. From unpredictable weather to the hard work (and frustration!) of uncovering the remnants of the water tank, you’ll see exactly what goes into our exploration series.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Step back in time to a forgotten piece of Canadian railway history! 🚂
In this video—the sixth in our Grand Trunk Pacific sub-series—we travel northwest of Thunder Bay to Kaministiquia, Ontario, to uncover the forgotten remnants of the GTP’s Lake Superior Division (later the CN Graham Subdivision). Though this section of the line was abandoned way back in 1925 when CN rerouted its tracks, remarkable pieces of railway history still hide in the brush.
🔍 What We Explore in This Episode: The Strawberry Creek Trestle: A unique, all-concrete trestle opened in 1919. Dona Station Site: Exploring the remaining foundations of the section house and the old water tank. The Dog River Piers: The concrete piers of a 350-foot-long bridge that once spanned the river.
🕵️♂️ The Ulterior Motive: The Crystal River Connection There was a second reason for this trip. A sister concrete trestle was constructed around the same time by the same Winnipeg firm 120 miles to the west over the Crystal River (near Unaka Station). Because CN rebuilt that specific trestle in 1948, I wanted to document the Strawberry Creek structure first to compare the two when I hiked the Unaka grade a few weeks later.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Hop on for a ride through local railway history! 🚲🚂
In the fifth instalment of our Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Branch sub-series, we are keeping things close to home in Thunder Bay. Most folks remember this line starting at Conmee Junction during its days as the Graham Subdivision, but its actual starting point was right here in former Fort William between 1908 and 1924.
Join me on a bike tour as we track down the original route and visit key historical locations, including: The Mission Terminal Kaministiquia River Swing Bridge Canadian Pacific Union Station Empire Junction
Note: This is an “Extra Credit” short tour—be sure to check out the full-length version below for the complete historical experience!
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Swapping the backcountry for the reading room! 🌲➡️🏛️
While I spend most of my time trying preserve the history of northwestern Ontario out in the woods, sometimes the job requires pretending to be a “proper” historian at a formal archive.
I recently finished a book on the Pigeon River Lumber Company and one of its key logging operations. To grab some last-minute details for the project, I used a family trip to Toronto over March break to spend a day at the Archives of Ontario. Come along as I take you inside the archives and share the real, behind-the-scenes challenges of conducting historical research. Enjoy!
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Getting ready for hiking season? Long distances, heavy gear, and unpredictable weather mean you need to be in top physical condition—especially if you’re bushwhacking for historical explorations like I do! In this video, I take you through my year-round training routine to stay trail-ready. Join me as I explain exactly what I do during and in between hiking seasons to maintain my fitness. Enjoy!
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Raith Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Raith/Lake Superior/Graham/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 54.2-71.1) near Upsala, ON. Features the grade near Railbed Crossover Road as it approaches and crosses the Firesteel River on a 48-foot trestle. The area includes the site of an old flag stop, telegraph poles and numerous cuts. Part 9 of 18.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Raith Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Raith/Lake Superior/Graham/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 54.2-71.1) near Upsala, ON. Features the grade west of Mack Station as it crosses the East Firesteel/Hogarth River on a 95-foot trestle with telegraph poles, signage, including a rare flanger sign, and numerous cuts. Part 8 of 18.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Raith Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Raith/Lake Superior/Graham/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 54.2-71.1) near Upsala, ON. Features the grade west of Mack Station with the remains of the siding, telegraph poles, signage and several cuts. Part 7 of 18.
