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Interessare, molto interessante:)
Easy jet <Easy jet>
..., ... ... - Friday, June 23, 2006 at 17:26:31 (EDT)
This is one great website, it must have taken you a while to put it all together because there is so much stuff on it!
Jonny <Jonny>
NJ, USA - Monday, April 10, 2006 at 22:48:30 (EDT)
An interesting site. Thanks for the information. My Grandfather, Louis Baron, was the CPR Superintendent in Little Current from the 1940's until the coal docks shut down. My mother, Brenda Chapman worked as a telegraph operator for the CPR during her youth in Little Current. I am a fourth generation railroader working as a Rules Instructor for the CPR in Calgary.
I was amused by the person from Southern Ontario refering to the old passenger train as the Blueberry Express. Having lived around the railway my entire life the only name that I ever heard that particular train being called was "The Agony", or "Old Agony". Everyone called the train this name because it was an extremely long, slow and arduous journey to and from Sudbury.The track was made of small steel, the territory was dark and the sidings were small. The bench seats were made made of wood and as such were very uncomfortable on the travellers backside. I am curious as to how long the AER First Class car remained in service. I have never heard anyone refer to "The Agony" as comfortable. Therefore the First Class Car must have been pulled from service long before my Grandparents time.
"The Agony" was known as a mixed train, one that carried both passengers and freight. As a mixed train it was required to make frequent stops enroute, thus adding hours of travel time to the journey.
An interesting aspect about the old AER train crews located in Little Current, was that after the CPR took over the line, the senior men of the entire district known as District No 4,(the district included Sault St.Marie, Sudbury, North Bay and Mactier) now lived in Little Current not Sudbury. This meant that the senior conductors, engineers, firemen, trainmen and brakemen could always bump into whatever job they wanted in the district. This really bothered the Sudbury train crews and the local boys (Little Current) would always make sure that the Sudbury guys got a little nervous around change of (time) bill by saying that they were going to bid a Sudbury job and bump somebody out of the terminal. However the threats must have been rather hollow due to the fact that best paying job ever held in or out of the Sudbury Terminal was the Little Current Coal Train. This job was a turnaround that went with coal to Sudbury and returned to Little Current each night. And only the Little Current train crews, former AER men, had the seniority to hold that turn. The top of the senority list in Sudbury was held by the former AER men for a good number of years until the Little Current crews finaly retired from service.
It is also worth mentioning that any of the train crews in Northern Ontario at the time were especially happy when they were able to get a hold of coal from the Little Current Coal Docks versus the Britt Coal Docks. This was because the Little Current coal was of a higher grade. The Little Current coal was delegated to the CPR main line trains, and so this high grade coal made more heat and was also easier for the fireman to stoke and maintain. More heat more steam, highball Little Current Station ...
jamie chapman <jamie_chapman@cpr.ca>
Calgary, Alberta Canada - Thursday, August 31, 2000 at 20:19:38 (EDT)
My wife's aunt taught school on the island in 1943, she said that the train was known as the 'Blueberry Special' by the locals.
milton mckinnon <dbroks@kenora.com>
kenora, ontario canada - Sunday, August 27, 2000 at 14:27:48 (EDT)
Interesting details of a line that would make an ideal premis for a model! Imagine a short-line operation if the line to Little Current had remained open...
On this theme, how were the sidings at Little Current switched? There appear to be both facing and trailing sidings with no mention of a run-around track. Were cars propelled to and from there, and if so - from where?
Keith Ballinger <kballinger@idirect.com>
Nepean, Ontario - Sunday, June 04, 2000 at 20:03:21 (EDT)
Your site is an excellent insight to the history of Ontario. My grandfather worked as a mechanic for the CPR in Chapleau. I have been intrigued by the history of Northern Ontario ever since. Best Wishes.
