Throughout our history, many thousands of miles of rail lines were built across Canada. While those railways were an important part of our development, there was a high human cost to their construction. This sadly is one of those tragic stories.
November 1911 saw the commencement of construction of Canadian Northern Railway’s (CNoR) long anticipated eastern link between the Sudbury area and Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay). Geographical issues locating a route meant that CNoR surveyors and engineers had no choice but to run an important section of grade on Nipigon Bay outboard of the pre-existing Canadian Pacific line. This required several miles of infilling right beside an active rail line, which created some very dangerous work conditions. When CPR trains passed, the workers had to scatter for any safe location to avoid being struck by the oncoming locomotives.
On November 28, two workers were unfortunately not quick enough and were likely killed instantly as an eastbound barrelled past the work site. While their identities are unknown, they were described as both being Italians. The exact location of the accident is also unknown, but it likely took place near these sheer cliffs approximately 2 kilometres north of the community Red Rock, Ontario.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 