Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiquia, ON. Features the grade along Ellis and Grand Trunk/Forbes Road with the remains of the Dona Pit, as well as large embankments and cuttings.
Part 2 of 3.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiquia, ON. Features the grade from the north bank of the Dog River where a 350-foot bridge once crossed along a large embankment to where it meets Ellis Road.
Part 1 of 3.
Active, 1908-1925.
Feature Friday
Then and now photos featuring Dona Station, which was situated in modern Kaministiquia, Ontario. Dona came into existence with the opening on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Lake Superior Branch/Division in 1908. Located 26 miles from then Fort William (now Thunder Bay), it was the “D” station in GTP’s alphabetical naming pattern.
As the first major station outside of Fort William, Dona was home to a GTP Type “E” station, a section house, water tank, 2956-foot siding and 723-foot spur. Sadly, Dona and three other stations (Alba, Baird and Crest), along with 28 miles of track were abandoned in 1925 when CN rerouted its lines in the area.
Today, the site of the station has been obliterated by the modern Silver Falls Road. However, the concrete foundations of the section house and water tank remain, silent reminders of the trains that once rolled though the area.
Historic photos courtesy of Archives & Digital Collections at Lakehead University Library
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiquia, ON. Features the remains of the 350 foot long, 30 foot tall bridge over the Dog River. Constructed circa 1910, it replaced an earlier structure, likely a wood trestle. The bridge was composed of trestle portions on the river banks with two centre truss spans supported by 3 concrete piers. When this section of the line was abandoned in 1925, the bridge was apparently dismantled and shipped to Saskatchewan.
Part 3 of 3.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiquia, ON. Features the grade along Silver Falls Road with rock cuts, an unusual mystery foundation and the remains of the section house and water tank at Dona Station.
Part 2 of 3.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiquia, ON. Features the grade from Highway 102 west/northward to Silver Falls Road with several large rock cuts and the remains of Dona Station.
Part 1 of 3.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiqua, ON. Features the 105-foot long, all-concrete bridge over the Strawberry Creek completed in 1919 and abandoned 1925. One of the most unique rail structures in the area, it was built during the Canadian Government Railways period by the Carter-Halls-Aldinger Company of Winnipeg as part of a series of $89,299 upgrades to the line.
Part 8 of 8.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiqua, ON. Features the grade south of Highway 102 with large embankments, several rock cuts and the approaches to the Strawberry Creek Bridge.
Part 7 of 8.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiqua, ON. Features the grade south of Strawberry Creek as it passes through cuts, low, swampy areas and a series of long embankments.
Part 6 of 8.
Active, 1908-1925.
Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Kaministiqua, ON. Features the grade south of Strawberry Creek with several cuttings, heavy vegetation and numerous washed out embankments, including one over 125 feet wide.
Part 5 of 8.
Active, 1908-1925.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 