Then and now photos featuring the McKirdy Pit/McKirdy Station north of Nipigon, Ontario. The first photo, taken circa 1996 by Mike Ročnik, shows a westbound passing the station, spur and ballast pit at McKirdy. McKirdy was one of the original stations when Canadian Northern Railway opened the line in 1915 and was located at Milepost 50.1. Nothing more than a siding and a whistle stop, its mileage changed to 99.9 after CN merged lines in 1960 and became part of the Kinghorn Subdivision. In 1965, the station and its siding were removed from the line.
McKirdy was resurrected in mid 1980s but not at its original location, but a few miles further west at the site of a large ballast pit at Milepost 102. A several thousand foot through spur serviced the pit, which apparently had been in use since the 1960s or before, though the spur only appeared in timetables in the early 1970s. Today the pit remains, though it is much quieter after service on the Kinghorn was terminated in 2005 and the rails removed in 2010.
McKirdy Pit, circa 1996. (M. Ročnik)McKirdy Pit, May 2022.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 99.4-102.5) near East McKirdy, ON. Features the grade at the McKirdy Pit with signage, the remains of the spur and drone views of this large ballast pit.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 99.4-102.5) near East McKirdy, ON. Features the grade west of McKirdy Station with milepost markers and culverts, in particular a very rare wooden box culvert.
Then and now photos featuring McCollum’s Reflection Lake Resort and the former Canadian Northern Railway Nipigon Subdivision/Canadian National Railways Dorion-Kinghorn Subdivision. This picturesque location is nestled at the southern end of Orient Bay, Ontario and amongst the towering cliffs of the Pijitawabik Palisades (pronounced PEE-GEE-TUH-WAW-BIK). McCollum’s was established in the 1940s and is the last remaining resort on Orient Bay.
Situated at Milepost 44/93.7, the rail line was constructed through the area between 1911 and 1914 and opened for traffic in 1915. One of the most scenic locations in the entire district, its rugged terrain was beautiful but also an enormous challenge to build through. It is at this point where the line, which was discontinued in 2005, once crossed from the east to the west side of the bay (the bridge is visible on the right of the photos).
The first photo, a postcard, was likely taken in the 1960s. The second, an attempt to replicate the original by drone, was taken in August 2022.
McCollum’s Reflection Lake Resort, pre-1970s postcard.Orient Bay, August 2022.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 90.8-95) along Orient Bay, ON. Features the grade alongside Orient Bay south of McCollum’s Resort with cuttings, embankments, remains of a spur, milepost markers and gorgeous views of the bay.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 90.8-95) along Orient Bay, ON. Features the grade alongside Orient Bay near McCollum’s Resort with the remains milepost markers and other signage, a 40-foot bridge over the bay built in 1921, as well as breathtaking drone footage.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 90.8-95) along Orient Bay, ON. Features the grade alongside Orient Bay with culverts, embankments, concrete ties used as rip rap and breathtaking drone footage. In 1921, a significant construction project was undertaken in this area. Two 90-foot trestles were removed and infilled while a large channel was dug adjacent to the grade, rerouting the course of Orient Bay.
Then and now photos featuring Cove Inlet on Orient Bay of Lake Nipigon. Other than Orient Bay Station/Nipigon Lodge which is 1.5 miles to the north, Cove Inlet is likely one of the most photographed areas in the rugged and picturesque bay. The three period photos, all postcards, were likely taken during the 1940s or 1950s and look north along the rail line and highway, capturing portions of the high cliffs known as the Pijitawabik Palisades.
Cove lnlet was located at Milepost 42.8 on the Canadian Northern Railway Nipigon Subdivision. In 1924, shortly after the line was taken over by Canadian National Railways and became the Dorion Subdivision, a small spur was constructed here called “Cox” (likely after area businessman Charlie Cox). In 1938, the Abitibi Power and Paper Company constructed a marine base at what would become the headquarters of their water operations on Lake Nipigon. In 1960, CN merged lines and it was now located at Milepost 92.5 of the Kinghorn Subdivision. In the early 1970s, Abitibi closed their marine base and the railway spur was removed.
Cove Inlet eventually became the home of Sandy’s Cruiser Service, a staple business on the bay for several decades. Today it is very quiet with the closure of Sandy’s and the Kinghorn, which saw its last train in May 2005 and the removal of the rails in 2010.
Cove Inlet, 1940s postcard.Cove Inlet, 1940s postcard.Cove Inlet, 1940s postcard.Cove Inlet, May 2022.Cove Inlet, August 2022.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 90.8-95) along Orient Bay, ON. Features the grade alongside Highway 11 at Cove Inlet, which was established as a spur in 1924. It eventually became a wood company marine base in 1938 and was used until the 1970s. Signage, culverts and old industries on Orient Bay are highlighted.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 90.8-95) along Orient Bay, ON. Features the grade near Cove Inlet alongside Highway 11 with cuttings, milepost markers and old ties used to support the grade.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 