Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 119.1-122.4) north of Nipigon, ON. Features the grade south of the Nipigon River Bridge with milepost markers and the remains of a lengthy logging spur in use during the 1950s.
Part 4 of 6.
Active, 1914-2005.
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 79.3-83) near Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, ON. Features the grade as it travels southwest through an old flood plain with culverts, milepost markers, rails and old logging spurs.
Part 3 of 5.
Active, 1914-2005
Video of the former Canadian Northern Railway/CN-Kinghorn (Dorion) Subdivision (MP 79.3-83) near Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, ON. Features the grade as it travels southwest through an old flood plain with telegraph poles and old logging spurs.
Part 2 of 5.
Active, 1914-2005
One hundred and twenty years ago tomorrow, the Gunflint and Lake Superior Railroad (G&LS) was incorporated in the State of Minnesota. Owned by the Pigeon River Lumber Company, a Wisconsin business headquartered in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario, the logging line was built to harvest timber along the southwest shore of Gunflint Lake and adjacent areas in the northeast part of the state.
The G&LS was in operation between 1902 and 1909 and branched off the Canadian Northern Railway Duluth Extension (originally the Port Arthur, Duluth & Western) at Milepost 79. It was likely the most unusual railroad in all of North America as it was an American line, but had no terminus in the US and its only access was via Canada. All the timber harvested in Minnesota was shipped to the company’s mill in Port Arthur for processing.
Today there are vestiges of the line still visible, but they are rapidly disappearing. The photos, taken between 1997 and 2016, along with the map (which shows the area in 1911), covers the initial few miles of the line as passes from Ontario across the international boundary into Minnesota. Corduroyed logs, some rails and even a line shaft from a Shay locomotive litter the route. The most amazing remnant of the line was a massive corduroyed log trestle on the south shore of the lake beside the Crab River, which helped it climb the massive ridges in the area. Unfortunately the trestle was burned in a 2007 fire and the following winter the Forest Service was forced to dynamite it to extinguish the smoldering embers inside.
Looking for something to do during the COVID-19 situation? Why not join me for a talk on a fascinating piece of area history?
Tonight, April 7th, I’ll be presenting Gunflint & Lake Superior: Ontario’s Private American Railroad live on YouTube. This is a very unique and obscure story that spans the two countries that share the Boundary Waters. The presentation contains some great information, as well as numerous period and modern photos. Click on the link below for more details.
Please join me if you can and feel feel to share this link with anyone who may be interested. The live stream starts at 7pm Eastern time.
This week’s episode of our YouTube tour of the G&LS covers the section of line south of the International Boundary (MP 0.62). Here the railroad crosses a small creek on a crib bridge. Remains of the corduroyed grade, the bridge piles and cribs and even a hand brake are visible.
This week’s episode of our YouTube tour of the G&LS covers the section of line south of the International Boundary (MP 0.5). Here, as the railroad skirts the edge of Gunflint Lake, the grade sits on corduroyed logs and passes through a long rock cut.
This week’s episode of our YouTube tour of the G&LS covers the area around the former US Customs House, located metres from the International Boundary. Featured as well is the site of the agent’s house, perched on a hill immediately south of the Customs House.
This week’s episode of our YouTube tour of the G&LS covers the section of line where it crosses the International Boundary from Ontario to Minnesota. Telegraph wire, the former trestle crossing, spikes and pieces of rail are all featured.
Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want! 