The Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad was a logging line operated by the Pigeon River Lumber Company from 1902 to 1909. It connected to the Canadian Northern Railway Duluth Extension/North Lake Subdivision (ex-Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway) at Milepost 79. It travelled six miles from the Ontario side of Gunflint Lake into Minnesota passing Crab and Whisker Lakes to near Topper Lake.
This video covers the crossing of the Canada-US border from Ontario to Minnesota at the narrows between Little Gunflint Lake and Gunflint Lake. Remains include spikes, rail connectors, rails, telegraph wire and rock cuts.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Thirty years is a long time for anything, and in this case, it is the amount of time I have spent researching and exploring parts of local history. When I started, I was a young university student looking for something to fill the time and for a little adventure. Now I’m a middle-aged guy with a family who has taken on the goal of trying to preserve some of the past for future generations. I have seen and done a lot in these past three decades and this is a little of that story.
The Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad was a logging line operated by the Pigeon River Lumber Company from 1902 to 1909. It connected to the Canadian Northern Railway Duluth Extension/North Lake Subdivision (ex-Port Arthur, Duluth and Western Railway) at Milepost 79. It travelled six miles from the Ontario side of Gunflint Lake into Minnesota passing Crab and Whisker Lakes to near Topper Lake.
This video covers the Ontario portion of the line, from the junction with the Duluth Extension to Gunflint Lake, featuring numerous spikes, boundary markers and possible remains of the Canadian customs house.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 185.5-190.6) at Shuniah, ON. Features the grade as it passes West Birch Beach Road to East Floral Road with culverts, signage, the siding at Wild Goose Station and great views of Lake Superior.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 185.5-190.6) at Shuniah, ON. Features the grade from Wild Goose Bay Road past Pebbly Beach Road with culverts, rock cuts and the scene of a tragic 1913 accident.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 185.5-190.6) at Shuniah, ON. Features the grade from Blind Creek Drive to Wild Goose Bay Road with signage, culverts, ties and phenomenal views of Lake Superior at Wild Goose Beach.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 185.5-190.6) at Shuniah, ON. Features the grade near Cedar Bay Road to Blind Creek Drive with milepost markers, culverts, rock cuts and great views of Lake Superior.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 185.5-190.6) at Shuniah, ON. Features the grade west of Grandview Beach Road as it passes close to residential properties with signage, rock cuts and great view of Lake Superior.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 181.9-185.5) at Silver Harbour, ON. Features the grade west of Silver Harbour Station as it crosses Silver Harbour Road and Silver Beach Road to Grandview Beach Road with rock cuts and cuttings.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 181.9-185.5) at Silver Harbour, ON. Features the grade at Silver Harbour Station with the remains of the siding, milepost markers, damaged railway equipment and extensive flooding due to beavers.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 