Marc Hammond
Marc Hammond <hammond.ma@ems-t.com>
Ottawa, Ontario - Monday, May 15, 2000 at 14:55:04 (EDT)
Hi, John, I am the guy from ebay deaming in techicolor.Acually
I'm not deaming at all.I am a Onboard diehard much like yourself I placed the ebay auction with no intentions of a sale. I was try to get contacts much like yourself .I am planning to market Onboard items to users that are much like us diehards. I will be doing so at a not for profit bascis. I have collected abunch of Onboard Items. Just this week I was able to get 38 throttles 6 mixers and 15 K220 key pads from that auction ad. Half the throttles are 2 amp. All for pennies on the dollar of there original cost. I have the web page build and will soon place these items for all to have. I can't give these away as I have purchased them. But I will be selling them at my cost. ( very cheap! ) I hope this help US continue to use Onboard for many years to come. If you can support this in anyway I would be open for you assistance I have recieved quite few request for items from a large number of users, and only want to help.
Steve DeSanto
Steve DeSanto <Nevetsd@aol.com>
Toms River, NJ USA - Sunday, March 12, 2000 at 11:56:00 (EST)
What a neat website! You're not only having fun and encouaging model railroading, but in the process, you're preserving some valuable history.
Those of us down here in "the states" could very well benefit from your example.
John Willmott <johnwillmott@prodigy.net>
Asheville, NC USA - Monday, March 06, 2000 at 14:30:18 (EST)
i found your website while searching for information on my family (Geseron). My great-grandfather and great-uncle Alfred and John Geseron were the 1st stationmasters of the Algoma line in Espanola. I remember the station well as a child, although it is no longer there. It was really great to see it again on your website, and I hope it's alright to print the photo to keep for my family album. Thanks for providing this website.
stephanie maclean <dsmaclean@home.com>
toronto, ontario canada - Wednesday, February 23, 2000 at 14:48:54 (EST)
Great web site.
I suggest under links you add www.timbertrain.com
Best regards and good luck in your plans.
Mike
Mike Brophy <mike.brophy@canadianecology.ca>
Mattawa, Ontario Canada - Saturday, January 15, 2000 at 12:06:43 (EST)
Thank you for this insightful visit. I have enjoyed the tour and found the history, both past and present, very interesting. It's wonderful to see information gathered on lesser known railroads. Web site is excellent.
Lex A. Parker <lex@drgwrr.com>
Beamsville, ON Canada - Wednesday, December 29, 1999 at 17:23:29 (EST)
Great site,would be interested in helping.Your only the Chee-Cheemaun away!
Michael Bannon <CunninghamLindsey@OwenSound.com >
Owen Sound, Ontario - Monday, December 27, 1999 at 18:40:12 (EST)
Am absolutely delighted to find this site! My grandfather was engineer on the first train to Little Current...have some family momentoes we will share.
Gord Wickenden <gordwick@recorder.ca>
Brockville, Ontario - Friday, October 01, 1999 at 07:55:37 (EDT)
Have had a camp on Manitoulin since 81
My son and I would like to walk the line and photograph it
Make the tourist train with a steam loco!
Jon. Clarke <jonc@netrover.com>
Burlington, Ontario Canada - Sunday, September 12, 1999 at 14:05:51 (EDT)
You are to be commended on you efforts and your sensibilities. Best of luck!
Adrian Tanovic <atanovic@genre.com>
Tokyo, Japan - Thursday, July 15, 1999 at 01:44:00 (EDT)
All the members the H.S.M.R. have enjoyed this web site and its many links.
I drove to Little Current with friends back in '79 and took serveral pictures of the swing bridge.
Little did I know what I was missing. Now I plan to visit the area in mid July '99.
I'm going to use this web site and Dale Wilson's book as my tour guide.
Hamilton Society of Model Railroaders <2mouse@better.net>
Hamilton, Ontario - Saturday, July 03, 1999 at 13:24:19 (EDT)
I began going to 'The Island' in the late 1950's; before
going to school, and never saw a train on those tracks.
