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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 15.6-19.9) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade at Griff Station with the remains of the station grounds and siding with rock cuts and the start of a large swamp.
Part 2 of 4.
Active, 1908-1994.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 15.6-19.9) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade from the East Oskondaga River Bridge west to the start of the siding at Griff Station passing through several large rock cuts.
Part 1 of 4.
Active, 1908-1994.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode, the eleventh in sub-series on the former Kinghorn Subdivision and Part 2 of 2, takes us to Pass Lake, Ontario and one of the most recognizable structures on the line. The Pass Lake-Blende River area has some unique geography and that influenced the route and construction of the Canadian Northern Railway. Forced by the Canadian Pacific Railway and the ridges of the Sibley Peninsula to hug the shore of Lake Superior and then through a narrow gap known as “The Pass,” the rail line had to cross the wide Blende River Valley. The result was a massive, 2258-foot long, 130-foot high steel viaduct, which remains the largest in central Canada. Our ride takes us from the west side of the viaduct along the grade through several large rock cuts to Nelson Road.
Enjoy!
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade as it passes over a branch of the Oskondaga River on a 180 foot long, 40 foot high bridge that was constructed in 1976.
Part 9 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade as it passes several low-lying areas and rock cuts to the likely site of a water tank that was in use from circa 1915 to 1923.
Part 8 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade as it passes through a number of low-lying areas interspersed with some embankments and rock cuts.
Part 7 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade west of the Flett Tunnel as it passes through several rock cuts, one of which is normally flooded, to the site of two logging spurs established in the 1920s.
Part 6 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade as it passes over several high embankments and through a rock cut west of the Flett Tunnel. The area includes a a very rare stream tunnel, which was constructed by the Carter-Halls-Aldinger Company of Winnipeg circa 1919 and involved infilling a trestle and rerouting a creek through a 10 foot by 10 foot tunnel bored through solid rock.
Part 5 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
Then, then and now photos featuring the Flett Tunnel, which was located on the former Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Division/CN Graham Subdivision. It was the only tunnel on the line and was situated near Finmark, ON at Milepost 39.8/10.6.
There is only one known period photo of the tunnel, which was taken in 1909, shortly after the line opened in November 1908. It shows the western portal, taken one-third of a mile away from the top of a nearby rock cut. The trestle in foreground was infilled approximately 10 years later when the line was part of the Canadian Government Railways.
Sadly, the line was abandoned by CN in 1994, and the second set of photos were taken shortly thereafter in 1996. Today, the tunnel is one of the most visited former rail locations in the area (though a permit is required from the forest management company that now owns the line). Due to the vegetation growth, the view of the 1909 photo is impossible replicate.
Few people are aware however, of the tragic history of the site. During its construction, a blasting accident on September 19, 1906, claimed the lives of three men; Henry Parvianen, 23, Nestor Rajala, 48 and Peter Ventilainen, 23. In an unfortunate twist of fate, the circumstances of the accident would be repeated six years later at another area tunnel near Macdiarmid on Lake Nipigon.
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/Raith/Graham Subdivision (MP 9.8-15.6) at Finmark, ON. Features the grade west of the Flett Tunnel as it passes over several high embankments that were formerly trestles and several large rock cuts.
Part 4 of 9.
Active, 1908-1994.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 