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.
This episode is the third instalment in our sub-series on the Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Branch. This time we head northwest of Thunder Bay to Sistonens Corners to visit a section of the original grade that was abandoned in 1925 but was never turned into an road and therefore still maintains much of its authentic form. It is a beautiful stretch that skirts alongside the Matawin River and makes for a great little hike. We also visit the Matawin River Bridge, which was built in 1923 by CN as part of the plan to reroute the line and was used until the line was abandoned in 1994.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode is a follow up to our first video on the Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Division and we venture out into the field to see some of the remnants of it. One of the most interesting features on this former line was a location known as the “Moose’s Nose” or the “Devil’s Elbow,” which is located on the western side of the City of Thunder Bay. Built to try to mitigate grade issues as the line climbed westward away from Lake Superior, it was part of 28 miles of track that was abandoned in 1925. The northern side of the “Nose” is municipal property and forms a great little trail which includes a 1917 concrete culvert, a possibly original stone culvert and a lengthy rock cut.
Day 10 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our departure from Paris and flights back to Thunder Bay. *FYI, my bags did show up, a day late.
Day 9 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day in Paris, where we visited Versailles, did a bus tour of the city, including a stop at the Eiffel Tower and ended with a boat ride on the Seine.
Day 8 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day travelling from Normandy to Paris. In Paris, we first stopped at Les Invalides, where we visited the museum and the tomb of Napoleon. From there, we walked along the Seine to Notre Dame, where we saw the beautiful cathedral, which is still under reconstruction following the 2019 fire.
Day 7 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day at and around Juno Beach in France. Our first visit was to the Beny sur Mer Canadian War Cemetery where we paid our respects to the fallen of the early Normandy campaign. Later, we walked from Berneries sur Mer to Saint Aubin sur Mer where we had lunch. Our afternoon was spent around Courseulles sur Mer and the Juno Beach Centre. Dinner was in the city of Caen.
Day 6 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day at Vimy Ridge, Beaumont Hamel and in Normandy. The first part of our day took us just north of Arras to the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, where we learned more about the victory and sacrifice of our soldiers at the monument, tunnels and trenches. Then we were on to the Beaumont Hamel battlefield, a place of loss for the Newfoundland Regiment at the Battle of the Somme. A long drive followed, taking us to Normandy and the Bretteville sur Laize Canadian Cemetery. *The video title indicates Day 5, but it is in fact Day 6. Apologies.
Day 5 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day in the Flanders area of Belgium. First we paid our respects to those buried in the Tyne Cot Cemetery, one of the largest Commonwealth cemeteries in the world. Later we travelled a short distance to the Passchendaele Museum with its amazing trenches and then on to Ieper/Ypres. We explored parts of the city, including the In Flanders Fields Museum and finally took in the daily Menin Gate ceremony.
Day 4 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our day where we travelled through three countries-Netherlands, Belgium and France. After departing Amsterdam, we stopped at the Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery to remember the fallen of the Battle of the Scheldt. From there we proceeded to the historic centre of Antwerp for several hours before heading to Lille where we stopped for dinner and some free time.
Day 3 of the St. Patrick Social Science trip the Northern Europe in March 2025. The video covers our second day in the city with visits to Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, the Portuguese Synagogue, as well as locations along the way and a boat tour of the canals.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 