W.O. Junction/Clarkdon

Valora Station W.O. Junction/Clarkdon Station Sturgeon Lake Transportation

W.O. Junction/Clarkdon Station and spur was located near Silver Dollar, ON at Milepost 153.1-153.7/124.2-124.8.

W.O. Junction, which likely stood for “Western Ontario Junction,” was established circa early 1910. The junction was with the Superior and Western Ontario Railway (S&WO), which was a small line running from the Lake Superior Branch northeastwardly toward O’Brien’s Landing on Sturgeon Lake.

The Superior and Western Ontario was incorporated in 1909 to construct a line from the GTP to connect with the then under construction National Transcontinental Railway (NTR). The original length was altered whereby it only travelled approximately 6 miles to O’Brien’s Landing. The landing was established to allow the shipment of construction materials to the north end of the lake by boat where they would then be transported the 3 miles to the NTR. It appears to only have been in use until the completion of the NTR. It is unknown what type of structure was located here, but there was a telegraph office at the site in 1910 and 1911.

Remains of the sternwheeler MJ O’Brien can still be found near the area that still bears the name of the railway contractor and businessman. The boiler and other parts of the ship’s machinery are located on the shoreline near the modern Sturgeon Lake Lodge. The former grade was later converted into a road and provided the only direct access to the southern end of the lake from the rail line. During WWII, a POW camp was located right off the road and provided labour for many of the logging operations in the area.

Clarkdon appeared as a station in 1946 and replaced an unnamed flag stop that operated from 1943 to 1945 at Milepost 124.8 (it was probably named after Donald A. Clark or his son, Donald C. who controlled many of the timber companies in the area). It was in all likelihood created to serve the lumber operations and spurs that were located on either side of the station at Mileposts 124.7 and 124.9. In 1947, a spur was established at Milepost 124.8 by the Sturgeon Lake Transportation Company (possibly using the old W.O. Junction Spur) and was in use until 1956. It was taken over by Abitibi in 1957 and used until 1964. Clarkdon was removed in 1963.