Extra Credit is video series that examines topics related to history in the Thunder Bay District and exploring that history.
Step back in time to a forgotten piece of Canadian railway history! 🚂
In this video—the sixth in our Grand Trunk Pacific sub-series—we travel northwest of Thunder Bay to Kaministiquia, Ontario, to uncover the forgotten remnants of the GTP’s Lake Superior Division (later the CN Graham Subdivision).
Though this section of the line was abandoned way back in 1925 when CN rerouted its tracks, remarkable pieces of railway history still hide in the brush.
🔍 What We Explore in This Episode:
The Strawberry Creek Trestle: A unique, all-concrete trestle opened in 1919.
Dona Station Site: Exploring the remaining foundations of the section house and the old water tank.
The Dog River Piers: The concrete piers of a 350-foot-long bridge that once spanned the river.
🕵️♂️ The Ulterior Motive: The Crystal River Connection
There was a second reason for this trip. A sister concrete trestle was constructed around the same time by the same Winnipeg firm 120 miles to the west over the Crystal River (near Unaka Station). Because CN rebuilt that specific trestle in 1948, I wanted to document the Strawberry Creek structure first to compare the two when I hiked the Unaka grade a few weeks later.
🔗 Expand Your Exploration:
Watch the Full-Length Version: https://youtu.be/iZNtTkB9Lp8
Watch the Strawberry Creek Trestle video: https://youtu.be/h7GOJwnBCrU
Watch the Dona Station and Dog River Bridge videos: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPnpUp8lox9Hwzqx6DREVQnwePBgE-3ca&si=jieK_Dc0t0KvWwVj
Explore Crystal River Trestle: https://youtu.be/F7rqssLfnFY
If you love exploring abandoned infrastructure and Canadian history, make sure to Like and Subscribe for more deep dives.
Enjoy!
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