Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
What is historical hiking? Whether it is a real thing or something I just made up, it’s the idea of placing a historical emphasis on outdoor adventures. Every place has its own story and this video explains the motivation behind my hiking, the videos that I make and effort that goes into them. I hope that one day many of the videos that I make will serve as a historical record of the places that once were.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Part of the experience of heading outdoors in getting there. This is part six of a multipart series on driving to our hiking destination. This episode was recorded in August 2025 and chronicles our journey to a exploratory drive on the Grand Trunk Pacific/CN Graham Subdivision near Silver Dollar, Ontario.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode is the third instalment in our sub-series on the Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Branch. This time we head northwest of Thunder Bay to Sistonens Corners to visit a section of the original grade that was abandoned in 1925 but was never turned into an road and therefore still maintains much of its authentic form. It is a beautiful stretch that skirts alongside the Matawin River and makes for a great little hike. We also visit the Matawin River Bridge, which was built in 1923 by CN as part of the plan to reroute the line and was used until the line was abandoned in 1994.
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 Grand Trunk Pacific Lake Superior Division and we venture out into the field to see some of the remnants of it. One of the most interesting features on this former line was a location known as the “Moose’s Nose” or the “Devil’s Elbow,” which is located on the western side of the City of Thunder Bay. Built to try to mitigate grade issues as the line climbed westward away from Lake Superior, it was part of 28 miles of track that was abandoned in 1925. The northern side of the “Nose” is municipal property and forms a great little trail which includes a 1917 concrete culvert, a possibly original stone culvert and a lengthy rock cut.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode, the seventh in sub-series on the former Kinghorn Subdivision, takes us to a chain of lakes just east of Wildgoose Lake. Here, the grade was built through two lakes, Ess and Porthos. Long, rock filled causeways highlight the journey, along with signage and the remains of the Milepost 28 water tank. *Apologies to the audio issues. My existing mics don’t seem to want to play nice with my new phone. Replacements are on the way and hopefully everything will be sorted out for the next episode.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Part of the experience of heading outdoors in getting there. This is part 3 of a multipart series on driving to our hiking destination. This episode was recorded in June 2024 and chronicles our journey to a multipurpose exploration we did near Wildgoose Lake in Greenstone. You can watch the other videos we did that day here: https://youtu.be/dOHPaf0uOJc
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode, the seventh in sub-series on the former Kinghorn Subdivision, takes us to the southern part of Orient Bay, from Cove Inlet to Shadow Creek Road. This is the most scenic stretch of this former line and one of the most scenic areas in the entire district, which is accentuated by the beautiful fall colours. Here the line winds its way south, mostly on rock fill causeways, eventually crossing from the east to the west side of the bay. Old and current businesses and sidings mark the way, along with railway infrastructure.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
This episode , the sixth in sub-series on the former Kinghorn Subdivision, takes us to the area north of Nipigon to Cameron Falls and the Nipigon River Bridge. This scenic stretch of grade along the Nipigon River is dotted with rock cuts, high embankments and tributaries flowing into the river. This area was once busy with activity when the Cameron Falls generating station (1920) and later the Alexander generating station (1930) were constructed on the river. Along the way you’ll witness some of the issues that have arisen on the line after heavy snowfall has caused the grade to become blocked with vegetation.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
The Pigeon River Lumber Company operated in what is now the city of Thunder Bay from 1900 until the late 1920s. It had a profound impact on the industrial development of the area and was the largest local employer until the opening op the Port Arthur Shipbuilding Company in 1911. The company built a large sawmill on the waterfront and harvested logs from several areas, most notably the Pigeon River area which forms the border between Ontario and Minnesota. They also had a sizable operation on the Minnesota side of Gunflint Lake, hauling the logs to Port Arthur via their own rail line, the Gunflint and Lake Superior, as well as the Canadian Northern Railway Duluth Extension (former Port Arthur, Duluth and Western or Pee Dee Railway). This episode, the first of several, tells about the formation of the company and its impact on local history.
Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
We venture outdoors once again to trace the railway grade from just outside of the village of Rosslyn west to Stanley, Ontario. In this area the modern roadway known as Harstone Drive is built directly upon the old right of way, so we get a nice first person perspective of what it would have been like to travel this stretch. We pause to investigate an old ballast pit spur, then enjoy the beautiful views alongside the Kaministiquia River before stopping in Stanley for a walkabout at this once important railway station. Enjoy!
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 