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 Kinghorn Subdivision. We venture outdoors to visit remains of the railway at Pass Lake, ON. This area was my first experience with the Kinghorn line and one of the first places I began making videos of it. We start at an area I call “The Cliff” (Milepost 118.7/168.4) and bike 2 miles west to the former site of Pass Lake Station. Along the way I highlight key areas of interest, including rock cuts, culverts and milepost markers.
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us to a pretty remote area of the railway grade near Wildgoose Lake, Ontario. If you notice something different, it’s because I now have a trailer to ride in for long hikes. You might remember in Episode IV (https://youtu.be/OabWK2TuiK0), my paws got badly torn up on some sharp rocks. The trailer will let me ride on some of the longer hikes and rest. Anyway, we hiked along Scroll and Turkey Lakes, which were not easy to get to. We first had to bike in 3.5 miles just to start the exploration and then make our way around a washed out trestle. You’ll see me walk and ride the return trip which was 3 miles.
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us to one of the more interesting spots on the railway line just south of the communities of Macdiarmid/Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, ON. The 1058-foot Macdiarmid or Jumbo’s Cove Tunnel is one of the longest in eastern Canada and we’ve been here several times. You’ll see me travel the grade from near the Postagoni River north to and through the tunnel. The tunnel is pretty long and dark! You can check out the video my dad made for his video series on the line here: https://youtu.be/cN3JF9uEyaE
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Fall is one of the best times of the year to venture outdoors. Cooler weather means less bugs and more comfortable temperatures than the summer. In many areas, the changing colour of the leaves can be quite spectacular! In this episode I provide my recommendations for some gear that will allow you to get the most out of your fall adventure and stay safe at the same time.
Some are familiar with the Macdiarmid or Jumbo’s Cove Tunnel, which lies north of Nipigon, ON near the communities of Macdiarmid/Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek. At 1058 feet long, the former railway tunnel is one of the largest in eastern Canada and was in use from 1915 to 2005. The tunnel unfortunately has a very tragic history, the details of which have only recently been pieced together.
It is unknown when construction of the tunnel began, but the latter part of 1911 seems logical as work was underway in January 1912. At least two separate subcontractors were involved; Nimmo & Flatt and Chambers, McColman & Harrison. During the second half of January, accidents claimed the lives of three labourers sadly.
The first incident occurred on January 16th. A group of men led by John Ranta (Juho Kiviranta) were setting additional blasting charges after several previous ones did not ignite properly. Unfortunately, one of the earlier explosives detonated; Ranta and Oscar Hendrickson (Oskari Suosalo) took the full brunt of the blast. Their injuries can be described as nothing less than horrific. With no nearby relatives claim the bodies, the men were interred nearby in a common grave with a single headstone.
Two weeks tragedy befell the construction again. In an era before proper protective equipment, a loose piece of rock fell and struck 35-year-old Peter Rice in the head, killing him instantly. His body had to be held at the camp hospital while next of kin were notified, so it took until the end of February before his remains could be moved to Duluth, Minnesota for burial.
Many thanks to all those who helped with this important piece of local history.
Gordon Laird
Karen Johnson-Sheppard
Jerry Adams
Harold Alanen
Nipigon Museum
Michael deJong & Thunder Bay Museum
For more information on the tunnel and the incidents, please the follow page: Macdiarmid Tunnel
Macdiarmid Tunnel, circa 1935. (CN Images of Canada Collection)Macdiarmid Tunnel (south portal), May 2021.Macdiarmid Tunnel, May 2021.Port Arthur Daily News, January 17 1912.Port Arthur Daily News, February 23 1912.
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us to Kenogamisis Lake, which is just east of Geraldton, Ontario. To get to our hike, we had to travel by boat 8 kilometres up the lake to Devilfish Bay. The video shows my dad and my brother Noah putting the boat in the water and our ride up the lake. Unfortunately the day didn’t end well for me. My paws got torn up pretty bad on some sharp rocks, so dad had to carry me the last 2 kilometres back to the boat. I was out of action for a few days afterwards, but I’ve healed up and I’m as good as new!
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us to Jellicoe, ON, where there was once large railway presence from 1914 to 2005. You’ll see the remains of a coal tower, turntable pit and other old structures. Since I’m always following him, you get to see lots of my dad’s behind!
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 the first video on hiking n’ biking. Most people see the “polished” final videos of my explorations, but those really fail to describe what goes on. So I decided to turn the camera on during the first part of one my hikes you can see all the “dirty” or “leg” work that goes into creating not only the videos, but also my efforts to document some of the area history.
The field portion of this video was filmed on June 1, 2022 east of Beardmore, ON on the former Canadian Northern Railway Nipigon Subdivision/Canadian National Railway Dorion Subdivision between Mileposts 14.9-19.4. This later became Mileposts 64.6-69.1 on the Canadian National Railway Kinghorn Subdivision. Enjoy!
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us to Orient Bay, ON, where we explored the railway grade south of Orient Bay Station to Cove Inlet. The views of the bay and the Pijitawabik Palisades are incredible. It’s shorter than our first episode as the harness is a bit uncomfortable, so my dad didn’t want to keep it on me for too long.
Hi everyone! My name is Luna and I’m a very active and curious Labradoodle. I love to follow my dad on his history exploration adventures, so he decided to put a camera on me to record what I see while we’re hiking. It’s in its armoured housing, so the audio is muffled, the harness doesn’t always stay in the right spot and the GoPro can’t always compensate for my movements, so there are no awards for sound and cinematography here (seriously, it’s very shaky at times). It’s just raw, minimally edited video.
This episode took us the area south of Macdiarmid, ON, where we explored the railway grade from the Postagoni River to Orient Bay Station. The views of Pijitawabik Bay and the cliffs of the Pijitawabik Palisades are incredible.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 