A visit I paid about 1971, provided me with my first train
it was pulled by a FA-1. It had 12 cars and was a sight to see,
it made the day. When I first saw the book in D&D on Durham
Street, it filled in some blanks in the geography I had seen
in and around Sudbury. I look forward to seeing the results.
Geoffrey Lee <geolee@enoreo.on.ca>
Ajax, Ontario Canada - Wednesday, April 14, 1999 at 19:05:40 (EDT)
I was recently in Espanola and Little Current on business and wondered
what the tracks were from. So much history! Good luck in finding more
visual records for your site and preserving the past!
Gregory Baker <gbaker@cim-solutions.com>
Brampton, Ontario Canada - Thursday, April 01, 1999 at 23:49:20 (EST)
I think it is wonderful that you are taking on the challenge
of this project. A tourist train between Espanola and Little
Current would be a spectacular trip as it is beautiful country.
Good luck perserving our Canadian heritage!
Robin McKinstry <prospect@execulink.com>
London, ON - Tuesday, March 23, 1999 at 07:45:09 (EST)
We need more iron in our transportation diets! Preserve railways, and relay track on the lines that did not get saved the 1st time round!.
Daniel S. Hammond <hammond@idea4u.com>
Port Bolster, Ontario - Monday, March 22, 1999 at 22:19:50 (EST)
I was so happy to see this site. I think it would be great to see the line re-opened. Good luck.
David K Despot <ddespot@visualnet.on.ca>
Sudbury, Ontario Canada - Wednesday, March 17, 1999 at 20:25:45 (EST)
Just printed a story about your website so you should get some interest from Manitoulin Island residents. The old railway building in Little Current will be the image on the 1999 Haweater coin.
Manitoulin Expositor <expos_ed@etown.net>
Little Current, Ontario Canada - Wednesday, March 17, 1999 at 15:27:48 (EST)
Good luck to all of the members of this group with their vision
of a promising venture, towards remembering a by-gone era of
railway transportation.
Tim Gallagher <705352@ican.net>
ESPANOLA, ONTARIO - Tuesday, March 16, 1999 at 11:30:26 (EST)
My great aunt used to take the train from Espanola to Little Current in order to attend High School on the Island in or around 1935?
Good luck in your endeavours and we hope to be taking the train one day.
Robert Malone <Robert_Malone00@yahoo.com>
Ottawa, Ont. Canada - Saturday, March 13, 1999 at 20:10:41 (EST)
Interesting site-every success in your endeavours!
Richard Pentney <ripen@cyberbeach.net>
Whitefish, Ontario-P0M3E0 - Wednesday, March 10, 1999 at 12:26:42 (EST)
Lived in Espanola for 13 years, moved to present location. Loved the north, especially Espanola and the Island. Great to see this site and look at familiar pictures. We do hope to visit Espanola soon and visit with the many friends we made there. You could keep us informed if you have the time,
Ron Stuart
Ron Stuart <harvest@ns.sympatico.ca>
Bridgewater, Nova Scotia Canada - Monday, March 08, 1999 at 22:18:48 (EST)
I am just browsing, but I do have some documents in the Anderson Farm Museum archives dealing with INCO workers fighting a fire at the loading docks in Little current. Not much, just employees, numbers and amount of time. The document is not cataloged and I will have to see if I can find it and let you know.
Jim
James Fortin <anderf@isys.ca>
Lively, Ont. Canada - Monday, March 08, 1999 at 22:04:59 (EST)
This web-site is a great idea !
Hope it produces the desired results. It is still very new
as noted by the number of 'hits' but given time and the nec-
essary exposure interest will grow.
Congratulations to the Algoma Eastern Railway Heritage Group
Bob Boudignon <mr.bee@sympatico.ca>
Lively, Ontario Canada - Monday, March 08, 1999 at 20:48:16 (EST)