Moose’s Nose | Poverty, Agony, Distress & Want!

Extra Credit XLIV “The Grand Trunk Pacific, Part II” (Thunder Bay, ON)

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.

Enjoy!

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on June 15, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Extra Credit, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, Thunder Bay

GTP/CN-Graham Subdivision MP 7-10.9 V (Moose’s Nose)

29 Mar

Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Thunder Bay, ON. This area with a unique layout was known as the “Moose’s Nose” or “Devil’s Elbow.” Features the grade along the northern side of the nose as it passes through a long, interesting rock cut and some scenic areas to Mapleward Road.

Part 5 of 7.

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on March 29, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Graham Subdivision, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, outdoors, Thunder Bay

GTP/CN-Graham Subdivision MP 7-10.9 IV (Moose’s Nose)

28 Mar

Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Thunder Bay, ON. This area with a unique layout was known as the “Moose’s Nose” or “Devil’s Elbow.” Features the grade westward along the northern side of the nose to the site of a unique, well-preserved stone culvert.

Part 4 of 7.

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on March 28, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Graham Subdivision, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, outdoors, Thunder Bay

GTP/CN-Graham Subdivision MP 7-10.9 III (Moose’s Nose)

27 Mar

Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Thunder Bay, ON. This area with a unique layout was known as the “Moose’s Nose” or “Devil’s Elbow.” Features the grade from Alba Station around the tip of the nose and some rock work, crossing Wappner Road to the site of a well preserved concrete culvert dating to 1917.

*Please note that a portion of the right of way lies on private property and permission was obtained to explore the grade.

Part 3 of 7.

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on March 27, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Graham Subdivision, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, outdoors, Thunder Bay

GTP/CN-Graham Subdivision MP 7-10.9 II (Alba Station-Moose’s Nose)

26 Mar

Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Thunder Bay, ON. This area with a unique layout was known as the “Moose’s Nose” or “Devil’s Elbow.” Features the southern end of the nose with a large rock cut and the site of Alba Station, which unfortunately has disappeared as a result of quarrying work in the area. According to Canadian National records, there was no station building at Alba.

*Please note that this portion of the right of way lies on private property and permission was obtained to explore the grade.

Part 2 of 7.

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on March 26, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Graham Subdivision, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, outdoors, Thunder Bay

GTP/CN-Graham Subdivision MP 7-10.9 I (Moose’s Nose)

25 Mar

Video of the former Grand Trunk Pacific Railway-Lake Superior Division, Canadian Government Railways-Fort William Subdivision, Canadian National Railways-Fort William/Lake Superior/Graham/Crest Subdivision at Thunder Bay, ON. This area with a unique layout was known as the “Moose’s Nose” or “Devil’s Elbow.” Features the southern end of the nose with an all-concrete culvert that was constructed in 1917 before the line was abandoned in 1925. There were two of these structures close to each other, but sadly the western most one has been removed.

*Please note that this portion of the right of way lies on private property and permission was obtained to explore the grade.

Part 1 of 7.

Leave a comment

Posted by Padwrr on March 25, 2025 in Hiking, History, Railway, Video

Tags: Canadian National, Graham Subdivision, Grand Trunk Pacific, Moose's Nose, outdoors, Thunder Bay

Feature Friday December 9, 2022

09 Dec

The “Moose’s Nose” or alternately “The Devil’s Elbow” was a unique section of railway grade located west of the then City of Fort William, Ontario (now Thunder Bay). It formed part of the Grand Trunk Pacific’s Lake Superior Branch, which ran from Fort William to Superior Junction (later Sioux Lookout) where it joined with the National Transcontinental Railway (NTR). The GTP and NTR was a partnership between the Grand Trunk Railway and the Canadian Government to build a second transcontinental railway in Canada.

The unusual appearance of the Moose’s Nose, with its tight curve, was due to very strict construction stipulations regarding the incline of the grade, which could not exceed one percent. Because the terrain west of city rose steeply from Lake Superior, railway engineers designed the elaborate loop to mitigate the grade issue. The line crossed over a branch of the Neebing River at several points, and in 1917 three concrete culverts were built at these points (two of which still remain). Alba Station was located on the southern end of the nose.

In 1926, 26 miles of grade, including the Moose’s Nose, was abandoned following a reorganization of the Canadian National lines in the area.